The evening times., 1899-01-24

time shall come when they are able to stand
alone, il such thing be possible, and II they
do not themselves desire TO remain under our
protection. This is a great, difficult and no.
entirely capable Of fulfilling it, and j should not
have that profound faith which ! now cherish in
American civilization and American manhood if
i did not think 50.
Take now the other alternative Suppose we re-
iect the Treaty strike out the clause relating TO
the Philippines That will hand the islands back
10 Spain; and L cannot conceive that any Ameri-
can should be willing to do that. Suppose we re-
ject the Treaty. what follows? Let us look at it
practically. Nefcontinue the state Of war, and
every sensble-fnan in the country, every bust
in law as well as in fact. At the same time we
repudiate the President and his action before the
whole world, and the reputation OF the Presi-
dent in such matter as this is, TO my mind,
the humiliation of the United States in the eyes
of civilized mankind and brands us as people
incapable of great affairs or OF taking rank where
we belong, as one OF the greatest OF the great
world powers
The President cannot be sent across the Allan
tic in the person of his Commissioners, hat IN
hand, TO say 10 Spain with bated breath: Il am
here in obedience to the mandate OF minority
of one-third of the Senate TO tell You that we
have been too victorious and that you have yield
ed us too much, and that ] very sorry that
] took the Philippines from you" do not think
that any American President would do that, or
any American would wish him TO. Still less do
/ think that any American would Withdraw Gene
raj Otis and his soldiers and recall Admiral Dew
ey from the scene of his great victory, leaving II
to he said of US that had deserted our post
without anaeffort 10 repair the ruin we have made
10 the people We have freed with
lone task more declined, more footpath un-
One more DEVILS triumph and sorrow for angels,
One wrong more to man, one more insult 10
God
Therefore, Mr.. President, by rejecting the Treaty
,l.n No.a 49, Tha TrDfl lnnf &c
the agreement OF the Commander-in-C Chief. When
the Treaty tails il could be torn in pieces; but
whether il is thrown aside not, still we are IN
a state OF war, and the subjects of Spain, among
whom are numbered today the Filipnos, would
be the public enemies OF the United States by all
the laws OF nations There, then, would be the
President. with the country at war with Spain,
armed with the war power, which he can use un-
checked as the Commanders in Chief of the Army
and Navy. The Treaty commits the disposition OF
the Philippine Islands to Congress and 10 the
Says and practices Of peace. Its rejection leaves
them in the sole power of the President, suo-
iect 10 The tsageS and practices of alone.
/ want 10 get this country out OF the war and
back TO peace. ] want 10 take the disposition and
control OF the Philippines out OF the hands OF the
war power and place them where they belong, IN
the hands of Congress and of the President
want TO enter upon policy which shall enable us
10 give peace and self-goyernment TO the natives
of those islands. The rejection of the Treaty
makes all these things impossible. and the delay
in its ratification retaTds them. If did not have
the faith in the American people and their Gov
,rnment | would do my best to prevent the rati-
fication Of the Treaty. and ! can see no other
ground Of opposition. But as j have a profound
faith in both. l want 10 take those islands from
Spain in the only way which it can be done, by
the ratification Of the Treaty, and then leave II
10 the Presideut-wise, humane, patriotic-tO the
American Congress and to the American people,
who have never failed IN any great duty or
feared to face any great responsibility, TO deal
with them in that spirit OF Justice, humanity and
liberty which has made us ah that are today
or can ever hope to be.