The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-04

/ QUIZ &X41Alf ZINE tOkACIs
A correspondent whose letter was
| published In yesterdays Post -Inteiiigen-
| Ger. although more moderate In his tone
than most critics Of the administration.
manifests the same defect. He asks
several questions which imply a con-
demnation Of President Mckinley In his
policy with reference to the Philip
pines. He asks the following questions:
Has not Spain submitted. Has not peace
been declared between tho United States
and Spain? Have not the objects for which
Ne went to war With Spain been accom-
plished and attainsdy Has not Spain re-
ltnquished all sovereignty over these ISL
ands? Did We not declare TO the world
that It WAS not war Of aggression, not
war Tor conquest OF territory!
II President Mckinley can lawfully wage
war against the Fiiipinos and subjugats
them after Spain has submitted. without
ths authority Of congress- why can he not.
when the Ftliptnoo submit. then proceed
to hunt other nations to conquer? Where
d this thing TO end?
For the sake OF the correspondent We
| will pass over the last two questions as
entirely superfiuous. All the rest may
| be answered In the affirmative. 30 that
our correspondent starts out with ap-
parently the best Of the argument.
The important point In his letter Is
contained IN the question: HAS not
Spain relinouished all sovereignty over
these islands?" He proceeds in an ar
gumentative way to answer that ques-
tion by saying that many citizens Of
this country seriously doubt the pro-
priety Of the war In the Philippines
since the declaration Of peace between
the United States and Spain.
The weak part about these many CIT
izens' u that they do not supply q sug-
4 oss<ian. but limit themselves to con-
domination. The real question il not
what We should not do. but what we
must DO.
In the course Of the war against
Spain 1t became q matter Of good policy
to take possession Of Manila. The peo-
pie placed themselves in our care. and
the foreign powers withdrew from any
interference with our navy on the dis
tinct agreement that we would protect
residents who were subjects OF those
powers, and that we would preserve CIR
der. Our correspondent makes the mis-
take OF assuming. with many others,
that Aguinaldo and his followers are the
people Of the Philippine islands. This
Is far from being the case. We prom
Used to protect life and property and
We are bound In honor to do it. and the
fact that Aguinaldo Ii a Filipino does
not make him any more the custodian
Of the Philippines. Many people In the
islands regard him as a dangerous force
and would as soon have Spanish rule
But suppose we should disregard our
promises and withdraw from the Phil
ippines. what would be the result?
Aguinaido and his troops would over
run the southern par, of the principal
island. and would probably establish a
government against the wishes OF the
thousands Of Filipinos who live in the
settled districts. The foreign residents.
shamefully abandoned by the United
States, would appeal to their home pow
ers. and the immediate consequence
would be protectorate by several Of
them, and the islands would be no
more Independent than they are now.
and have an infinitely more arbitrary
government than that which win de-
vesoa under the liberal policy of the
United States.
Our withdrawal from the islands
weald not benefit the Inhabitants and
Il would have the effect Of snsirchIns
our dag. we should be regarded as a
regarded a. worthless and we should
| 10 seered at a. a weak and pssilianf-
| NOUS people. swayei By every passing
current of political prejudice
| We fear, therefore. that the great
| body of the American people will have
| IL submit 70 the unrieasanfness II he
ins criticised! by the many citizens" al
/ this eauusry, who seriously doubt III =
] rsorrissy Of the war In the Philippines. +"
/ Circumstances have 80 shaped events
that II is no; question ~ proprfaty
[ but 81 political necessity rot 10 sound
the call Ter retreat In order that Agul-
naIeo NAV laugh at ~ and the worEa
! le9a on with rsdscuie
TAey have school teacher near Cakes
/ dale WHO seems 20 - :Ae right man IN