The evening times., 1899-07-10
senseIess and wicked Advice.

in the sense that it has done what il
was appointed to do the Insular Commis-
sion has striven earnestly TO discharge its
duty. The Commission was appointed TO
''play politics. This il has done in very
clumsy way. The Commission, in docu-
ment which local Administration organ
is pleased to call ''an exhaustive opinion,
tries hard to come 10 the relief OF MT.
Mckinley and his party by declaring in
effect that the question of the final dis
position OF the fruits of our victory in the
war with Spain is to be determined here
after by plebiscite. The islands now in
the possession of the United States as a
result OF the war with Spain are not
part OF the territory of the United States"
the Presidents Insular Commission de-
clares in effect and for campaign pur-
poses IN Ohio and other sections where the
party IS threatened with the danger, the
expense and the annoyance of close con-
tests this year. The Commission holds
that there is a radical difference in rela-
tion between territory a part of the United
States and territory in possession Of the
United States. And then the Commission
goes on to declare that We can do as we
please with the islands which We obtained
from Spain; that we can sell them, give
them away, or turn them over to the in
habitants who live upon them for the es-
tablishment of independent governments"
The Commission has discovered nothing
new up TO this point in its exhaustive"
search The Paris Treaty arranged all of
these details. Particularly does this con-
yention define the present relations of Por-
to Rico to the United States as temporary
in the stipulation that its final political
status is TO be determined by Congress
sional enactment. But the Paris Treaty
does not deal in the same spirit with the
islands of the Pacific acquired from Spain.
There was cash transaction in this trans
fer which did not enter as factor in the
case OF Porto Rico. In business sense
the Philippine archipelago was brought to
) us much as Alaska was. After completely
destroying Spanish power in the islands
and setting up in its stead our own au-
thority we paid Spain twenty million dol
lars for the whole group. The Insular
Commission deals with this transaction as
IL it were nothing more than a real estate
speculation the Government of the United
States has gone into in the same spirit
that Western lands are bought and sold by
the enterprising town site boomer. To the
Commission no moral obligation is in the
transaction.
Was ever a lower view taken of a great
question by men appointed to guide Gov
course? OF course this exhaustive opin-
ion" does not set forth the real views of
the Commission. 1t is merely intended to
conceal the purpose of the Administration
1t is thrown out as sop to the anti-expan-
sionists in and out Of the Republican par
ty. 1t is an expression OF the same cow
ardice that has led to the unnecessary sac
rifice of American blood and treasure in
the Philippines because the Administration
has not had the courage to grapple with
the situation over there in a resolute, de-
termined, American spirit. 1t is intended
to catch votes for Nash in Ohio in order
TO prevent reputation of the President in
his own State. 1t is an insult to national
intelligence, because it is a palpable at
tempt to make the country believe the Ad-
ministration intends to do something which
every intelligent American knows is not
going to be seriously undertaken.
The immediate effect of the Commission
advice to the President will be to strength
en- the cause OF Aguinaldo in the Philip
pines and at home, and to discourage the
hope of Porto Ricans for speedy relief
from the CALLING conditions of military
rule and tariff expressions. Upon the Ad-
ministration, speaking through the Insular
Commission, will be the blood of our SOL
diers slain in defence OF the American flag
and in support of American honor and
morality in the further struggle to sup
press the insurrection in the Philippines
which viii be strengthened by the falter-
ing wicked course which the Commission
tries to pretend is going to be pursued by
this Government.