New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-25

v, u
where time and again the true sons OF the old Bay
State have sent forth the country their mes
sageS OF freedom he delivered perhaps the most
remarkable. certainly the most disingenuous. ad-
dress that ever fell from the lips OF an American
President
PHILIPPINE POLICY ATTACKED.
This address Invested Of It's vcrbiage. consd-
cred apart from platitudes and the ostentatous
profession Of virtue with which ii interiaden.
was nothing more nor less than carefully devised
and studous mlsstatement Of the issue between
the Chief Executive and those Of his own party
who are opposed TO his wretchcd policy In the
Philippines II was an effort befog the sub
,.ct and to mislead the public judgment We are
told sir that this address received with en-
[ thusiastic applause by those who heard IT, but we
who read it IN cold print in the hight OF the In
defensible tragedy being enacted near the
shores OF Asia involuntary think Of that creation
Of Charles Dickens who was accustomed to r"F
his eyes piously TO heaven and exclaim with great
ostentaton to those about him. My friends let Us
be moral and who the father of two daugh-
ters one Of whom he named Charity and the o'he'
Mercy. .
..t1,s E,xceuency declared upon this occasion II
not in go many words at least In effect that ne
had never entertained any policy with respect 10
the Philippines UP the time the Treaty OF PEACE
was ratified. but that he had simply held theh a.
in Chief the question as to their as
position and control to be determined Thereafter Dy
Congress
III the Chief Executive really feels. as he de-
clared at the banquet that he did. that the dlspoS
ton OF the Philippines is matter to be determined
by Congress- why does he not call specla session
of Congress to settle the matter at once and theh
keep his hands of? Heaven knows. there IS need
OF action.
MIR Chairman am determined that the Presi-
dent shall neither befog the issue between hi4sVH
and those Of the Republican party who oppose MS
Philippine policy. misead the public Judgment
nor shrk the responsibility for the gross ofhclaI
blunders which he has committed IN cohhecIo"
with this great problem. l Insist that the "hole
policy is simply error, but that II Is crime
and that the Chief Executive Of this Nation IF the
one who has precipitated upon us the embarrass-
ments and the difficulties by which we are 10"
confronted. ! insist that he did not simply holu
the Philippines as Commander Chief. leaving the
question OF the disposition and control or theih 10
Congress- but that he formulated and put INTO exc
cution affirmative and aggressive polcy tha' Vi
the permanent annexation to this country OF the
Philippines and forced II through the senate VII"
all the power and influence which his hlgh ONCE
enabled him 10 employ. Tie Presidents hrSt I'M
preston was 10 demand OF the Fiipinos simply
coaling station measure amply suinclehl Ior al
of our legitimate purposes. and the evacuation Oh
the islands by Spain. without compensation by tne
taxpayers of the United States. Had he adhered 70
this however. all would have been well. Inc
whole Union would have followed him cheer1uly'
and to-day we would have been at peace with the
Philippine republic and our Army ana Navy "hlch
are now waging war against our former friehuS
and allies. would have been disbanded NO Army
bill for a standing Army Of 10000 men would have
been pending and we could now be getting ready
to reduce instead OF getting ready 10 greatly IN
crease the burden OF our taxation
PRESIDENT AND PEACE TREATY.
THE President committed fatal error He
wrote into that treaty the absolute transfer OF
Snanish sovereignty over the Philippines 10 our
selves and the payment Of 100000 as consider
alton for the cesson. Then he issued TO the people
OF the Philippines that proclamation IN winch lie
Informed them that the United States had sue
ceoded 10 the title of Spain declared that the gov
ernrnent and control Of their territory belonged 10
US ordered them pay their taxes TO the M'4l'ii!
Government which he established over them anu
blandy made known them that our mission IN
their midst was one Of benevolent assimilation
The President drove the treaty through the senate
nv tba unlimited exercise Of all those powers ana
Influences which the great Office he holds makes
possible.
! telling those who gathered around the banquet
| hoard at Boston that up the ratifca Ion OF the
treaty he had simply held the Philippines az Com
mander-in-Chief. without any policy OF MS own
! leaving the whole matter TO be determined after
ward by the Congress? Was he foolish enough 10
believe that his statement would be allowed
10 pass unchal,enged? Was he vain enough 10 sup
pose that his ipse dixit would conclude the matter
with the danning proof Of its falsity 50 near at
hand?
Mr. Chairman why did the President change
his original intention as to the terms 10 De IN
corporated into the treaty? What were the in
! huences that brought the change about nave
heard II stated that the applause Of the people VINO
greeted him Just about this juncture OF pup1c
affairs while he his tour IN the West was
the reason for It. Was It, then. tho condition or
nuhic sentiment rather than the right or wrong or
the matter which Influenced the Presidential mlndT
Does the Chief Executive regard MS great pre-
negatives to be supinely representative that ne
must needs abdicate them every popular wind
that blows? Does he feel that mis- high Office gives
him no latitude for the exercise Of individual judg-
nent and OF independent action? DID he make no
| allowance for transient ebuliuons or puplc en-
! tbusasm and excitement, overlook his opportunity
~ save the people for themselves, lose sight Of al
tho sacred traditions OF the country and fear 10
mako his appeal TO that ultimate tribunal which
has so often in our National history Wndicated
those who have fearlessly stood Tor the Tsht III
public affairs-the sober secohu N'ous"O % ~
great American people?
"Aoatr v,a have been assured that the demand
/ % our Peace Commissioners Paris 70 hold the
Philippines Is what induced the President 10 yield
So far as one OF the Commissioners ls concerned we
know that this is false. But even II TINS statement
were true the constitutional power TO negotiate
a treaty was his. not the Commissioners. Ihey
,,ere sinoply his instruments appointed 70 carry out
! his Will No Mr. Chairman, this plea. Ike all the
, o,be-s will not avail The truth Is that these
commissioners got their INSPIRATION anu tLclI
| strIcfiOns from the White House. Those lnstTAc-
lions once changed the action Of the Commission
| ers would have been different. The wrong was
! with the Chief Executive. lie, ana ne a4ohe' Is
| responsible.
SURRENDER TO CAPITALISTS ALLEGED.
MI Chairman in my humble opinion the reason
for the change in the Presidential policy Was MS
concession TO the selfish capitalists Of the country
his surrender 10 their demands. These are tHe
gentlemen who furnished the money Tor MS nonlIa-
ton and election. and who, doubt not; naNe
| nIedged him a denomination ana ft-eieetloH.
fhese are the gentlemen VINO are ALREADY sel1ihs
/ mon valuable franchises IN CHINA III cOhLecuoii
| Iii the English syndicate, with Member OF
parIiam ent from Wales at Its head. IHese are luc