The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-09
He Says 1t Is a-QuestiOn Whether We
VIII Make FiIipinos serfs or Give
Them Freedom.
GEN. OTIS TRYING TO SETTLE 1T
HIS ARMY PUSHING FORWARD INTO
THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY.
Giving Many Rebels Death Instead of
MISUNDERSTANDING Bell Occu-
pies Another Town.

NEW YORK, Nov S.-Senator George F.
Hoar, Of Massachusetts,. has contributed an
article on Our Duty to the Philippines to
the Independent, which will appear to-mor-
row. He begins with a review of the cir
cumstances leading up TO the war with
Spain. Of which he says:
II think it might have been averted and
that Cuba could have been liberated by
peaceable means if the counsel of Grant and
Fish had been followed and if our public
men IN the Senate had remembered that
they were a part of the diplomatic power
of this country and it was unbecOming in
them to indulge in bitter and singing in
vectives against Spain, whether such invec-
lives were just or unjust. But / do not feel
inclined to judge these utterances severely.
Something, as Burke said, must be pardoned
to the spirit of liberty and those utterances.
though in my judgment unfortunate, came
from brave. humane and liberty-loving
souls.
Continuing. the senator says that down TO
Jan. l. 1899, the American people and the
Republican party were committed TO the
doctrine that just governments rest on the
consent of the governed, and that every peo-
pie has the right to dissolve at will the po-
,itical connection that binds 1t TO another
people In dealing with Cuba. says the
writer, we acted on those principles. but
the treaty of peace disclosed a different
purpose as to the Philippines, the inhabi-
tants of which were much nearer indepen-
dence when the treaty of peace was signed
than ever had been the people of Cuba.
Their leader" writes Senator Hoar, mad
been brought over to the islands in a United
States ship by the United States authori
ties and was in arms at the head of his
forces with our full concurrence and in OPP
Grafton. If the statement attributed to
high official in one Of our departments who
Is sometimes called upon to sit in the Cabi-
net with the President, were actually made,
their leader had been offered by President
Mckinley the high Office of colonel in the
regular army Of the United States. an offer
vhich in itself is a sufficient refutation Of
all the charges against him. They had
framed provisional constitution. a model
OF it's kind. and established dictatorship
like those established by Bolivia in South
America, to give place to republic as soon
the military condition should make 1t
possible
Looking back, can any sane man doubt
the wisdom of those who desired To amend
the treaty and to deal with the Philippine
islands as we did with Cuba: TO compel
Spain to renounce her sovereignty; to keep
off all foreign nations and to aid the island
ers in establishing their own government
according TO their own deSire?"
The senator refers to the epithet traitor"
and other harsh words applied to those
who voted against the peace treaty. and
asks: WHEN the President said that forci-
bic annexation, according to our American
code of morals, would be criminal agrees
sion was he a copperhead? Was he disloyal
10 the flag? Was not he a Republican? Was
there even an utterance so calculated to
give courage to Aguinaldo and his people
that?'
As TO our future attitude toward the Fill
pinos, Senator Hoar writes: THE time has
come TO make up your minds. If you are to
declare that you do not mean to Subjugate
them or TO erslave them, that you will act
| towards them on the principles and in the
spirit of your own Declaration of Independ-
ence, the war can be ended in an hour The
refusal to make this declaration in the be-
ginning brought on this war, and your re-
fusal now to declare yourselves is what is
alone responsible for its continuance. Now
We have got to settle the question, which
the President has repeatedly declared is for
Congress or for the people: whether we will
complete the subsection of the Filipinos;
whether we will undertake to govern them
as subjects or serfs; or whether we will aid
them to become self-governing nation
either republic they seem TO desire
or as n limited monarchy, like Japan, or
whether they shall exist hereafter as an alb
solute monarchy after the fashion i'm which
we are maintaining in power to-day the
Sultan of Sulu. With his slaves and his
harem?"
Senator Hoar then writes that this great
question has been discussed with a levity
with an intolerance and with an appeal to
low motives and to cheap passions rarely
paraleled in political history. A notable ex-
ception. he says. Is Governor Theodore
Roosevelt. whose late address, in which he
maintains that expansion is the way to
peace. was "a thoughtful and able argu-
ment worthy OF serious consideration"
In conclusion. the senator says: 1.-The
American people. the brave and lust peo-
pie, who made the immortal declara tion and
who maintained il with life and fortune and
sacred honor. who established our wonder
ful Constitution. to whose Monroe doctrine
is due the freedom of the American cOnti-
nent from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn
have not changed their character or thei.
principles In the twinlling of an eye under
the temptation of any base motive or per
sonal advantage and under the excitement
or war They are subject. doubtless as Sill
masses of men are subject, however intelli-
| gent or however upright. to great waves of
passion. But their sober second thought Is
TO be trusted. Their deliberate action will
be wise and Just The great passions by
which they are stirred and by which their
Judgment is now clouded. are generous
noble and humane. Reason will resume its
rightful sway and the great Republic will
| remain republic still"