The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-23

the treaty In the senate, II by their Io-ss
tnvectiye they hal not nj 5led the Tagals,
we should probably never have hal any
war In the Philippines. Aguinaldo's
doubt that tina Insurgents have held cut
on the strength of the hoped-for aid from
the Democratic party and from the anti
sxpansionists here in our home. Had
these men not given the impression that
the American people was divided, had
they not worked for delay, there would
probably have been no revolt and no
blooh-shed. By their clamor and by their
obs tructive tactics In the Senate they not
only delayed the adoption of the treaty,
but gave to Aguinaldo and his people the
idea that they would receive moral sup
port in a war against our flag; and,
moreover. they have actually given this
support. They are primarily responsible
for the war. We are the true party of
peace. for las ing peace can only come
through the oouFss OF cond uct We advo-
cate.
SIN view of this attitude of certain of
our people, the struggle was inevitable
When Dewey smashed the Spanish feet,
IL meant that the Islands would fall into
chaos unless either the United States or
some other strong power took possession;
unless we were willing to see the feet
of another power sail ato the har Dor as
,wey's fleet sailed away.
THE TREATY WITH SPAIN
Nas finally ratified by the Senate. but Ii
was not ratified by the Spanish govern
Tuent until fortnight after Congress
had adjourned leaving the President to
act as the nations representative. The
lower House. had, meanwhile, taken its
share In the ratification (the opposition
was so small as to be insigniiicant) by
passing the appropriation OF $50, COG, 900
as required by the treaty. The island
thus, by this ratification of the treaty and
by the action of the Senate and the House
OF representatives in passing the twenty
million dollars appropriation bill, became
part of the United States; and ID was
Just as much the Presidents duty to keep
order In them by the use of this army, as
1t would be bis duty to keep order in
Arizona by the use of the army in case of
an Apache outbreak. Nor Is this ali. In
passing the army bill Congress explicitly
recognized the fact that there was Phil.
ippine insurrection and that Ii had to be
put down by tie use of our armed forces.
Ii provided for an army of over 80, 600
regulars and over thirty thousand volun-
teers, especially with view of meeting
the PRESENT exigenoies; 1t set forth that
the army should be kept up TO these fig
ures for two years. In other words, Con-
gress explicitly provided an army of near
" 200, 900 men for the purpose OF carrying
out the Philippine war Under such cir
uuiu5thuccat bho talk Oh tulb WAT D6ln2
unauthorized by Congress, can be due
only TO Ignorance or eiss TO a wilful in
tsntion to suppress the facts.
"THE TAKING OF THE PHILIP
PINES
was inevitable. The outbreak was rem
dered inevitable by the conduct of those
who opposed the taking of the Philip
pines, and who gave moral aid and COM
fort to Aguinaldo and his men, The
President has noted In the only way In
which he could act, and remain loyal to
his oath of Office and to the great trust
delivered by the people into his hands.
Wesare doing but our simple duty in in
Producing the reign of law, ofdts and
peace into the Philippines, and we cannot
shrink from 1t without shame and dis
honor. Tie path of expansion Is the path
OF national honor, thu path howard uni
versal peace You, my oountrymen, oan-
not rsfuse to tread 1t, unless you are will
ing to renouncs your Chains to be the
heirs of the ages. and to abandon all pre-
tense Of following IN the footsteps of
Washington, OF Lincoln. and Of all the
great Amerlcans W no have made our past
history mighty and glorious.