Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-07
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that the proclamation OF the United
States Philippine commissioners would
seem n very promising document; also
that il offers conditions to the Filipinos
that are extremely liberal. Another pa
per OF the same stripe declares that tho
document outlines the policy and ex-
presses the feelings OF the American ma
ton.
promising" f. good. and Extremely
uberar' conditions is still better. The
proclamation promises what the Filipinoa
clearly do not want. and dictates cohdi-
tons to a country we have invaded ana
harried, and whose people we are engaged
in ~butchering because they object to tax
ing what the commissioners tell them
they must receive. Moreover, the prom
ises carry a repudiatlon OF a moral pledge
we made the F%illpinos when we Induced
them TO become our allies against Spain,
and which they believed, and had a right
TO believe. gave them assurance OF The
realization OF their long dream Of inde-
| p~endence. Nor does the grim irony and
| satire Of the proceeding end here. The
| commissioners appear 10 have "asslmi-
lated" the g~randiloquent style OF the
Spanish civilizers OF the Islands. and IL
| the Fflipinos are the savages, semi-sav-
| age. %brigands, cut-throats. fngrates, ana
all-'round degenerates tho administration
organs now hold that they are. q
tionabIy the proclamation was n case OF
casting pearls before swine" Admit
ting that the annexation rgans do not
misjudge and misrepresent the character
Of the Fflipinos, the commissioners would
have saved themselves much time
wear and tear OF brain. and with the re-
suit doubtless Of bringing the islanders TO
their senses much more easily. had they
simply promulgated the gist Of their
liberal" conditions. which is. Bow 20 the
Mckinley yoke If you do not desire dc
nevolent assimilation" TO the extent OF
determination.
So much for the promises. AS to the
proclamat!on's outlining the policy and
expressing the feelings of the American
nation touching the Philippines, that
declaration is the most barefaced as
sumption. The American nation has never
had an opportunity TO define It's policy
and record its sentiments on this subject.
The whole Philippines job has been man
aged by Mr.. Mckinley and his cabal of
imperlalistic advisers and adherents. The
proclamation OF the Philippine commits
sioners discloses with marked distinct
ness the trail OF the imperial,stlc ana
|usurpation serpent. which was first seen
in tho demands of the Presidents peace
commissioners and subsequently became
more manifest in the administrators
benevolent assimilation deliverance.
our last greeting to the Filipinos'
through "our trusted and well-beloved
commissioners proves that it Is not
only "our Imperial purpose to hold on
to the islands, If possible, but TO hold OF
to them as a colonial possession, and
therefore in fragrant violation of the Con-
stitution. The proclamation in outlining
Mr.. McKinley's policy spurns the fact
that It is an established n fundamental
principle Of our system that we cannot
acquire territory, except for the purpose
OF making of IL a State or States. 1t mat
tiers not that nothing could be more un-
desirable han the incorporation Of the
Philippines into the sisterhood OF states.
The fact remains that in ignoring the
principle in question, Mr.. Mckinley pro-
claims that he is greater than the Con-
stitutlon, the father thereof, and the high
est judicial tribunal in the land. The
proclamation is the most ~undisguised ex-
of Mr.. McKinley's imperialistic
that has yet been made, and IS
so far, the browning act Of the adminis-
u%surpation. What will the peo-
pie have to say to all this in 1900? 1t is
time they were getting ready to answer.