Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-18
The Philippine Policy.

Philippines. Its reasoning is fala-
cious and It's statements are in somt
instances absolutely false.
The mistake that papers like the
News make is in supposing that The
people are not loyal, and have not 8
thoroughly intelligent and profound
ly earnest approval Of their Govern
ment. 1t need not be said to any
who have watched the development
Of public opinion in this country that
there would have been long ago 8
strong expression Of popular approx
al for those in Congress and else.
where who set themselves against the
course OF the Government, unless the
public feeling had been wellnigh un-
animous. 1t does not take large
minority in this country to make a
great noise, and the wild takers and
writers are sufficiently numerous to
get up a considerable stir II there
were even q small minority to shout
approval. The performances Of
these vociferous persons have met
so little response, have been treated
with such contempt or reprobation,
and have caused so many Of their
former associates to draw back with
disgust, that they have given useful
evidence Of the Astounding loyalty Of
public feeling
1t is the special mistake of agita-
tors against expansion that they
make an appearance of being more
ignorant and more lacking in ordi-
nary common-sense than the plain
people who Judge them. There are
many millions of Americans who
have never written books, nor taught
in colleges, nor advertised themselves
by extravaganza of speech, but who
know enough Of current events to
know that it is a falsehood for any
body to pretend that Aguinaldo and
his followers represent the great
body of the Philippine inhabitants, or
that the Government began war
against them, or that they have been
anywhere treated with cruelty or
harshness beyond the limit of civiliz-
ed warfare. When writer or paper
pretends not to know these things
the millions of plain people do not
believe him, since they cannot con-
ceive how he should be so much mere
ignorant than themselves. 1t is the
final and fatal mistake that men keep
up ranting who can suggest no prac-
tical mode of dealing with the Philip
pines. consistently with the laws OF
nations, the honor of the flag, and
the duties of the Government toward
those who have accepted its authori-
ty and protection. Men who do not
dare to face the real problems with
which the Government has to deal
show even to the plainest minds that
they are not sincere in pretending to
be governed by a sense of right or
duty.
AT the great expansion meeting in
Chicago last week DR.. Lyman Abbott
these five propositions and
as summing up the Phil
ppine situation:
"First-When Admiral Dewey de-
'troyed the Spanish fleet in the har-
Dor of Manila, the only government
n the Philippine archipelago, real or
pretended, de jure or de facto, was
he Spanish government.
"Second-By the destruction of the
Spanish fleet the power of that gov
'rnment to protect persons and prop
'rty in the archipelago was destroyed.
"Thlrd-It is a well settled princi-
,le Of international law, and self
'vident proposition Of good morals as
veil, that when any nation destroys
he power of an existing government,
t is bound to furnish protection to
PERSONS and property until and unless
ONE other government competent to
urnish such protection is organized.
"Fourth-The United States could
lot have evaded this duty with honor
" sailing away from the harbor Of
ianila after destroying the Spanish
Ieet, as the anti-expansionists then
nor can it now evade this
uty with honor by sailing away from
ianila in the faith that the Aguinado
r Malolos government has the will