Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-20
pnMocnArrc OPPORTUNITY.

In thu inciplency OF our complications
In the Philippines the Boston Herald was
opposed to expansion. But suddenly ii
Topped to the other side. became an ar
dent expa ns!onist. and proceeded to az
ford another illustration of the fact that
the pervert can generally be depended
| upon 10 out Herod Herod. Now how
| ever. while st!ll loyal to It's second love-
while still favoring the annexation OF the
| Phillpplnes-ous contemporary Is making
II very uncomfortable for the supporters
OF the ADMINISTRATIONS method Of annex.
| alton.
Tine Herald after, as II intimatcs, re-
volv!ng the matter in its mind for some
| time. has reached the conclusion that all
| that WIS desirable of attainment In re-
soect of the Phlippines-.hat is annexa-
i,on-migh. have been better ACCOMPLISH
ed by craftsmanship than By brute force
| s'War." IT says. would then have been
avoided. and" 1t adds. with him CHR.
Mckinley lay the creation or the AVOID
ance of the war"
Precisely. our Boston contemporary
has merely awakened 10 the realization
Of a patent fact The Philippine war was
private political JoR Of the admins
tration's. Upon Mr.. Mckinley and his
advisers rests the responsibility Tor the
war and all the expense. suffering, and
blood Il Mas caused, and may continue
TO cause. No sincere effort was maze u
avoid a conflict with the Fllipinos' oh
the contrary the whole policy OF the au-
,njnistration tended logically to the pre-
cjpitation Of hostli,ies. After AguinaloP
aud his followers had been induced to
become our allies they were treated in
manner that forced them 20 muddy the
stream" thus affording this government
a most acceptable excuse for turning
upon them and rending them. The PLAIN
unvarnished truth Is that the history or
our dealings with the FIlipinos goes to
proye that the administration wanted
war. 1t goes to prove that the President
and his coterle of imperlalistc ad-
yisers, miscalculating the powers Of re-
sistance Of the rebels" reckoned upon |
ending a war with a clap Of thunder
to the glory and renomina ton of McKin-
ley
The Herald thinks that the way In
which the President me. his RESPONSE
bility In the matter Of the creation OF
the avoidance of war, has not been for
tunate for them or for the nation ana
that politically. It will injure MIR. Nc
KinIey, with the American people IN
deed has Mr.. McKinley's policy as TO
the Philippines been unfortunate Tor 'he
'.na,ion." and If the Democracy do not
bend their energies to an effort to make
II unfortunate for him, politically, ana
MIS- marty they will be open to the charge
n criminal neglect Of duty to the coun-
ny.
While. as we have frequently said, now
hat the Philippines war is on, American
,roetiga must be vindicated that fact Z
Ices not absolve the Democracy from the
,hlieation of unremitting endeavor 10
,url from power those who plunged Us
MO. the war, thereby piling an immense '
,urden of taxation upon the people, anu
making hundreds of homes
throughout this land desolate. On this |
ssue aIone-aside from the inadvisabiity 8
# annexation by any process-the De-
nocracy have one of the best opportuni-
ies 70 make a fight they have had for I
many years.