Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-12
Stand BY the President.

sey, the other day. had extended refer
ences to cur position in the Philippines
which are worth the careful cOnsidera-
| ton of every American citizen. After
| pointing out the imperative duty which
rests upon all good citizens to use such
| influence as they possess in the pro-
motion of political purity and official
| integrity, Governor Roosevelt said:
Just at the moment the nation is
| face to face with duty that calls FOR
heroism-I mean our attitude in the
| Philippines. We put our pick into the
solid foundation of Spanish govern
ment both in the East and West In
dies We tumbed the building down
| in as righteous a war as was ever
undertaken. Now, if we are TO reach
| our place among the great nations or
| the earth, we must see that the ruins
are cleared away and the temples OF
| justice and honesty reared IN their
places. We shall be guilty of a terri
bic wrong to humanity if in the Phil
ippines we retreat before armed saw
agery instead Of organizing suitable
government which shall guarantee
| Justice to everyone, and an ever-in-
creasing measure of liberty to those
who show themselves worthy of it.
THE whole history of the world
shows that the wrong done by the
| mere sentimentalist is often of larger
proportions and more lasting than any
other kind of wrong. and of this
wrong we shall be guilty if we fail to
do our task thoroughly and well. 1t
will call for but the merest fraction of
our strength, provided only We choose
to exert that strength. If, however.
the people let their representatives in
Congress hamper the administration,
as they did last winter when they re
| fused to put the army upon a proper
| footing as to size, permanence and or
ganization, then the people have
| themselves to thank if the war lin
gers, and difficulties and danger in
crease. What the people have to do
is to resolve to back up the President
to the fullest extent, in seeing that
the outburst of Savagery is represSed
once and for all, and what is even of
more Importance. to see that these
new tropc islands. in the East and
West alike are not left to be the prey
of partisans. but are governed pri-
marily in the interest of the inhabit-
ants and therefore ultimately for the
honor and renown of America"
and earnest words the foremost politi-
cal duty of every true and loyal Ameri-
can in the present crisis. The ques-
| ton is not now at issue how the Phil
| ippines shall be governed permanently
as part of the national domain. They
are part of our country, and such
| they will always remain. The question
Of their permanent government can
and will be determined by the Ameri-
the future. The problem which has
for several months confronted us is
| that of the suppression of an armed
| insurrection against our authority.
Shall we maintain our prestige and
authority in the Philippines or shall We
withdraw our forces from the islands
anu cOtltSS ourselves utItdttu ana IN
the wrong? Governor Roosevelt states
the case with force and correctness
when he says that 1--WE shall be guilty
of terrible wrong to humanity if in
the Philippines We retreat before
armed savagery instead of organizing
suitable government, which shall
guarantee justice to every one. and an
ever-increasing measure of liberty to
those who show themselves worthy of
it,"
President Mckinley. in this grave
emergency, is entitled to the loyal sup
port of both his political friends and
his political opponents. If we must
have differences of opinion among our
selves on questions of policy,we should
nevertheless present to the outside
world a united and harmonious front.
Differences should cease at the waters
edge, and beyond that the governments
will should have undivided support.
While the President is in office he
represents the sentiments, the policy
and the majesty of the American peo-
pie. He should be given loyal support
in the plans undertaken by the govern
ment. If the people think best to
elect another man to succeed him.
pledged to different policies, it is their
right to do 50, year hence But there
is no doubt President Mckinley repre-
sents the vast majority of the Ameri-
can people in the Philippine matter.
In any case, the administration in
power should not be hampered by ma
licious criticisms, unjust attacks. and
other forms Of active opposition, such
as the small but noisy "anti-imperial-
istic' element is now engaged in.
Every attack upon the President or
upon his officers in the field is direct
/ means of encouragement to our armed
| foes, and as such is an act of treach-
cry toward our government. The Fill
pino instruction would have COLLAPSED
ere this. but for encouragement from
the United States.