The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-13
SENATOR HoAR's ERRORS.

Republican platform he appears to have
out-in a monograph, a sketch of which
Is sent by wire to this coast. The
prominence of the Senator, his official
position and his influence in public af-
fairs justify reference to his positions
to expose the mistaken premises upon
which he POUNDS his conclusions.
He thinks the war with Spain might
have been averted and Cuba's liberation
achieved without resort to force. 1t is
sufficient reply to say that the voice of
practically the whole nation was OPP
posed to such a view of the case. The
American people believed that Spain
would not relax her grasp peaceably
And, for the matter of that, it was
fortunate and beneficent for America
that Spain was stubborn. The war
crystallized American sentiment and
united the people as nothing else could
have done. 1t lifted US up out of the
business groove to a. plane from which
we contemplate the nation in higher
and clearer light 1t gave vent like
wise to feeling too long repressed
that Spain deserved punishment. and
that it was the duty and privilege of
this nation to administer it for the good
of all mankind.
Senator Hoar objects that the Cuban
policy concerning the consent Of the
governed was not extended to the Fill
pinos. He says that Aguinaldo was in
arms with our full concurrence and
cooperation" The fact is that Aguin-
aldo was in arms as our aid against
Spain, and for that alone. Moreover,
he ARMED at a time when we were pow
erless to prevent it, we not having
soldier in the archipelago nor other
means to stay his action.
But We should have aided Aguinaldo
and his Congress to establish repub-
lie, says the Senator. By the treaty
concluded with Spain her sovereignty
was renowned in our behalf alone and
under conditions obligatory upon US.
But waving that, Aguinaldo began the
aggressive movements eliminating in
a conflict of arms before we had con-
cluded the settlement with Spain or
could possibly have established any
form of civil government in the islands.
He comedies that military rule was
for a time necessary before civil gov
eminent could be established, but he
90
period when military rule was essen
tial, Aguinaldo revolted and made war
upon US. He did not await our offers
concerning the establishment of a gov
ters then stood Manila should be turned
over to his army, and there is no
shadow of a doubt remaining that his
purpose was loot and murder of the
Spanish people therein, whom we were
by all the obligations of humanity
bound to protect. Even as it was,
Aguinaldo managed to secure 1000
Spanish prisoners, whom he holds to
this day in violation of every canon of
civilization, every obligation of human
ity. every rule of honorable warfare,
and the dictates of common decency.
The Senator next insists that we
should declare our purpose to the Fill
pinos, that we do not mean to subju-
gate or enslave them, apd that we will
act toward them In accordance with
the spirit of the principles of the Dec
laration of independence That If we
Will do this the war can be ended in
an hour" He adds that the refusal to
make this declaration in the outset
brought on the war.
The Senator ignores three essential
facts: First, that Congress. not the
PRESIDENT. alone can determine the form
and detail Of government we will con-
sent to in the Philippines; second, that
the President did send a commission
OF eminent men to the Philippines to
confer with the Aguinaldoites and that
1t did offer to them the pledge of the
Administration that they should be a
free people; that they should have such
measure of self-government as they
8,
they should have the same liberty, pro-
lection and privilege, and be bound by
the same obligations attaching to the
Americans in their home land
In the strongest possible wording that
commission announced that it was not
the purposerof the United States to sub
5ugate or enslave the people of the
Philippines, but that our aim was to do
them good, improve their conditions, So
cial and political; enlarge their liber-
ties, lift them up in intelligence and
secure to them the blessings of free
conscience, free speech and a free press.
Thus is traversed the points sought
to- be made by the Senator, and it is
submitted that the answers suggested
conclude the argument and are all suf-
hcient. But one remains, however,
which is not called out by any affirma-
tive declaration of the Massachusetts,
Senator. His omission to refer to the
subject is most significant. His con-
tention proceeds constantly upon the
assumption that those in arms against
US in the Philippines are the whole
people. or sufficient Of them to make
their declaration the voice Of all. This
IS premise upon which all anti-ex-
pansion argument goes OF wrong.