The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-25


platitude6 and the ostentatious pro-
fession of virtue with which it was
intertwined, was nothing more nor less
than a. carefully devised and studious
misstatement of the issue between the
Chief Executive and those of his own
party who are opposed to his wretched
policy in the Philippines. It was an
effort to befog the subject and to mis-
lead the public judgment.
We are told, sir, that this address
was received with enthusiastic ap-
plause by those who heard it, but we
who read it in cold print, in the light
of the indefensible tragedy now being
enacted near the shores of Asia. III
voluntarily think of that creation of
Charles Dickens who was accustomed
to roll his eyes piously to heaven and
exclaim with great ostentation to those
about him, My friends, let us be
moral and who was the father OF two
daughters. one of whom he named
Charity and the other Mercy.
His excellency declared upon this
occasion, if not in SO many words, at
least in effect, that he never enter
tanned any policy with respect to the
Philippines up to the time the treaty
of peace was ratified; but that he hao
simply held them as Commander-ln-
Chief, the questions as to their DISPOSE
ton and control to be determined
thereafter by Congress.
IF the Chief Executive really feels
as he declared at the banquet that ne
did that the disposition OF the PnlllP-
pines is matter to be determined py
Congress. why does not he call s4s-
sion of Congress to settle the matter
at once. and then keep his hands OH
Heaven knows there is need OF action.
If he is sincere, why did he permit
his supporters in the Senate to vote
down the other day the Bacon resoiu-
ton, which distinctly declared that the
United States entertained no intention
of permanently holding these islands!
WHY did he insist that the McEnery
resolution SHOULD pass, a resolution
which is a fraud, delusion and a
snare. a shameful evasion, which, ike
a Christmas tree, has something upon
il for everybody. This resolution Is IN
tended simply to quiet the conscience
of the American people, to lull all OPP
position to sleep while the president
goes ahead, waging relentless anu
merci1ess war against the F1hplnos'
and laying deep and secure the founda-
lions for a permanent American col
ony.
Mr.. President, 1 am determined that
the President shall neither befog the
issue between himself and those OF the
Republican party who oppose his fnii-
ippine policy, nor mislead the puphc
Judgment. nor shirk the responsibility
for the gross official blunders which ne
has committed in connection with TINS
great problem insist that the Wnole
policy is not simply an error, but tnat
II is a crime. and that the Chlef Tx
ecutiye of this nation is the one VINO
has precipitated upon us the empaf-
easements and the difficulties by winch
we are now confronted. l insist that
he did not simply hold the Philippines
as Commander-in-Ch leaving the
question of disposition and controi "a
them to Congress, but that he form
ulated and put into execution an al
firmative and aggressive poncy, tnae
of their permanent annexation TO TINS
country. and forced it to the senate
with all the power and influence when
bis HIGH office enabled him to employ.
..The Presidents first impression was
TO demand of the people Of the Philip
pines simply a coaling station, sufficient
for all of our legitimate public build
ings. and the evacuation of the lslanos
by Spain, without a compensation ny
the taxpayers of the United states.
Had he adhered to this, however, All
would have been well. The whole ma
ton would have followed him cheer
fully. and to-day we would have been
at peace with the Philippine Republic;
our army and navy, which is now wag-
ing war against our former friends and
allies. would have been disbanded. No
army bill would have been pending, and
we could now be getting ready to re-
duce instead of getting ready to greatly
increase the burden of our taxation
But the President committed fatal
error. He wrote into that treaty the
absolute transfer of Spanish sover-
eighty over the Philippines to ourselves,
and the payment of 2O,O00,O0O as a
consideration for the cession. Then he
issued to the people of the Philippines
a proclamation in which he informed
them that the United States had sue
ceeded to the title of Spain, declared
that the government and control of
lIlelI lGIIlOIy OtlOLSC0 ~ U.s. VI :
dered them to pay their taxes to the
military Government which he estab-
lished over them, and blandly made
known to them that our mission in their
midst was one of benevolent assimila-
ton
THE President drove the treaty
through the Senate by the unlimited ex-
ercise of all those powers and influences
which the great office he holds makes
possible.
What, then, did the Chief Executive
mean by telling those who gathered
around the banquet board at Boston
that up to the ratification of the treaty
he had simply held the Philippines as
Commander-in-Ch Chief. without any pol
icy of his own, leaving the whole matter
to be determined afterward by Con-
gress? Was he foolish enough to be-
lieve that his mere statement would be
allowed to pass unchallenged? Was he
vain enough to suppose that his ipse
dixit would conclude the matter, with
the. damning proof of it's falsity so near
at hand?
Mr.. Chairman. why did the President
change his original intention as to the
terms to be incorporated into the
treaty? What were the influences that
brought the change about? I have
heard it stated that the applause of the
people who greeted him just about at
this juncture of public affairs, while he
was on his tour in the West. was the
reason for it. Was it, then, the condi-
ton of public sentiment as to the right
or wrong of the matter which Influenced
the Presidents mind? Does the Chief
Executive regard his great prerogatives
to be so supinely representative that