The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-03-02


What ctiz n in this Republic, l would |
ask, dreamed year ago that this Nation
would in twelve months time be Crap
ping with the mighty problem of what
shall be done with the l, 200 islands in the
Philippines, nearly 10, 900 miles from these
happy shores? | trust that all readers of
The journal are familiar, more or less,
with what the Philippines are, and that
it will be unnecessary for me to take up
time and space discussing the half civil
lied and savage inhabitants of those
islands. | can only say that it is very
fortunate for this Nation that we have
Mex inley in the White House and not a
Bryan, and that the great party of Lin
coin, of Sumner and of Grant is in full
control. politically, IN our land, to care
fully consider this momentous question
and fix upon definite policy for the
future of those islands
God knows how hard it was for me
early last summer to even think that this
Nation would favorably consider the re-
tentjon the Philippines after our fleets
au armies trIumphed over Spain and
freed the "Cuban patriots from miss
government ana wrong. | said then,
''Cdn II be possible that the safe path for
oar Mutton to follow is to adopt the policy
which has animated England since the
days OF nathan as to acquisition of terri
10Y viii not such policy engraft
upon the peaceful and prosperous Nation
a great military camp, take millions from
our industrious people to sGbdue those
savage anI hall civilized tribes in the
oienL AMI entail upon the masses an
enormous burden OF taxation and Of
debt?' But let US pause and reflect,
and thoroughly study and investigate this
great question which must be settled by
thjs government, and settled right; for
lA1.jes inner once said that ''no great
question was ever settled until settled
uLh. and believe it: and furthermore
j oeietr that President Mckinley, whose
w-Iom and foresight aud craftsmanship
a. oue ala question, WIS right wien he
Sal "a me of mis- speeches in the South:
"j following c4e clear prece9Js of duty.
let .Iy tal- ~ US ami thu welfare OF an
aIr- people .equTe5 uuU guidance and
Prafec ion, who will shrink from tie re-
sp.ue Jihty. grave though 1t may hep Can
we l.ayg flo~t people who by the fortunes
of "ly ana vur own acts. are helpless and
With 'a1 government to chaos and anarchy
AFTER We have destroyed the only govern
mcnt they have had3 Having destroyed
tlcfJ government, it is the duty of the
American people 10 provide for them
better one shall we disrl1st ourselves,
Sbau We proclaim TO the world our inabi-
Ity 60 give kindly government 10 oppressed
peoples whose future by the victories of
war is copllded to us2 We may wish it
were otherwise but who will question our
aUry now 1t is NOT a question Of keeping
the islands OF the East, but of leaving
them
For weeks our President as well as the
greater aortiou OF his countrymen. have
been anYiously waiting Tor the Senate to
Iatify the Spanish peace treaty, 50 that the
question ol what shall be done with the
Philippines could be taken up for consid-
GRAFTON ana in proper order; and while
will not say that the opponents OF the
treaty We're responsible for the bloodshed
a Manila I will say however, that every
word uttered by Senator Hoar and Sena-
ror Hale has without doubt given conf
denoe to the insurgents and comfort to
Aeunaldo. Hon. John sherman was in
favor Of ratification of the treaty. for lie
kn.N very well that This obligation was
NoiemnN assumed when We DESTROYED
spain authority and accepted cession
OF Spain title and sovereignty. Even
e& senator George F. Edmuuas stated in
MS article ON imperialism" in the New
York World, on January Sth If the Sen
att NOW declines To ratify the treaty. it
would produce situation extremely en-
barassing Is not the State of Maine
then, proud OF Hon Eugene Haleo Did
moi THE Maine Legislature honor itself
wien 1T chose him again as United States |
senator from our grand old State-he
Claiming to be a Republican and REFUSING
TO shdofse the policy of his party on the
important questions Of our new obliqa- |
uons to humanity and civilization we have
assumed with regard to the Philippines?
do not wonder that a recent issue of
the Watervile Evening Mail, which lies
before me, in speaking of the Maine Leg
isiature was led to say:
lone of the features of the general ses-
sion that had little of the theatrical look
about it was the passage of an order thank
ing Senator Frye for his attitude towards
the administration since the beginning of
the trouble with Spain. 1t was meant Of
course as roundabout whacls for Senator
Iale.
If l had been a member of the Maine
Legislature | never would have voted for
him or any other candidate for the high |
office OF United States Senator who W ould
work and vote against the ratification of
treaty SO Important to the dearest inter-
ests Of our country. What citizen of |
Maine, OF of the country, of honor and
of manhood, would think for mo-
ment, or even suggest the idea, of giving
back to Spain her long oppressed subjects |