Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1899-09-07

For the first time since the Phil
ippine question has been before the
American people President McKin-
ley has made formal declaration
of determination to hold perman-
emily these islands, says the At
lanta Constitution.
Speaking to the veterans of the
Tenth Pennsylvania regiment, just
returned from the Philippines,
President Mckinley said:
"Peace brought us the Philippines
by cesslon from Spain. The SEN
ate ratified the treaty. Every step
taken was in obedience to the re-
quirement of the constitution. 1t
became our territory and is as much
ours as the Louisiana purchase or
the purchase Of Texas or Alaska"
Gong on further the president,
in speaking Of those who are now
in the front sad
"Our prayers 90 with them, and
more men and munitions If requir-
ed, for The speedy repression of the
rebellion, the establishment ofpeace
and tranquility and a government
under the undisputed sovereignty
of the United States'
The presidents remarks as quot
ed form the first declaration Of re-
publican purpose in regard to the
Philippine islands. There can be
no doubt. but that the presidents
extreme policy will caase quite
rift in his party, whether deep
enough to do it damage or not, re-
mains to be seen.
In the new phase into which the
president forces this issue, the atti-
tude of the people must be one of
complication, because while, with
out regard to section or party name,
they are anxious to uphold the hands
Of our men in the field, they cannot
see their way clear to a policy
which may carry in its train the
denial Of our own system Of govern
ment.
SO far in relation to questions
which have arisen under the ad-
ministration Of Mckinley, the dem
ocrats have pursued a wise and
patriotic course, They were urgent.
ly in favar Of the freedom Of Cuba,
for many reasons, domestic and
international. The island Of Cuba
commanded our great internal sea,
and Its possession by a foreign
power was always u menace to our
own coasts. The lntolerable oppres-
sion Of its citizens by the home gov
ernmcnt was subject of continual
annoyance to our people. There
fore, from spirit Of humanity and
the promptings of safety, it was
demanded that Spain should remove
from the shores of America. In
the war which followed there was
noroom for sectionalism or partisan
ship. All upheld the hands Of the
president. 10 make this position
still more emphatic, Mr.. Bryan, the
leader of the democracy in the
campaign which made Mr. Nc
Kinley president, not only tender
ed his personal service, but when
the time came for the ratification
Of the treaty Of peace, be lent his
powerful influence to that course.
The Constitution favored the
ratification Of the treaty Of peace,
involving as it did the passing Of
sovereignty in the Philippine
islands from SPAN to the United
States. The question as to what
should finally be done with this
distant territory was one ofpolitics,
to be relegated to that time of peace
when the people, freed from the
presence of an armed foe, could de-
eide upon it according to their
natural predictions, influenced by
their sense Of what was best for the
country. There could be no parley-
Ing with men actually firing upon
the flag. but we had full confidence
to believe that when the enemy
laid down his arms, our country
would give him full justice.