The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-08

responsibility. Heaven forbid that re
should add one scruPle to its fearful
weight by unjust criticism and inconslder-
ate action. Rather, lei us show BY our
loyal devotion to the policy he has been
compelled by the logic Of events 10 adopt,
that without distinction of party or sect
we will gladly help him bear t.
I'VE an know that the President OF the
United States is NOT an angel, and I am
particularly glad al this time that he IS
not; that he is one of our folks still Bur
he is neither a dictator, nor a tyrant' nor
a king nor an imDeratatOr. He is simply
an old-fash ioned, broad minded, large
hearted. law-enforcing, typical American,
of our own Abraham Lincoln stripe.
Most heartily, therefore, do / approve
of Strengthening the hands Of the people
loving. the people-consulting and the peo-
ple-rehecting William Mckinley. God
bless him"
Judge Trees sympathy.
A letter of regret was read from the Hon
Lambert Tree, United States minister to
Brussels under the administration of
President Cleveland. He said in part:
Il sympathize in the purpose of the
meeting with all my heart
1T is fit and proper that there should
be no understanding anywhere with
regard TO the position of the great, rep
resentative and patriotic city of Chicago
In standing by the government in the
task, in which it is at present engaged, of
restoring public order in the Philippine
Islands, and requiring obedience TO the au-
thority of the United States. Least of all
should there be any misapprehension as
to its entire condemnation of all attempts
to fire into the rear of the American
troops by encouraging the enemy to furth-
-
discomfort and mutiny among our SOL
diers."
Rev Lyman AbbOtt's Reasons.
The following letter from the Rev. Ly-
man Abbott of New York was read:
THE Rev. John p. Brushingham, Chi
cagO, Hl.-My Dear Mr.. Brushngham: 1
am very sorry that my engagements make
it impossible for me to attend the meet
ing in Chicago next Sunday in the interest
of maintaining the present policy of the
United States government 1 am doubt
full about the value of letters on such an
occasion, for the reading of which there
is rarely time, and to the reading of which
not much attention is generally given.
Notwithstanding, as an earnest of my In
terest in the subject. I venture to submit
the following propositions, which seem TO
me indisputable, and which, so far as I
know, have never been seriously disputed
by any anti-eXpansionist.
Il. When Admiral Dewey destroyed the
Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila the
only government In the Philippine archi-
pelago, real or pretended de jure or de
facto, was the Spanish government
go By the destruction of the Spanish
fleet the power of that government to pro-
tect persons and property in the archipel-
ago was destroyed.
g. II is a well settled principle of in
ternational law, and a self-evdent prop
osition of good morals as well, that when
any nation destroys the power of an ex-
isting government, 1t is bound to furnish
a government in its place-that is, to
furnish protection to persons and proper
ty until and unless some other govern
ment competent TO furnish such protec-
ton is organized.
Duty of the United States.
"a. The United States could not have
evaded this duty with honor by sailing
away from the harbor of Manila after
destroying the Spanish fleet, as the anti
expansionist then proposed; nor can 1t
now evade this duty with honor by sailing
away from Manila i'm the faith that the
Aguinaldo or Malolos government has the
will and the ability to furnish protection
10 persons and property; for
''5. There is no adequate evidence that II
mas the VIII, the proclamation officially
certified to by Gen. Otis, calling for the
determination of all foreigners without
apprisement or compassion, does not in
dictate the existence of such a will. There
is no indication that ii has the power. II
is composed of the Tagals who are only
minority of the inha bitants of the ISL
and of Luzon, and a still smaller minority
of the inhabitants of the archipelago. The
government of the Tagals in the Philin-
pines would not be self-government. If
would be an oligarchy.
For these reasons, 1t appears clear 20
me that the United States cannot escane
the responsibilities of sovereignty in the
Philippine archipelago, until under its fos-
terlng care government is recognized
both able and willing to furnish that nro-
lection to the rights of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness, for which gov
erhments are organized among men,
AguinnIdO's Proclamation,
In connection with DIR. Abbott'g ,ottor
OF regret Judge Horton, the chairman of
the meeting, read copy of proclama-
ton issued by Aguinaldo.
Inc proclamation was sent by Gen. Otis
10 the war department. 1t directed that
on the night of Feb. 15 last the Filipinos
should make concerted attack upon the
americans and other foreigners in Ma
ma ana exterminate them without com.
passion. only Filipino families were IN
oe respected. The attack upon the citv
rom without was to be the signal for tho
lhplno militia within the city ito go out
INTO the street and do their duty" and Sc
cure revenge by general massacre,