The evening times., 1899-01-19
THURSDAY. JANUARY 70, 1899.
The Senate. RcsnonsibiIity.

Repeated polls of the Senate, reported
this morning. show that the utmost the
opponents of unconditional ratification can
do is to postpone the inevitable until the
fourth OF March Nobody doubts that the
majority can prevent the rejection or
amendment Of the Treaty. and that the
new Senate will promptly ratify
f. II is known that among the
Democrats who are classed with
the opposition there are many who
have no personal objection TO the Treaty
ia its present form, but are inspired entire
Nv by the delusiye hope of party benefit,
under the management OF Senator German.
II they were not induced to act as Demo-
Gratis. but as patriots, they would vote with
the majority.
The consequences of the delay for which
these Senator's are responsible are not such
as 10 benefit the country or the Democratic
party. u is reasonable TO assert that the
constitutional objection originally urged by
senator Vest has no influence with most Of
these who oppose ratification. Indeed, the
arguments that have been urged 10 defend
the course Of the minority are all obviously
insincere and inadequate The assertion
that il is a violation of the principles Of
American institutions TO assume soyer-
eignty over the Filipinos has been yirtu
ally abandoned by Mr.. Bryan, who now
dv-eils on the dangers of a Filipino inya-
sion Of this country to arouse the fears Of
Americans. IT is positively affirmed by
every man who has been in the Philip
pines recently, from General Merritt 10
General Whittier. and including Admiral
Dewey that Aguinaldo is not the ruler
chosen or preferred by the people; that
even those who seem TO desire independ-
eace or an American protectorate would
not acknowledge the Aguinaldo govern
Iaent and would not endure his supremacy
If he were not backed by a mob armed
Jartly by German generosity. To leave the
Filipinos under the rule of the oppressive
Aguinaldo would be to abandon our duty
10 helpless people. There is no govern
ment there that is authorized by anybody
and if the Americans should acknowledge
1hc self-appointed dictator and pledge
themselves 10 retire, quick revolution
such as the South American States suffer
would follow.
A sense Of duty 10 the FilipinOs, the
least regard for their future, must compe
this nation to break down the militar!
power OF an unauthorized adventurer wh'
admitted 10 General Whittier that full!
Uue-half the people were favorable to com
pIete American rule. The charge that il
assuming sovereignty over the Philippine.
we condemn people to form of govern
80 .,-,ic HOY onnOsaI iE M
supported by particle of evidence. T,
fear that by establishing the authorit!
of our Government there the best inter
ests of the people are not considered i
TO deny the justice and intelligenc
and devotion to liberty of the American
people The minority in the Senate doe
not have monopoly of the republicanisn
of this country. The great body of Ameri
cans are not inperialists in the sense c
imposing vassalage on cOlonists. On tn
contrary. their one supreme desire is t
establish in the Philippines exactly tn
measure Of self government of which th
FIipinos are capable, TO increase ii a
they become more fitted to exercise self
control, and, when they shall have reache
a stage of intelligence, through expert
ence where they are competent 10 decid
for their own welfare. 10 allow them
determine their own destiny-if they eve
i. reach that stage. This is necessar
policy if they are to escape the tyranny {
ambitious. self-seeking dictators, who AZ
merely brigands backed by deluded {
reckless plunderers; TO escape successiy
revolutions fostered by such greedy foI
eign schemers as the agents of German.
and TO escape seizure by foreign natio
that would again impose on them the oI
pressions from which Dewey and Merri
rs representatives of this nation free
them
It is impossible that the present situa
tion should endure. Aguinaldo restrain
his outlaws with difficulty Soon or la
his followers will compel him to mai
an attack on the Americans, or their ow
insulting course will provoke resentmel
that will lead TO open hostilities. Spai
impatient of the delay in releasing b.
prisoners, urged on by the church al
thorities, whose priests are in Aguina
dos hands, viii treat directly with IL
rebel leader. 1t is not shsurd to fe'
Spanish recognition of the rebel goverl
ment when we consider the width al
depth of her hatred of all American
Neither is il absurd to consider the mach
tions of the Germans who were so DO
In their annoyance of Admiral Dswe