The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-25

ton by the taxpayers or the Unlteu states;
Had he adhered to this, however, all would
have been well. The whole Union would
have followed him cheerfully and to-day
we would have been at peace with the phil
ippine republic; our army and navy, when
is now waging war against our former
friends and allies, would nave been MS
banded. No army bill for a standing army
of 1895 600 men would have been pending, and
we would now be getting ready to reduce
instead of getting ready TO greatly increase
the burden of our taxation.
"A FATAL ERROR"
"But the President committed a fatal
error. He wrote into that treaty the abso-
Lutte transfer of Spanish sovereignty over the
Philippines to ourselves and the payment OF
SO 100000 as a consideration for the cession.
Then he issued to the people of the Philip
pines that proclamation in which he in
formed them that the United States had
succeeded to the title of Spain. declared that
the government and control of their terri
tory belonged to US, ordered them to pay
their taxes to the military government
which he established over them and blandly
made known to them tina our MISSION III
their midst was one OF 'penevolent asssl,
ilations' The President drove the tsaSy
through the Senate by the unlimited eXeI-
else Of all those powers and influences when
the great office he holds makes possible.
What, then, did the chief executive nledn
nv telling those who gathered around the
banquet board at Boston that up 70 tnS
ratification of the treaty he had Simply MY
the Philippines as omnan1e[-n. ~
without any policy of his own leaving the
whole matter to be determined aLterWalu 10y
the Congress? Was he foolish enough to pc
lieve that his mere statement would pc AZ
lowed to pass unchallenged? was ne VAIN
enough to suppose that his ipse dixit would
conclude the matter, with the Damaging
proof of its falsity so near at hand?
MIR. Chairman, why did the President
change his original lntentl9m as 70 ne Tybaf
were the influences that brought the change
about? 1 have heard 1t stated that the APP
plause OF the people VINO greeteu MN 1T ~
about this juncture Of public anairS, Wnlle
he was on his tour in the west, was thS
reason for it. Was 1T then, the eonGltion OF or
wrong of the matter, which influenced the
Presidents mind? Does the chief executive
regard his great prerogattves to be so su-
pinely representative that he must needs
abdicate them at every popular wind mat
blows? Does he feel that his high once
gives him no attitudes for the exercise or
individual judgment and of independent
action? Did he make no allowance Tor
transient ebullitions of public enthusiasm
and excitement, overlooking his opportunity
to save the people for themselves, lose sight
of all the sacred traditions of the country,
tribunal which has so often in our national
history INDICATED those who have fearless
ly stood for the right in. public affairs-the
sober, second thought of the great Amer
lean people?
us HIS EXCELLENCY SURE?"
And is his excellency quite sure that he
properly gagged the condition of the public
mind on the subject of Philippine annexa-
ton? Is he absolutely certain that one swal-
low really makes a whole summer? 1t would
seem so; for in this Home Market address
he exulting!y declared that the annexation
treaty had passed the Senate by over two
thirds and was sanctioned by the judgment
OF nine-tenths Of his countrymen. How
that treaty finally got its two-thdrds ma
Jority in the Senate-the tremendous pres
sure necessary to secure 1t there-Where It's
fate hung doubtful and trembling in the
balance until the very last moment and was
then only saved by the votes of senator's
who had, most of them, spoken against 1t,
no man knows better than Mr.. Mckinley.
"Adulation has, indeed, sorely blinded the
chief executive to the truth II he imagines
that even the majority of his countrymen
approve of this permanent holding in the
Orient. Let him not pin his faith too Sc
curely to the sordid interests which clamor
so loudly in his hearing. If he will but quiet
the noisy throng which surrounds him long
enough to put his ear to the ground and lis
ten he will distinguish the premonttions of
the coming Storm he will hear the steady
tread, not of the 100, 900 men whom he de-
mands for a crusade against liberty, but OF
q mighty army OF free people Who are be-
ginning to move in defense OF their cher
ished traditions and their violated honor.
I'VE have been told, further, that the
President yielded up his first blush impress
sions at the Importantly of Admiral Dewey,
who urged that the Philippines should be re-
tanned. MIR. Chairman, the chief executive
| cannot screen himself behind the gold lace
ef the hero of Manila. No one can honor
more profoundly than | do the officers or
the regular army and navy, but their pre-
affections are naturally for arms. They have
imbibed, of course, the prejudices and pref
erences of their calling. We cannot blame
them for desiring to magnify the size and
Importance of the army and navy, for adVo-
eating expansion, and taking on OF a CO.
lonial policy.
"Again we have been assured that the de-
mand Of our peace commissioners at Paris
to hold the Philippines is what induced the
President to yield. So far as one of the
this is false. But even If this statement
were true, the constitutional power TO ne
gotiate a treaty was his, not the commission
ers'. They were simply his instruments, APP
pointed TO carry out his will. No, Mr..
Chairman, this plea, like all the others, Will
not avail. The truth is that these commits
sioners got their Inspiration and their in
structions from the White House. Those
instructions once changed, the action or the
commissioners would have been different.
The wrong was with the chief executive.
He, and he alone, is responsible.
SURRENDER TO CAPITALISTS"
''Mr. Chairman, in my humble opinion
the reason for the change in the presiden-
tiaI policy was his concession to the selfish
capitalists Of the country, his surrender to
their demands. These are the gentlemen
who furnished the money for his nomination
and election, and who, l doubt not, have
pledged him a denomination and reelection.
These are the gentlemen who are already
Selling upon valuable franchises in China,
In connection with the English syndicate,
with a member of Parliament from Wales at
it's head. These are the gentlemen whom
Lord Beresford has in mind In his cordial,
but not wholly disinterested, invitation TO an
alliance in China with Britain, Germany
and .Japan. against Russia and france, the
oId-time enemies of his country and the old
time friends Of ours.
'HThese are the gentlemen who are ALREADY
crashing after special privileges IN the Fhll-
fnpines. in Cuba and in Porto Rico. 1t was,
/ imagine, for their especial benefit that the
President created his advisory board to the
War Department, composed OF three amer
lean citizens, their object being to farm out
valuable privileges and immuntt1es which
should belong to the people OF those Islands
themselves. and in whose disposition they
should have a voice. IL their government IS
to be free and their right maintained. /
have no fault to find with the spirit Of legit-
innate American commerce. My contention
is against the spirit of American greed
which cares nothing for the spirit of Amer
lean liberty.
And what do these gentlemen propose?
To amass colossal fortunes In the islands by
virture Of their franchises and upon the
cheap labor of the native population, not
one dollar of which Will ever find its lodg-
ing place in the pockets of the american
people. To enable them 10 do this our
whole population is to purchase their field
Of operations for them In the Philippines for
the round sum of $40, 100000, and Is to be
taxed unfortunately and excessively in the
creating and maintenance OF a great army
and navy, which is TO conquer and hold the
Fflipinos in subsection and defend the
islands after they have been extensively for
tilted against the assaults of the great Eu-