The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-03-14
HAS A POLICY IN REFERENCE TO
THE PHILIPPINES.
He Declares for Holding Per.
manent Possession
Of the Islands As a Part of the
United States.

The following dispatch was sent out
from Washington, Saturday, to the
dailies throughout the country:
"WAsH1NGToN. March 10.-Upon au-
thority go high that it is beyond question,
the positive statement is made of Preei-
dent McKinley's fixed intention perma-
nently to retain the Philippines. He
believes that not only has destiny forced
this course upon the United States, but
that disadvantage, as we'll as duty, now
demand it. Thus, from the opinion that
the Bay of Manila, or at most, the Island
| of Luzon, would be sufficient demand
upon Spain, the President has advanced
along the lines of expansion until be
now desires to have THE Government
rem ain in possession of the entire archi-
pelego."
This is decided change in the Presi-
dents public position, whether it is a
change in his private views or not.
He was at first favorable only to
asking of Spain possession of the island
of Luzon.
Before the Paris Peace Commission
had finished its work, he favored the
acquisition of all the Philippines.
When the ratification of the Treaty
was pending before the Senate, he said
the settlement of the future of the
Philippines would rest with Congress.
He now seems to have decided that
we should hold the Philippines as a
permanent possession, and he will not
call an extra session Of Congress or wait
until it meets next winter to hear what
Congress will do about it. He has a
policy, and it is very decided one. He
is an expansionist and colonist of the
most decided character, and he has
staked his second term on his position.
1t is said that he has been lead to his
} last decision by the dividing up of China
that is going on. That England, Russia,
Germany, Italy and France are seizing
upon portions of China, and We
ought to look after our interests in the
! East, by holding onto the Philippines
J We trust this is not true. 1t looks toe
r much like we were standing by, witness
: ing the dismemberment of great EN-
pire, willing to interfere in our own be-
, half, but afraid to, and we're to satief,
, ourselves with gnawing a bone tba
A the others have left to us.
l., The rights of the Philippines dom
q seem to have been regarded. 1t is tru'
: the Declaration of Independence say
r that all governments derive all jus
Q powers from the consent of the govern
I ed, but it is an out of date document il
Q these days of expansion, and doesn'
count. Abraham Lincoln is also bacl
number. His talk about "Governmen
of the people, for the people. by the peo
!. ple," was pleasing fancy, but it won
wash in these days.
We admire the honesty of the Presi
dent in making the issue and assumin
the responsibility, but we cannot he'll
. feeling like the Irishman who saw bul
attempt to butt locomotive off bridge
y We believe that the people OF Americ
y are too deeply ingrounded in the princi
Il Piles of self government to want to 70
L any people of their government or thei
country.
b. If we thought differently we woul
u not have hope of the triumph of libert!
70 or the perpetuity of our country.