The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-06-24
A Note of Warning.



The demand voiced by The American on
Sunday for speedy termination, with our
supremacy firmly established, OF the warfare IN
the Philippines, is rising with constantly IN
ereasing fury in every section of the country.
This demand does not come from men and
newspapers opposed to the policy Of the adj
ministration; it is strongest on the part OF
those who favor President Mckinley, who
desire to see him reelected, and who are in
clined to accept as literally true this recent
statement by Attorney General Griggs:
1.-THE United States stands bound to all
other countries as the responsible sovereign
of the Philippine Islands. Ii cannot. con
sistently with It's international obligations or
its own self-respect, assume any other attn
tude Its title to the islands and to the SOW
ereignty thereof, is regular. valid and unlm
peachable To attempt to shift international
responsibilities to any Informed or partially
formed insnrgent government would be TO
shirk responsibility solely assumed by this
country, and would subject the Emitted States
not only to the ridicule, but to the Just con
tempt Of all nations.
These men realize that in time We will con
quer the insurgents. but they realize, too,
that the continuous reports OF battles, Of vic
tories of negative worth. OF suffering and loss
of life by disease and bullets, will have very
potent effect in deciding the next national
campaign. They refuse TO shut their eyes 70
facts, and hinge their dependency upon blind
faith; they know too well that by the bureau
cratic domination OF incompetent War De
partment officials the government has been
forced to adhere 10 atemponzIng policy; that
sufficient force has not been furnished TO cope
with the insurgents, and they are demanding
that the President cure the disease by remov-
ing the cause.
1t is true that the things for which Alger
was excoriated in the Cuban campaign are
not apparent in the Philippines-we paid
heavily enough in Cuba 10 reap reward ~
Manila-but the fact remains that the War
Department is holding TO a logged deterInl-
nation to conquer with an insufficient force;
that il is preventing competent men from
handling the situation. IL does no good to
censor the news coming from Manila-to edit
Otis demands for reinforcements. The Only
effect OF this is 10 uselessly proiong a struggle
that should have been settled long ago. EF-
ery returning volunteer tells the truth; each
commanding officer, upon landing portrays
actual conditions
The result is that the mood Of the country
forbids further dallying with a desperate sit
uation, and il is high time for the President
to take warning. The policy Of bureaucracy
NDlcQ Anger anu NoIbiA uANG AiAtt HtttiAlta ltit'
the War Department is responsible for exist
ing conditions, and the country knows it.
Such a policy is repuguant TO both the form
and principle Of republican institutions. Ii
is disgusting the nation; it will insure Demo
cratic triumph if halt is not called. The
nation stands ready to support Mckinley; II
will not tolerate Alger. The surest way for
the President TO eoneiliate public sentiment
is for him to put an energetic, competent
man. at the head of the War Department, 10
put another at the head Of the army in the
Philippines, and give the last named force
sufficient to quell the insnrreciion and esiab
lish our dominion without further loss Of time.
Take warning, Mr.. President! II you per
NIT further temporizing. q continued exercise
of petty jealousies and personal aaImOsIJies.
unless you act quickly, decisively ia the pre-
misses, your work will be concluded by a
Democratic president.