The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-22

.nem, we represent, as brute force
pent upon subjugating them, only their
plcter hatred and detestation. We have
managed to turn virtually that whole
people who at first greeted US with
cnlioish trust as their beloved deliver
ers, INTO deadly enemies. For it is a
notorious fact that those We regard as
amigos to-day will tomorrow stand
IN the ranks of our foes. We have not
unless it be some spectators. and the
sultan OF Sulu with his harem and his
slaves, whose support we have bought
with stipend like that which the re-
public in its feeble infancy paid to the
pirates OF the Barbary states. And
even his friendship will hardly last
long. Yes, it is a terrible fact that in
one year we have made them hate us
more, perhaps, than they hated even
their Spanish oppressors who were at
least less foreign to them, and that the
manner in which we are treating them
has caused many, If not most, of the
Filipinos to wish that they had pa
tently suffered Spanish tyranny rather
than be liberated" by us.
Thus it appears that we who repre-
sent in the Philippines no popular ele-
ment at all, but are unpopular in the
extreme, cannot enter into relations
with an established government for the
pretended reason that it does not rep
resent all the people, while it does rep
resent very important part of them,
and would probably soon represent
them all if we did not constantly
throw obstacles in its way-aye, if we
did not seek to extnguish it in blood.
Was there ever a false pretense more
glaring?
But the ghastliest argument of all
in defense offthe presidents course is
that he had to extend American sover-
eighty over the whole archipelago even
before the ratification Of the treaty,
and that he was, and is now, obliged to
shoot down the Filipinos, to the end OF
restoring order" and preventing an
archy" on the islands. We are to UNI
derstand that if our strong armed
hand did not restrain them from doing
as they pleased-that Is, If they We're
left free and independent-they would
quickly begin to cut one anothers or
other peoples threats, and to ravage
and destroy one another's or other peo-
pies property. We may reasonably as
sumo that il this were sure to be the
upshot Of their being left free and indie
pendent, they would have shown some
such tendency where they have &C
tually held sway under their own rev.
dictionary government.
From all these points of view, there
fore, the Philippine war was as I'M
necessary as it was unjust. A Wanton'
wicked and abominable war-so 1t is
called by untold thousands of Ameri-
can citizens, and so 1t is at heart felt
TO be, have no doubt, by an Immense
majority of the American people. aye,
as such it is cursed by many OF our
very soldiers whom our government
orders to shoot down innocent people:
And who will deny that this war would
certainly have been avoided If the pres
In
pledge that the war against Spain
should be a war of liberation and hu-
mainly, a.sd not of conquest? Can
there be any doubt that, if the assur-
rance had honestly been given and car
ried out, we might have had, for the
mere asking, all the coaling stations,
and facilities for commercial and IN
dustrial enterprise, and freedom for
the establishment of schools and
churches we might reasonably desire?
And what have we now? After eight
months of slaughter and devasta ton,
squandered treasure and shame, an IN
definite prospect of more and more
slaughter, devastation, squandered
treasure and shame.
But we are asked. since we have TO
deal with a situation not as it might
have been, but as it is. what we pro-
pose to do now. We may fairly turn
about and say, since not we. but you,
have got the country into this fright
full mess, what have you to propose?
Well, and what is the answer? mo
useless parley! More soldiers! More
guns! More blood! More devastation!
Kill! kill! kill! And when we have
killed enough, so that further resist
ance stops, then we shall see.' Trans
lated from smooth phrase into PLAIN
English this is the programme
q J,o
stood that they are egregiously mlStaK-
en- who think that if by a strong mill
tary effort the Philippine war Will be
stopped, everything will be right ana
no more question about 1T. NO. the
American trouble of conscience Will not
be appeased, and the question Will pc
as big and virulent as ever. unless the
close Of the war be promptly followed
by an assurance to the islanders of
their freedom and independence, which
assurance, If given now. would surely
end the war without more fighting.
We propose, therefore. that 1t be
given now. Let there be at once an
armistice between our forces and the
Filipinos Let the Philippine islanders
at the same time be told that the Amer
| lean people will be glad to see them es-
tablish an independent government,
| and aid them in that task as far as
may be necessary; that, if the different
.LIlDtS liiS PNPuAottoi ~ 'Aih
Philippines are disposed, as at least
most of them. if not ALL are likely to
be. to attach themselves in some way
to the government already existing I'M
der the presidency of Aguinaldo, we
shall cheerfully accept that solution of
the question, and even, If required
lend our good offices to bring it about;
and that meanwhile we shall deem it
our duty to protect them against in
reference from other foreign powers
in other words, that with regard to
them we mean honestly to live up to
the righteous principles with the pro-
fesson of which we commended to the
world our Spanish war;
| And then let us have in the Phillip
| pines, to carry out this programme. not
a small politician, nor meddlesome
| martinez, but statesman OF large
mind and genuine sympathy, who VIII
not merely deal in sanctimonious cant
and oily promises with string to them,
but who will prove by his acts that ne
and we are honest; who will keep IN
mind that their government Is not
merely to suit us. but to suit them;