The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-25
4 IppIC ON THE PRESIDENT.
c.n-lnued from First Page.

tll
- sxecutive and those of his own
M are opposed TO his wretched
tbe Philippines. 1t was an eff
N fog the subject and to mislead
We are told. ssir, that this
mas received with enthusiastic
iIe rv those who heard it, but we
9d il in cold print, IN the light
ir5e -ensible tragedy now being en-
r4r the shores of Asia, invoiun'
Ink of that creation of Charles
lens who was accustomed TO rol hls
r-,,rslv 20 heaven and exclaim with
ge 1fation to those about him, MY
,sr us be mortalH and who was
tit.sr of two daughters, one of whom
mi Charity and the other Mercy.
,t,.cLed Presidents Policy.
.s.-,lencv declared upon this occa-
n nor in so many words, at least
"- vl,. that he had never entertained
rar.v with respect 10 the Philip
,p 10 the time the treaty OF peace
.ifsd; but that ne had simply held
a. .ommander-in-chief, the question
~ treir disposition and control to De
,irad thereafter by Congress.
re- tb. chief executive really feels as
,.,lsrsd at the banquet that the dis
--ifioU of the IulAplt4ALNS - ca AAANASNSi ~
'',.Ss,ro;ned by Congress, why does he
an a spec al session of Congress TO
The matter at once, and then keep
,1s off? Heaven knows there is
,f action If he is sincere why did
INIT his supporters in the Senate 20
loun the other day the Bacon reso-
which distinctly declared that the
r.t,.5 states entertained no intention OF
u,,rantlv holding these islands? Why
a he insist that the McEnery resolution
a,,d he passed. the resolution which is
End \ delusion and a snare, shame
MI evasion of which, like Christmas
,,so has something upon it for every
Saws II Is a Crime.
a,rr chairman l am determined that
o. president shall neither befog the Is
enc hatWean himself and those of the Re
n,b-ican party who oppose his Filipino
Er,.oy nor mislead the public Judgment,
mar shirk the responsibility for the gross
|oHcial blunder which he has committed
N connection with this great problem. 1
Il insist lnat the whole policy is not simply
an error. but that it is crime, and That
Inc chief executive of this nation is the
one who has precipitated upon us the en-
|b9rrassments and the difficulties by which
|d3 moi simply hold the Philippines as
ommander-in-chief leaving the question
Hof The disposition and control of them to
congress. but that he formulated and put
INTO execution an affirmative and agrees
sve policy, that of the permanent annex
alton 10 this country of the Philippines
and forced il through the Senate with all
the power and influence which his high
Office enabled him TO employ.
The Presidents first impression was to
demand of the Filipinos simply a coaling
station. measure amply sufficient for all
Of our legi innate purposes, and the evacu-
alton of the islands by Spain without COM
pensation by the taxpayers of the United
States Fad he adhered to this, however,
all would have been well
Committed IA Fatal Error.
But the President committed a fatal
error. He wrote in that treaty the abso-
lutte transfer of Spanish sovereignty over
the Philippines to ourselves, and the pay
meut of $20,0000O0 as a consideration for
the cession Then he issued to the Phil
ippines that proclamation in which he in
formed them that the United States had
succeeded 70 the title of Spain, declared
that the government and control of their
territory belonged to us, ordered them to
pay their taxes to the military govern
ment which he established over them, and
blandy made known to them that our mis-
sion in their midst was one of benevolent
assimilation
The President drove the treaty through
the Senate by the unlimited exercise of all
these powers and influences which the
great office he holds makes possible.
What then, did the chief executive
mean by telling those who gathered
around the banquet board at Boston that
up to the ratification of the treaty he had
simply held the Philippines as comman-
der-in-chef without any policy of his own,
leaving the whole matter to be detefmin
ed afterward by Congress? Was he fool
ISL enough to belieYe that his mere state
ment would be allowed to pass unchal-
lenged? Was he vain enough to suppose
that his ipse dixit would conclude the mat
ter with the damning proof of its falsity
50 near at hand?
Was 1t the Public Mind.
Mr.. Chairman why did the President
change his original intention as to the
terms to be Incorporated into the treaty2
W hat is the influence that brought the
change about? 1 have heard it stated that
the applause of the people who greeted
MIN just about this juncture of public af-
lars while he was on his tour in the
west, was the reason for ii. Was it, then,
me condition of public sentiment rather
tAan the right or wrong matter which in
hlenced the Presidential mind?
And is his excelleney quite sure that
ne properly gagged the condition of the
luolc mind on the subject of Philippine
annexation? Is he absolutely certain that
oHe swallow really makes a whole sum
Iler II would seem so; for in his Home
MARKET address, he exultingly declared thai
ule annexation treaty had passed the SEN
aye by over two-thirds and was sanction
ed oy the judgment of nine-tenths of his
counrymen. How the Iroat,,
finally got Ste .,o ,tiaS.
majority in the Senate-the tremendous
p'e9sure necessary to secure il there
"uere It's fate hung doubtful and tremb-
nls IN the balance until the very latest
,'olLent and was then only saved by the
s .u,gS oil senators who had most of them
tpoNen against 1t, no man knows better
man Mr., Mckinley.
Blinded by AduIation.
Adulation has, indeed. >sore,v blinded
.a. 1nieI executive to the truth if he i'm
.,T, .,sS thai even the majority of his coun-
w. men approve of this permanent holding
:" 'he orient. Let him not pin his faith
Y2 7ecureiy to the solid interests which
amor NJ, so loudly i'm his hearing. If he
r, ', put quiet the noisy throng which sur
~ ''i7 nm long enough to pun his ear to