The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-16
TELL THE TRUTH.

c ENATOR CHANDLER has not done well in
moving TO table the Pettgrew resolution, and
- the Senate did worse in adopting the motion.
The resolution asked for information, for the OF
Congress- upon the extent which the Filipino gov
eminent, organized by proclamation written by
Consul General Wildman had been recognized by
the army and navy of the United States. This in
quiry is amply justified by the official statements OF
Widman in his reports in the State Depart
ment, and by the more recent testimony concerning
the action OF naval authority in the affair at
Subg.
In his public addresses and in his message the
President has left the disposition of the Philippines in
the hands OF Congress That body represents directly
the people and the States 1t is influenced by public
opinion, and that should be based upon full knowl-
edge OF all the facts The people OF the country wish
to be just. With the facts before them they will de-
eide what is just. We rise superior to any
tional misfortune. In the course of history this
country has been invaded; its Capitol has been
burned; its soil has been desecrated; the union OF its
States has been dissolved and reformed its Presi-
dents have been murdered and has survived it all
and emerged from misfortune stronger by reason of
the difficulties it has mastered But it has never been
guilty OF injustice and dishonor and will not be
less intrigue and deception lead the instincts OF the
people astray.
Senator Chandler has not explained how Congress
ntelhgently in the grave matter referred 10
i by the President unless all the facts before it.
The summary suppression OF this resolution Of in
quiry slams and locks the door upon all the facts
which are material The same Senate, when it rati-
fed the treaty OF Paris qualified that act by its reso-
luton discaiming any intention of our Government
TO permanently the Philippines. Whether that
disclaimer were wise otherwise it was the solemn
act OF the treaty making branch of Congress- II is
known that without that qualification the treaty could
not have been ratified. This disclaimer was made in
view OF the disclosures of Wldmans official reports
and the reports OF our army and navy officers The
suppression OF this inquiry into further facts in the
same line will be taken by the country confession
that these facts exist It would be taken as an ad-
mission that action under Pettigrew's resolution
would disclose the formation of Philippine govern
ment under Wildman's proclamation the exercise by
OF all the powers OF government civil and military
including the highest right OF nationality in the parole
OF prisoners OF war and that it had flag and an
army TO follow it and feet that sailed under it
Necessarily following these is the admission that
the four islands surrendered by Spain TO that
government, with the exception OF a small strip OF
territory around Manila Bay and the city OF Manila
1t will be therefore, that suppression OF the in
CURRY makes no part OF the situation any easier for
those in authority, but rather tends to increase their
difficulties The people OF this country are not chill
dren, to be chidden for asking questions They are
the final authority and have right to know the rea-
son for all things done by their Government They
are not going TO be frightened by any disclosures
They not afraid OF the dark and surely do not
shrink from the light
We regard it as extremely unfortunate that the
Senate refuses to seek the facts. Admiral Dewey
talks about shooting Aguinaldo when we catch him
We can do that Spain shot Rial The Filpinos
are giving guerrilla fight they did Spain, and
II IS proposed that when take prisoners we shall
execute them Spain did. But then things are not
to be done by us in the same way as by Spain The
Spanish Government is not republican The people
had responsibility in the slaughter OF Rial and
the wholesale butchery of guerrilas in the plaza OF
Cavite. But when initiate those things il is the
act OF all people. We are sure that the freerncn
who meet around American iresides, in whose name
the awful judgment OF death is pronounced on the
other side Of the world will want to know that the
sentence Just, and they know if their SER
wants summary suppress the information upon which
alone the righteousness OF the penalty can be deter
mined