The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-20

months longer at Manila To-day the
discussion of the details of the plan
was resumed.
The points on which Mckinley is al
legged by republican party leaders to
have made mistakes are:
First-Gross inconsistency has been
shown by the president in his treat
ment of the Sulu group and of the
Philippine islands. The politicians say
that while it was perhaps a good thing,
from the military standpoint, to treat
with the sultan of the Sulus without
bloodshed, yet the president by his
arrangement with the sultan has pro-
duced the impression that republican
administration favors polygamy, slav-
cry and the bribery of the sultan by
an annual fee. of $4,000. The heather
Sulus, it is pointed out, are enjoying
a measure of liberty, while the Chris
tan Filipinos are only asking what
has been granted to a Mohammedan
despot.
Second-The people Of the United
States, it is alleged, will not sustain
the presidents act in melting Moham-
medan savages to attack the Chris
tian insurgents at Zamboango and
elsewhere.
Third-It was a mistake not to have
demanded the unconditional possession
of the sulu islands. Had such a de-
mand been refused, the American
army should have subjugated the
Sulus precisely after the manner pur-
sued in the Philippine islands. In
other words, the treatment of the Su-
lus, when compared with that of the
Filipinos, is indefensible.
Fourth--The present relation of the
United States government to the Sulus
is one of open and unaduIterated i'm
perialism and not of expansion, the
sultan being merely prince who is
paid an annual fee to allow the United
States flag to float over his dominions.
Fifth-The president has permitted
General Otis to publish a proclamation
in Manila the plain terms of which are
that the Philippines are to be gov
erned like all the other provinces
of the nation. This proclamation, it is
held, commits the administration to an
imperialistic policy. The reference here
made is particularly to General Otis
proclamation of Jan. 4, 1899.
Slxth--The presidents speeches, it is
demonstrated. have seriously offended
several ldClloHS VI MS own party. Ills
Imperialism, it is pointed out. will
ALLEVIATE the strong element which ia
vors the true American doctrine of
expansion. He has equally offended the
small faction which stands for the in
dependence of the Filipnos.
Seventh-It is regarded as serious
blunder that the president should have
publicly proclaimed on the stump that
he assumed all responsibility for the
gigantic mistakes of General Otis in
the late Philippine campaign, instead
of pointing out those mistakes and re-
calling the incompetent general.
These are only the more important
of the many reasons which have inn
PEELED the republicans leaders to dis
cipline President Mckinley ostensibly
for his own good.
1t may be stated that the withdrawal
of the Philippine commission from the
islands will incidentally have the good
effect of demonstrating to the Flip
mos that the American army is no
longer represented by the civil ENJOYS
of President Mckinley.
The Filipinos have labored under the
impression that the Philippine commits
sion delayed the war. Its withdrawal
should therefore have a demoralizing
effect on the Filipinos, their politicians
and the rank and file of their army.