The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-12-14
One Fraud From the Message. !.

Uue FrNuu FROM JHe MeSSuycs
In that part of the presidents
message which refers to the Philip
pines, Mr.. Mckinley tries to exploit
his humane intentions and lay the
respon ability for hostilities on the
natives, in the following language:
On the 2lst OF December, after
the treaty was signed, the com
mander OF the forces of occupation
was instructed "to announce In the
most public manner that we come,
not as invaders and conquerors, but
as friends to protect the natives in
their homes, IN their employments
and in their personal and religious
rights"
So far, so good; but the wing
out Of the vital part of this procla-
nation of December 2lst, 1898, and
the cunning insertion of the words,
"after the treaty was signed,"-
thus endeavoring to convey the
idea that the treaty was in effect
when the procla nation was issued
constitute one of the great frauds
Of the presidents message. The
treaty had been signed, but not
ratified. It was not ratified until
February 6, 1899, more than a
month after this proclamation was
made. Meanwhile any number of
treaties mightlhave been signed
between Spain and the United
States, but not one of them would
have had any force or effect until
ratified. There Ia no other con
clusion than that the president by
the use of the terms, "dfter the
treaty was signed" intended to
mislead the people with a partial
and superficial knowledge of the
facts.
The essential part of. the procla-
nation OF December 2lst, which is
omitted in the message is as fol-
lows:
The destruction of the Spanish
feet in the harbor OF Manila by the
United States naval squadron, fol-
lowed by the reduction of the city
and surrender of the Spanish forces,
practically effected the conquest OF
the Philippine islands and as the
result of the victories of American
arms, the future control, disposition
and government of the Philippine
islands are ceded to the United
States. In fulfillment of the rights
OF sovereignty thus acquired, the
actual occupation and administra-
tion of the entire group of the
Philippine islands becomes i'm
mediately necessary. The author
ity of the Uuited States is to be ex-
erted for the sovereignty of the
persons and property of the people
of the islands.
These are the vital passages from
the presidents proclamation Of
December 81, 1898, which he omit
ted while quoting that proclama-
tion in his recent message to con-
gress. They show clearly that he
claimed sovereignty over the is
lands before the treaty of peace
was ratified, without the co.opera-
tion or knowledge of congress.
This claim of sovereignty was in
itself declaration of war against
the Filipinos. 1t was an unwar-
ranted, cruel, criminal act of ag-
gression. 1t made this war what
it is now called-"McKinley's war;"
1t realized every fear of the Filipi.
nos and defied every authority of
the people Of the United States.
No wonder the president says that
this was done "after the treaty was
signed" when he knows it was
done before the treaty was ratified! |!
No wonder he quotes In his mess
age only that part of his proclama-
ton to the Filipinos which prates
about our "friendship" and our pur.
pose not to be "invaders and con-
querors," when the remainder of
the proclamation set up the mon
strous claim OF sovereignty over a
free people and in So doing consti-
tuted declaration of war against
them!
There are many frauds In the
message, but this is one of the most
fragrant, II one of the most trans
parent. It is astonishing that the
weakness Of the presidents posi-
ton reduced him to the necessity
OF employing it.-Post.