Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-01-18

ctkBlly W iuklnB the IHlllpplllcs hlu
escape the burden TINT their pusscs-
zion would entail upon us, aud |
knew that the president Of the Unit
ted States felt Ia the anmc end. But
IL soon became apparent Tint with
out M seeking unexpected condi-
lions had been created, md out Oi
these condlti InH undpuhtcd duties
hnd sprung which could not he
avoided by the United States. II has
been argued that duty IL sometimes
pleasant but has dangers attending
upon IT.. But nevertheless, ~ brave
mnn and u brave nation viii not
shrink from II un TINT account. On
the other hand II American sentiment
did not Justify the return Of these
Islands Ia SpaiU, no could II
Justify leaving them dcrelict In the
Indian Orcnn, To- the first occupant 81
European rapncity. The powers Of
Europe would ncqulcscc In our taxi
ing them hut they would not stand
10y md scc them In their helpless con
ditlOn of anarchy aud disorder with
out SELLING the opportunity To ny
grnndiZr themselves, and M II wns
Thought best by the president and.
hls advisers To take and hold them
IN trust 10 be administered In cOform-
ity with those high ideals and liberty
loving traditions which animate and
glOrlfy the history NJ our country.
Duty cannot, therefore, br avoided
because II may bring pain or danger
nor responsibility always be
evAdcd because Uf its burdens. That
! l A..tI.ylI In DAMN Lao all l..n.puIIn
means to escape this responsibility
does not matter now. II cnme to n
point at lust that we must either
lcnvc the Islands to SPUN, take them
~ We did, or brcnk of relations and
come home without n treaty. The
ut net would have meant nctiyc
warfare, which had been suspended
by the protocol. We would hnveh had
ma accomplishment of the sovereignty
~ the Philippines or Porto Rico but
only Of Cubn. II IL true that under
the protocol of Aug II, Spnin had
agreed To rclinpnish the sovereignty
over Porto Rico and Cubn, but with
out n treaty of pence TINT would not
have stood. What then would have
been the alternative? Undoubtedly
Wv 'fbN INV l'fU ''blllIDflIfl w uft
the strong hand Of military power
In the Philippines and the greater and
lesser Antilles which II was far better
thnt we should take by the voluntary
contamination Of the trcnty oi peace.
Now that W" have them IL does not
follow that we nrr committed To u
colonial policy and abandonment ~
TINT liberty ana freedom, which must
always remain American ideals while
our free institutions last. No coun-
try, lrlHt oi MI. this, can afford to
trnmplc on its ideals. | hnyc NO fear
thnt II will. without assuming for
n moment the right to speak for the
president, ! think ! can assure YOU
with full knowledge of what | speak
that he appreciates the difficulties
and dangers of the situation, md
that he IL committed Ia no policy
tended Ia discourage, much less strike
down the aspirations ri lilrrty-lov-
Ing people all over the world.
Mr, Gray closed with the following
noble tribute To President Mckinley,
whi'h will touch the hcnrt ~ every
American who cun Gust aside his po-
liticnl prciudiccs for n moment mud
consider only the glory md honor Of
his country;
81 belong Ia n different political
party, but should br false Ia my
sense of Justice and To that pride
which ] feel ~ nm American, II ! did not
declare my confidence In the patriot
ism nnd purity of the purpose Of
President Mckinley. lie IL no usurpcr
oi power, no stranger to American
institutions. but one oi the American
people, chilled to his high office by
their %sufirngcs, nnd II would bc
strange indeed II he did not share To
the fullest extent In our love for our
constitution md the principles tlut
undcrlir IL. What less than this can
bc truthful, said Of m American
president? II viii he the beginning
al the end of our grcnt cnrc M u nns
ton. But the situation al problems
which confront III IL not with the
president when the treaty IL ratified,
the policy cannot he ratified without
sanction of congress, md the whole
American people will determine
through their representatives what
relations we shnllsnstnin toward the
Philippines. Shall we hold sovor
eighty IN trust for their people az we
shall do In Cuba, or shall we. with
their consent, establish n protectors
nte over them. or govern them as we
viii the island of Porto Rico. MI
these questions will probably come
mp for treatment after ratification oI
the treaty,
Every lover of liberty will hail the
dry when the inhabitants Of the
Philippine islands become capable al
scli-governmcnt. Are they now. and
II left unnidcd would they hasten the
time? What other power On curth'
save the United States, would assist
them In that direction? There are
grave questions 10 he dealt with and
they must he settled with honor mud
credit Ia this government and for the
welfare OF the human rnce.
No healthy person need fear any
dangerous consequences from nm at
tack Of In grippe II properly treated.
n IN much fine anmr ny n sever cold