The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-20
HOUSTON, FRIDAY, JAN. 20. 1900.
]. TEN PAGES TUDAYn
IS M'KINLEY wEAKENINGs

is M'KINLEY WEAE<ENINGf
The recent speech OF Senator Foraker.
understood to have been made In behalf
Of the administration. has attracted more
attention than 1t otherwise might have
done for the reason that 1t indicates a
weakening of the president on the subject
of the retention Of the Philippines.
1t Will be remembered that only a short
time ago the president, in fiamboyant
style, demanded to know who would pull
down the American flag from where 1t had
been planted In the Philippines, and that
this was pretty generally accepted by the
country at large as definite announce
ment of the position OF Mr.. Mckinley.
Now, however, the logical deduction from
Senator Foraker's speech is that Mr. Nc
Kinley is not averse to the flag coming
down at some period In the future. The
senator said:
The return OF the islands to Spain was not
TO be considered. Were they then to be left
to themseves? About the time this question
was confronting us. saw repeated newspaper
among the insurgents to the effect that all the
countries Of Europe would be on their backs
~ tast We could not
the islands at the mercy Of other countries
Such a course would have been cruel. We
decided to take possession ourselves-for the
present at least--till the people of those
islands are ready and capable OF self-govern-
mtnt
If, a. Is reported, this speech was made
on behalf OF the administration, and after
Senator Foraker had consulted with the
president, the attention 1t has attracted
10 not to be wondered at In view of very
recent official utterances. The assertion
quoted above. that the islands were to be
held only temporarily. or until the natives
were capable of self-government, was re-
peated and emphasized by Senator Foraker
to the extent that no sort of misunder-
standing might obtain as to what he
meant. He argued that 1t is our duty to
protect the natives from anarchy. mob rule
and kindred abuses until they were able
TO establish a stable government, but that
our occupation Of the islands was not to
be permanent. With special emphasis bs
said:
DO not understand that any one desires
people q the netsar the 81 sne
mon amy one In this chamber.
Added to these declarations OF Senator
Foraker. the indianapolis Sentinel calls at
tention to statement from cx- President
Magill Of swartmouth college, for which
still stronger claims Of inspiration are
made. Mr.. Magill states that President Nc
Nnley accorded him a private interview
on the subject in which the question was
discussed. and the president read to him
the Significant parts OF his instructions 10
Admiral Dewey and General Otis. From
this interview he obtained 1.-THE Impression
that the treatment OF the Philippines is To
BE- on the line OF preserving peace among
the imperfectly civilized peoples, and pre-
venting the incursions OF other nations
which might be inclined to rosubject them
10 the servitude from which wo rescued
them" But Mr.. Magill WAS not satisfied
With q mere impression. After he had
prepared his address be submitted II to
President Mckinley. who not only APP
proved II, but also slightly amended IT,
and further had Solicitor General Rich
Ards write TO Mr.. MagilI that the president
found hcthing In the address which ought
80 be eliminated. Presumably, therefore.
~ address presents President McKiniey's
yiews very accurately. and after discussing
& various possible lines OF action, this Is
q wbat Il reoommends:
Eoule = not b better for the United States
Z = sQnQnus ~ prptectorsts over these people.
eselaiux py ~ means ueAting them rs .
y irlspes and allies. and securing their uu-
epesstion tn establishing 4 system Of self
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