The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-15
PEOPLE AND POLITICS.
BY AN OBSERVER.

4
| Iloilo l am not in favor OF making per-
I manent United States territory out or
| the Philippines. To that extent ana In
| that sense / am not an expansi0nist. /
| am not I'm favor OF bestowing American
| citizenship, with all that IL implies, upon
| the Philippines. but II anything could
| drive this country 20 asserting Its au-
| thority over those islands and exercising
| firm sway over those peoples, 1t would be
] the arguments put forth by the anti-ex-
| pansionists I'm this country. OF all hazy
] stun that has ever been put forth by
| political orators and press editorials, the
| arguments against asserting our author
| ity in the Philippines seem about the
\ worst. II Is time that sensible men. true
| TO our American way of rapid education
| on all subjects, should get right down
| TO the point and understand the acute or
| pivotal situation that confronts this coun-
| try in the Philippines; and, once under
| standing # clearly. the good sense ard
| wholesome spirit OF Justice that IS abroad
| In the land Will settle the question pro-
perly Ignorance of conditions there and
| ignorance Of the nature OF the American
citizen are tho parents OF most Of the
arguments and frantic appeals that have
been given TO the public. Senator Mason,
OF Illinois. delivered a speech In tho
Senate the other day. which Is said 10
have warmed that frigid zone very much.
TO have brought forth applause from the
galleries. and to have surrounded him
with congrstuiatinz colleagues at its con-
clusion. When such oratory can pass in
the American Senate for either el0quence
or argument. we can readily see to what
low plane the forensic qualities OF that
body have descended. Mas0n's speech
was filed with cantlng gush about the
birth OF American liberty with lachry-
nose sentiments over the down-trOdden
and oppressed FirpinOs coming under the
iron heel OF our American despotism. with
aposirophes 20 a few old. well-worn and
yet always noble sentences OF Thomas
Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln. and others:
but the speech did not touch the true
situation either in the Philippines nor did
II touch the public temper at home. Ma
son IL one Of those 'robustious perwig-
pated fellows that will tear passion 20
tatters,' and. out OF such Sound and
fury signifying nothing he makes the
galleries believe that he is an orator.
Surely not as Brutus is nor even as Mark
Antony. The BARRIERS Of old England used
20 run their soap balls through the wa
ter 10 create froth or lather. and this
gave 10 our English tongue a word that
describes Mr. Mason's speech. II was
balderdash. He talks about the Gerry for
mercy and independence" coming 10 our
shores from the Philippines He says.
when the iron heel Of our oppression
settles down upon them. "the mother IN
Illinois will pray for the poor mother
IN the Islands Of the sea and the father
In New Hampshire will pray for the
father In the Philippines" And more fust
such stun as that. Now. when such fel-
lows rs Mason can get p respected hear
ing In the American Senate for such
Ind
time that the American people were
gearing TIP the situation and coming
20 an understanding Of the problem that
confronts them in the Philippines.
Spain has had control Of the Phninplno
Islands ever since the DAYS Of Magellan.
Her rule there has been no more sue
cessful and satisfactory than II has been
In cuba. When we went 10 war with
spain Tor The sake OF the Cubans. be- !
cause OF the distress and perturbafions !
on our very Threshold. we made a |
pretty clean job Of it and broke asuHder !
the bonds OF her authority i'm the phllip- |
pine Islands and az the same time swept /
her ruined trash from Off the Antilles /
WDen Admiral Dewey's guns doomed |
forth on that May morning Spanish pres /
use ana Spanish authority was destroy /
doubt II We could have possibly relnstatod |
II. even II we had tried. That Is the
great fact that came along 20 ms coupled /
with Dewey's victory. Spanish authority ]
and Spanish law and order I'm the Philip
pines were at an end. Besides. there |
came tho weighty additional considera-
ton thai what IS not good for Cuba /
neither is Il good for the Philippine
what is not sauce for the gander is not /
sauce for the goose" ana that If Span
ish authority is iniquitous and rebuka- /
bio in the Antilles. 1T is likewise inlqui-
tous and 10 be gotten rid OF I'm the /
Philippines. Hence America had left at
her front door step these foundlings OF |
the sea.
What is the next step in tho situation?
The merchants. householders citizens
importers and exporters OF Manila and
that group OF islands Immediately had
right 70 look 20 America for protection.
and they did look 10 America for protec-
ton IL would have been a crime against
all civilization for the United States 20 J
have Withdrawn from the PHILIPPINES
and turned over property rights there 90 !
the sacking and lootlng Of A disrupted
and demorsiized Spanish authority or
TO the rape and ruin OF the insurgent
hordes. At Manila we were forced hv
every consideration Of humanity and of
justice 10 remain and at Manila we will
be forced 10 stay until We can see that
the rights Of individuals. of commerce
and OF property will be turned over tO
the protection and safeguard OF a just
and responsible government. Can we
find such government either in the
Philippines themselves or outside of the
Philippines that will relieve as Of our
duty and forced guardianship thero2
That Is the question. That is the acute
point Of the situation. And until that
Is intelligently and successfully met the
hysterical bellowings OF such as Mason /
OF Illinois, can be very well dispensed
with.
A shrewd little. pretentlous fellow
named Aguinalto is making a lot Of
noise in this Philippine question. lie n
is that these undergraduates compare
TO George Washington. Patrick Henry !
Thomas Jefferson John Adams and John !
and other worthy men OF The
English race. Admiral Dewey found
tris Aguinaid0 al Hong Kong where be
had been living since the Spanish govern
ment bought up his noble principles OF
freedom and OF liberty. They paid him
TO desert his cause and to leave the |
Island. He sold out very much as Bene-
1ct Arnold sold ont, without half the |
ability or courage OF the American J
traitor. Mr.. Mason and Mr. BRYAN talk |
a great deal about Jefferson's immortal !
lDOthpgm-the government gefffn0 IT'S |