The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-31

l
ment has been established there, seen
20 be universally regarded as a full per.
f0rmance OF all our obligations to thai
unfortunate people. MEANWHILE we pre-.
pare them for freedom and the establish
ment OF a FREQ government by keeplns
them bound hand and fo,t while we gra-
| ciously collect and expend their revenues
make and execute their laws, appoin,
their Judges with tenure OF office depend
ent upon the caprice OF the military com
mander and instruct the residents OF her
cities, In orders from military headquar-
ters, how and when TO clean out their
| alleys and disinfect their ccsspools.
In addition TO all these favors, I see In
recent papers that we are about to have
| them counted--to have census taken
under the supervision OF General Mer.
| riam. Well. after counting them It will
only remain for them to be marked and
branded before they are turned loose. Is
not what have written q true picture OF
The conduct OF our government toward
Cuba, and Is not that conduct marked by
every act which may define tyrant?o
Poor, Cuba, hers Is not the first instance
In history where one has been ruined by
ones allies.
When we had declared that Cuba was
ana of right ought to be free and inde-
pendent and war with Spain ensued, Com.
modore Dewey. then commanding our feet
In the Pacific, was cabled to find the Span
ish fleet and destroy It. He proceeded at
once aud vigorously TO the execution Of
the task assigned him After dillgent
search he located the Spanish vessels in
Manila harbor. After proper reconnois-
ance and preparation he entered the har-
Dor. treating the shore batteries and tor
pedoes with the Indifference OF contempt
attacked the enerky's feet aud annihiated
1t without tho less OF man. AS soon as
possible he informed the government OF
what he had done Up to this time the
people OF the United States, even the fair.
ly educated among them. knew little and
cared nothing about the Philippines
School children knew the name and the
forty or fifty black spots which Indicated
their location on the map. We all knew
that they were dependencies OF Spain, that
Manila was tho capital and that we ex-
ported thence rope, twine and hamnicc ks
or the inhabintants we knew nothing. We
supposed them to be, outside OF the large
towns, whore foreigners had congresa,ed
in considerable numbers for the purposes
or trade semi savnges But when the
news OF Dewey's victory was spread
abroad the whole country was electrified
The names OF Dewey and Manila were
upon every lip. All other naval COM
manders from Themistocles to Van Tromp
and Nelson were but pigmes compared to
our hero and all other naval engagements
from Salams to Navnrino La Hogue and
Trafalgar were slSirmishes In comparison
with Manila.
We Americans are not remarkable for
In the hour of victory. II would
be we'll II our praise We're always rs
worthily bestowed as upon Admiral Dew
ey. He accom- llshed to the utmost the task
assigned him. But ] doubt very much
whether he agrees with his admirers as
to tho rank in history which his victory
Is destined to occupy. He knows that in
great and holly contested engagements,
whether on land or sea, men are killed
On both sides. To me 1t appears that tho |
great merit OF Admiral Dewey as a COM
mander was tho boldness OF conception
of the plan of entering the harbor in de- (
fence of the batteries which frowned
upon tho shore and the torpedoes with !
which the harbor was known to be lined ,
md his success In executing It. What I
followed after he reached the Spanish
SHIPS was mere matter of detail. In
war, where no other criterion OF merit /
ian be recognized but success, he is the
heroic commander, who takes upon him
SELF the responsibility of an audaclous en- /
erprisc and executes II successfully This |
Admiral Dewey did. Therefore he de- |
serves all honor from his countrymen |
But to return.
Dewey's victory directed attention to the I
philippines; maps were examined gazet.
-eorc and encyclopedias were studied old |
magazines with articles descriptive OF life
n the orient re-reah. and every available
means OF Information relative to the local
~ which had suddenly acquired 80 much
interest to the American public was eager
y sought The administration, too, di.
ected its attention thitherward Under
he influence of the enthusiasm in favor OF j
'ubn, more men had volunteered than I
rider was issued for the immediate prepnr- !
tion OF an expedition to Manila. All! q
hat order has been to us and viii. | fear, !,
ing continue to be. like Achilles wrath to !
reece.
Tho dreful spring of woes unnumbered." S
Military expedition to the antipodes, the
lends of the movement were ready with l
lie answer: TO support Dewey and fol- :
w up his victory" We all knew that =,
ss than any man, our admiral at Manila
eeded support After his victory, from r
lore to shore in the Pacific, he was cock d.
the walk, No other bird dared flap his a.
ings, much less crow in his presence. "
hat other object then In sending troops
this terra incognita. Why, IL was said J
II commerce in the Far East is rapidly d
creasing. we need coaliDg station for hl
ir navy. which must be kept there to b
'otect 1t. and by taking possession of a a
place for one now, we can demand Its OF
tentIon when the war closes. No thought
the continued possession Of these dis d
Mt islands, either by conquest or pur- TO
ase, entered the minds OF the American ~ ~
,oplc, or. so far as had appeared the "
ind OF him who was at the head OF af- TO
iis at Washington. Our gallant soldiers he
ormed and took Manila from the Span eli
rds. The collapse Of Spanish authority an
Cuba came, and through the friendly Of "
es OF the French minister the protocol o.
rs signed and commissioners met In an
iris to negotiate the terms OF treaty III
peace. When the terms OF the treaty lit
ere made public we learned to our r.
that under positive instruc- rs
ms from Washington our commissioners -,
d insisted upon and procured the inser- iiv
IN OF an article by which, in considera- tai
IN OF the sum OF S20000,0 900, we became an
e owner of the Philippine archipelago, sic
d the millions OF people 1t contained. ne
ght millions OF yellow bellies. in the ~
lguage rather forcible than elegant or 20 20
!. Speaker Reed, at two and half dol he
Is apiece. AT first among the uninitiat- -
establishment regned supreme and kept 4
~ afio ri IN ba 4 N