The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-26

patriotic and untrue to the Declaration
of independence.
| At first it was contended that Dewey
should have withdrawn from Manila
Immediately after the destruction of
Montoio's fleet. That idea was mani
testify ridiculous and has been so con-
ceded. It is still urged that the Philip
pine article of the peace treaty was, to
say the least, mistake. It is difficult
to subscribe to that opinion. The
American commission was composed OF
thoroughly representative American
citizens They were gentlemen of I'M
Improbable character and patriotism,
of high attainment in matters of con-
stitutiona1 and international law and
thoroughly acquainted with all the
phases of the question. The reasons
for the Philippine article in the treaty
were sufficiently potent to impell the
concurrence of all these gentlemen as
well as the President and the members
of his Cabinet. The proba bi1ity of in
reference on the part of Germany and
other European nations, as revealed
by the facts at the time, was sufficient
to convince the best statesmen that
the only possible arrangement under
which Philippine government might
sometime be realized was the banish-
ment of Spain from the island and the
insta1lment of the United States upon
title that the nations of Europe
would not dispute. Moreover the aru-
Gle in the treaty was only a means to
an end. It did not determine the
future policy of this country in those
islands, but merely made it possible to
adopt some policy. There was no I'M
seem1y wish on the part of the people
of this country to lord it over the
Philippines. The government went
to war in the cause of humanity and
it is not probable that those in author
ity were actuated by any less unse1fish
motives toward the Fi1ipinos than
toward their brothers in Cuba. The
plans of the admiration. have not been
able to work themselves out because of
the altogether unexpected and unrea-
sonab1e. attack of the insurgents just
as the time was approaching when
their boasted ambitions gave the most
promise of5fu1f1ment.
In the face of these facts, with our
position in the islands justified by
necessity, and possession and sover-
eighty established upon an ihdisput-
able title, there are those who, like
Schurz and Cochran, suggest that we
call an armistice and treat with the
islanders and "disar1n them by justice
and kindness rather than by bullets
and STEEL" Who are we to treat with
and what are we to treat about? There
are 100000 people in the Philippines.
A very small percentage of these, at
the most 100000, represented by Agui-
na1do and the insurgents, are in arms
against the United States. The re-
mainder are contented. There is a
so-ca11ed insurgent government but
who does it representa-. Whence do
they derive there authority? Is it
from the consent or suffrages of the
people? The answer is obvious.
Aguina1do and his coterie of officers
are a se1f-constituted authority who
have abused the good will of the United
States in the promotion of their
ambitious schemes. AS for conquering
by kindness, we have tried that to no
avail After the affair at I11i1o the
representatives of this government
exhausted all patience in that line.
President Schurman and the Philip
pine Commission did all that was pos
sib1e to conquer by justice and kind
ness. 1t was no use. Every resource
has been tried. There is no a1terna-
tive but to subdue by force of arms.
When that is done we can trust this
government to deal in all kindness
and justice with the insurgents as
we'll as those who have not raised even
their voices against the control of the
United States. In adopting a policy
not small minority but the whole of
the inhabitants of the islands shall be
taken into the consideration.
II