Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-14

Rational advocates or the admlnlStra-
tons course during and following the war
with Spain in the matter of the acquisition
of territory have no complaint against the
citizens who criticize the government and
urge the adoption Of different policies from
those in hand Nowhere is there serious
tendency to complain that the groups
styling themselves anti-imperialists have
chosen to disagree with the dominant au-
thOrities in this particular. That is pre-
rogative of citizenship which is always
to be freely exercised. From discussion and
differences Of opinion spring action, ad-
vancement. wholesome progress and. in the
end. fair degree Of national unity.
But there is another element in this case
which demands attention, and which re-
moves the opposition groups from the
bounds of reasonable debate. Not only are
these citizens criticising the administration
in time Of war. and condemning its meth
DDS. its policies, its purposes. its agencies,
but they are fostering the insurTection
which it is the plain duty of the govern
ment to queI. in order to establish the SOW
ereignty which has received the authorize
ton of the Senate.
What can these agitators expect? They
would perhaps be personally pleased to
learn some fine morning that. in response
TO their unrepresentative c!amors, the Presi-
dent had withdrawn all the troops from
the Philippines and abandoned the islands
to the natives. They would shout In glori-
icatiOn of the triumph of the cause of anti
Imperialism. They would not count the
cost III blood and money expended to estab-
lish the sovereignty 50 speedily relin-
pushed. They would not reckon the ter
rible loss in international prestige which
so shameful a confession of impotency
would cause. They would not calculate the
Indignation of the majority of the people
who take pride in the nations good name
and who consider the acquisition of the
Philippines as an inevitable result of the
Country's growth. They would not estimate
the struggles of internecine warfare or the
scrambles of the powers which would fol-
low the withdrawal from the Philippines of
the orly stable. reliable prop which has
ever been set under the structure Of gov
eminent there.
Were there at hand practicable soiu-
ton of the unQuestioned difficulties which
surround this situation other than con-
tinued campaigning there would be value
in pc rsistent agitation. Were the issues in
volved SOFA to be submitted to the people
for their acceptance or rejection of the new
role which circumstances have offered to
the nation, there would be serious need for
discussion. Were the matter in any degree
susceptible of amendment through debate
there would be every justification for honest
denunciatiOn of the principles and pro-
grams which these groups of citizens con-
denim.
But there is no such emergency or such
opportunity. Not for months to come can
the case be altered by the administrative
agencies. save to press on with the work
of establishing the sovereignty on which
Congress has set its seal. If this agitation
is for the education of the members of the
next Congress. in the hope of securing
some retrOgrade enactment during the COM
ing sessions. 1t Is too early. If 1t is in
tended to arouse the voters for the sake of
their sentiments in 1890, 1t Is likewise too
early. At the same time it is working evil.
1t is encouraging the Luzon insurgents to
continue their struggle Those who cry out
against the blood sacrifices of the admin
istration for the purpose of satisfying what
has falsely been termed land-lust, are
themselves the responsible causes of much
Of the suffering and death which this cam
paign has brought. Had they been con-
tent to voice their protest against the rati-
location of the treaty and then manfully to
lose their fight and accept the verdict, it
cannot be questioned that American SOW
ereignty would today be practically estab-
lished throughout the archipelago, and at
an insignificant cost.
Agitation Is well enough in its way and at
the proper time. But when agitation means
the encuura cement of a nations enemy,
hindering the enforcement of the laws, ac-
cOmplishing no useful purpose and further
ing only naievolent ends, it becomes
treason.