New-York tribune., 1899-06-22
EXPANSION AND TREASON.
pIsLOYAL VIEWS OF THE AMERICAN
OCCUPATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.


ERATIoNs AGAINST AGUINALDo
To the Editor os The Tribune.
Sir: Since the Treaty of Peace with SPAN
change would appear to have come over the opin-
ions OF a good many on the subject OF the acauisi-
t,on OF territory even when forced upon the couh-
trv nv the fortunes OF war. There is no la"
against a change Of sentiment. however out "hei'
the a1ti-expansionist backs UP his arguments oS
disoyal utterances, thereby anordlng ehcouiaee
rnent TO the insurgent forces In the fhillppines .
now at war with this country, that Is going oeyono
the bounds of legitimate discussion ana Is sihp''
treason which should be sat upon promptly.
In the matter OF the acquisition OF the Philippine
Islands with their vast future TOT the coiii'"s
generation OF this country and for the e1'ensio" VI
commerce TO the Far East. when peace ana oiu.'
shall be restored the disoyal note OF retreat y
sounded Sounded by an hysterica blast from ine
A-eonaut" OF San Francisco-the very city OF al
cities which should benefit the most. II IL Du' uie
10 grasp the possibilities OF these new possess
Nothing could be more opposed TO the real iac'S
I'm the case-nothing could be more pi'hu '
the sentiment OF that paper on that question: as
expressed In It's issue OF May THAT GATE aoo.e an
others when those islands fell into the lap or this
country by one Of the most brilliant feats recoroeu
IN naval warfare and unparalleled IN '"e "S.o''
OF the world-that The truth. the naked appeais'
potent truth is that the taking OF the fhiiippiie9
Is commercial transaction. and that II VIII not
pay" -.
This is preceded by the astounding statement
,hs, "The American flag for the first time since
II greeted the dawn is not the token OF liberty OF
equality for by the Filipino II Is regarded as the
emblem OF the tyrant. the sign OF greed the Vlsi-
ble warrant OF a new master. The people do not
pine for a different yoke. but the absence OF all
bondage They would rule themselves. not play
lamb to a hon scheme OF benevolent assimilation
Where has the flag Of this country been Haunted
as a token OF tyranny on those Islands? Where are
the people who have no; pined wherever spanish
,ule has held its sway for the removal OF its op-
n-essive yoke? They would rule themselves
those people Of the island of LuzOn, after their
own fashion no doubt But could they do so In n
manner so as 10 fulfil their obligations, and the OBJ
legations OF this country 10 the world at large?
FOSTERING CARE NEEDED.
without the fostering care Of dominant
civilized Power they would. most emphatically, not
be able TO do So How could these innumerable ISL
ands be held together whore no means OF any
rat,,re or Kind whatsoever existed to that end?
They would become disinteg-ated and fall prey
TO any notion or company OF lawless adNenturers'
those srappers up of uncOnsidered trihes, VINO de-
sired TO pick them mp for coaing stations or as
coigrs q vantage FOR further depreda tions-unless
some porny-whiet!c rascal or patriot with his
rag.ag and bobtail OF contemplate and treacherous
Eaif. roeGq Of Spanish blood, IN Congress assem-
hl4d" had struck "a bargain for their sale before
hand. aad pocketed the proceeds. His record with
the Spanish authorities shows that their present
leader AguinaiGo has alrc ldy proved himself 70
he a purchasabe commodity. As FOR ''pining for
TIE absence Of all bondage" whore IS the unuored
savage that does not glory in the freedom TO rob
and plunder ard murder at his will or pleasure?
So much for that portion OF The Argonauts"
statements.
The war declared for the freedom Of Cuba
from the OF Spanish rule-not for the posses
sion Of the Philippine Islands. The great cause Of
iChe nj h1n
tonal honor The loss Of the Maine made
side issue. II forced 10 take possession Of other
Spanish territory to achieve that object. phi
lanthropy could not draw the line at Cuba.
When by series OF unexampled successes Spain
was compelled 10 yield up her sovereignty over all
those possessions gathered in so expectcdy and
with so much cost Of human life. the responsible
ity Of supplying them with some fitting form Of
government rested solely with this country The
acquisition Of the Philippines was not a CONNER
Cial transaction In any acceptance Of that term 1t
was forced upon the Government of the United
States by circumstances over which they prac-
tIcally had control No one at that early period
of the war. or at any time. could have dreamed
that the road to Havana lay by way Of Manila.
But It did all the same. The OF events
the particular Island OF Lu2on previous to the
break of hostilities with Spain bad not been fol-
lowed. although in every way as unsatisfactory as
that prevailing in Cuba. The very name OF Agul-
nado unknown. Had we been better Informed
II Is possible that the sum OF $50 900 900 might
have been considered rather a high figure TO pay
for the cession OF Spanish sovereignty those
islands with the luxury of reconcuering them
thrown in. But did not that include the set
tlement Of that and other vexed questions forced
upon this country by being compelled TO hold pos
session Of all the territory that had practically
already fallen to IL by the fortunes OF war and
was 1t not practically generous settlement with
fallen foe 10 arrive at q satisfactory peace?
WISDOM AFTER THE EVENT.
There was only one way by which the present
unfortunate state of affairs might have been avoid
ed. and that was by the immediate withdrawal Of
the naval forces by Commodore Dewey after the
destruction of the Spanish fleet and leaving the
Spaniards TO fry in their fat But it is an easy
matter TO become wise after the event and that
wisdom would now appear to be manifested in an
eminent degree by The Argonaut." of San Fran
cisco.
1t was only after the destruction of the Spanish
fleet when Manila lay at the mercy of the guns Of
commodore Dewey that 1t deemed advisable
which practically controlled the rest Of the isiands
as material guarantee for the outcome Of the
protesting the surrendered forces OF Spain the
spanish and foreign populations. and the property
the United States-a responsibility which was car
ried out ably and effectively to the satisfaction Of
tsry forces OF this county wv 80 81 anu '''''
I'm under the i1ssston ii Of their leaders graph
Just returned from the seat Of war. as ''coterie
OF associated patriots for profit" the nsurgent
forces then In arms against Spain treacherously
turned their arms against the very flag which had
assured them freedom from Spanish oppression
ana upon the Government which would have recog-
nlzed them as factor in the adjustment OF affairs
In the Island OF Luzon. BY an unprovoked attack
upon the American forces they sought to wrest
from them what they held by right OF conquest
from the only legitimate rulers OF these possessions
for the last three hundred years. and which they
had TO defend to the last man II necessary, under
their obligations TO the civilized world. accom-
Panying their capture Because compelled TO de-
fend themselves. and because the insurgents have
suffered by their own rashness and treachery. is
that To be denounced Commercial greed"
tyranny" and "a slaughter Of helpless Filipinos
who have conceived notions concerning the sweet
OF liberty?
What these conceived notions were their acts
have clearly defined, or perhaps THE Argonaut'
may Al to enlighten us further the subject
What II would take ssl 200 900 a year accomplish
according to The Argonauts'' peculiar method
Of calculation would certainly not indicate nor
support Its theory OF helpless people
A "DEPIITATION,S" WORK