New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-06
SENATOR'S ENGTNEERIAG WAR.

A tone of intense indignation is manifested
10y many about performances in the Senate
and it is actually resented by some Senators
rs if nobody had any business TO blame them
for ;nstlcating war in the Philippines against
their own country. But that is substantially
what they have been doing and the tdngs Of
fighting at Manila show that at last they
have succeeded in so far Initiating the ideas
OF insurgents that an attack has been made
Oh the American forces, blood has been shed
and lives have been sacrificed. The Pres
ioent has shown such extreme patience, in
Wow Of the unwarranted delay in the Senate,
that sorrc have criticised him on that account,
not realizing how completely he has conceived
his action to be hampercd by refusal of the
Senate 70 accept a cessiOn which would give
the United States indisputable right to estab-
lsh order and protect the rights and business
of peaceabc inhabitants. The result is an out
break Of war. entirely without excuse or rea-
son. brought about by the attitude OF n minor
ity of Senators 10 prevent peace unless they
can deprive the majority Of both houses and
the President of all power 10 protect life and
property in regions in which we have broken
down the only organized government.
IT has been q most surprising feature of this
case that q minority of Senators persist in as
sorting their right TO determine whether war
shall cease which II required only tho action
Of a majority OF both houses and the assent Of
the President 80 begin. Certainly the Govern
ment o. the United States has not heretofore
boon placed in a position so little to its credit
| before the world. and the Senators who take
that attitude cannot offer for Z any excuse or
| exclamation excepting that they are hostile TO
! tlc rule of the majority and mean 10 defeat ii
| 70 they can. The Nation has gained honor for
Itself within the las: year, but do these Sen
| a:ors imagine they are gaining honor for It's
| form Of government or for themselves? 1t may
| be doubted whether Senatorial powers which
| are SO abs lrdly abused can long be upheld by
! q Nation which does not cure TO be made ride
ulous, and we'll knows that 10 power to pro.
! long i war indefinitely. against the wishes OF
] a majority OF the people and Of the Executive.
| woud ever have been conferred upon minor
! ity had it been imagined that II could he used
! in such q fashion
TIE question has gone far beyond the stage
! ct which honest doubts about the best disposl-
ton OF the Philippine Islands We're i'll order.
AS soon as Il was perceived that such doubts
| nlGnt sway the action % some members, the
majority readily Gs5ented to vote upon and pass
q resolution declaring with reference to these
/ islands a purpose similar to that which has been
/ avowcd regarding Cuba. But at once the Sen
ators who are engineering war against their
own country though they had been clamOring
! for such a resolution several weeks, turned
! sharply about and refused 10 give assent even
! I, a vote on that question They thus placed
! themselves in an attitude of deliberate and per
! sstcut hostility TO the viii OF the majority
! even though the declared purpose of the ma
! ioritv was exactly what they had demanded
| II IS no longer question what shall he done
! with The Philippines. War having begun war
VIII have 10 settle that matter but 1t is incom'
paraLly more important for Americans TO de
/ ,crnlinc what should be done about Senatorial
/ minority which tries to force the country To
remain AT war when the people desire peace.
The question which Tweed asked. What are
You going to do about IT." will naturally be
asked by Senators who imagine that the power