The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-01

before the people of the country are the
war in the Philippines, trusts, the money
question and political dictators; before
our state, taxation, government of COM
munities and local dictatorship. On all
these questions the Democratic party has
the right to congratulate itself. It's course
has been an honorable one-one that COM
mends it to all lovers of liberty, to men
who hold country and principles above
place, men who have not allowed their
patriotism to be warped either by proffer-
ed decorations or the love and thirst for
wealth.
Greed has not yet played its full hand.
Avarice, always alert, was again to take
a part In our settlement with Spain we
agreed to pay $20,000,000, they to cede US
their rights in the Orient They had no
rights to cede. Whatever they had, had
been conquered by us. Immediately the
politicians proceeded to take control
Troops were hurried to Manila.
Since the war with Spain, what has
been the history OF the Philippines? Our
war was with Spain, for the redress of
grievances, and not against the Philip
pine islanders, for conquest. When
Spain was vanQuished we hauled down
her flag, and ours then floated in friend
ship. On Manila bay and it's shores
II SuOulu nave Oecll IuSHCClOl Hdio t'AS
symbol of liberation in the land we had
invaded in hostility to Spain alone. The
natives were our friends. Their recog
nized leader had returned to the islands
by invitation of the United States and
had been assisted to raise a military
force and established a camp at Cavite
He had summoned his people to the sup
port of the United States military occu-
patton in a proclamation, assuring them
H. A,arr 1D1Of hbny4 oTld
independence for them. He organized a
civil government. Not only were these
proceedings not objected to, but he was
addressed by Gen. Anderson, our chief
commanding officer as the commander OF
the military forces of the Philippine ISL
ands, and asked to furnish map of the
adjacent country for the use of Gen. Mer-
rift, soon to arrive. He cheerfully com
piled The amicable relations continued
until Gen Merritt, fresh from the White
house at Washington, took command and
made an order establishing a military
line which was to separate our troops and
the Filipinos into two hostile camps, ana
forbidding the entrance within our lines
CONGRESS NOT CONSULTED.
"Why the status was thus suddenly
changed, with the full approval of the
president, and that. too, while congress
The constitution and the treaty both
lodge in congress the sole power to de-
termine what shall be the policy of our
government toward the Philippines. The
presidents war upon them is in derega-
ton of their rightful power That body
has not yet decided whether the United
States should assume sovereignty over
them or leave the people there free to
govern themselves. Until such decision
military occupation and military rule are
undoubtedly within the powers and duties
Of the president. They did not, however,
justify him in refusing to call congress
together In extra session that 1t might
decide this paramount question nor did
1t justify him in following up such re-
fusal with the usurpation Of legislative
power by assuming United States SOW
ereignty in the islands as an accomplish
ed fact. He has been bent on exercising
such acts Of sovereignty as might be