Washington sentinel., 1899-11-04


WHY should there not be Peacei
McKinley's policy at present in
the Philippines is one OF subjuga'
tion-the subjugation Of distant
people Of different blood from ours
to the dominion OF the Unite d
States. The spectacle we present
to the world IN the role Of con-
queror of a people struggling tor
independence would be sufficiently
shocking in any case, but coming
as the end Of war undertaken in
behalf OF liberty, with the declared
purpose OF putting an end to the
cruelty of Spain in Cuba, it be-
comes a biting, burning sarcasm
upon the American name. When
we began the conflict against Spain
every country in Europe except
England said and believed that we
had gone to war for aggrandize-
ment and gain, and that our declar-
alton to the contrary was piece
OF transparent hypocrisy and hum
bug. This accusation was not true
at the time when it was uttered,
but we have made it so since by
our acts.
There is not the least room to
doubt that President Mckinley
was turned aside from the humane
and honorable purpose with which
the war was declared by Congress
to be undertaken-turned aside by
a msconception Of the wishes OF
the people. This impression was
obtained by listening to the shouts
of the 6ckle crowd that usually
surrounds the Presidents car when
he travels abroad, and because he
really had no mind of his own.
simultaneously there was pre-
sented to him the immoral propo-
sition that trade was to be pro-
NOTED by converting the war OF
liberation into one of conquest and
annexation. Dollars, sordid dol
lars, were held up as something to
be aimed at and striVen for as a
sequel to a war Tor the cause of
humanity. And now that the pur-
suit OF gain has involved us in a
war with a people who never did
us any harm, but were our allies in
arms against Spain, we are told
that we cannot change our policy;
we must go on and kill-kill as
long as anybody resists us. The
Philippines Commission itself be-
gan with a threat OF determination
against all Fllipinos who should
resist US, and that one mistake ap-
parentIY requires it to adhere to
the policy OF blood to the emil.
"WelI, what else wouldyou dor"
we are asked. "Granted that we
ought not to have held the Philip
pines and that we ought not to be
at war with our late allies, the fact
remains that We are so. Would
you haul down the American
hag1" The only humiliation in
this case lies in the fact that the
American Republic, with its heri-
tage OF devotion to freedom and its
grand example of the past, is now
engaged in imposing a govern
ment upon another people against
their consent and is pleading its
own wrongful act as its excuse tor
continuing to do so. Because we
began with crime against liberty
we must go on Why so7
The people we are fighting are
poor and weak. They are but a
handful. They are colored men.
Even if they were fighting in bad
cause, there would be no glory in
conquering them, and therefore no
disgrace in ceasing to fight them.
But when they are fighting for the
right to govern themselves, we are
told that we shall be humiliated if
we do not go on and kill, burn and
Tavage as long as they resist.
What would we do under the
present circumstances We would
say to the Filipinos exactly what
we said to the Cubans. Our Cuban
policy was defined by joint reso-
luton of Congress in these words:
That the United States hereby dis
claims any disposition or intention to
exercise sovereignty Jurisdiction, or
control over said island ICubal except
by the pacification thereof, and asserts
its determination when that is accom-
pIished TO leave the government and
control of the Island to its people,
That resolution was passed BY
the Senate and House and signec
by the President on the 10Th o