The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-08-30
AS to the Philippines.

President Mckinley has recently
delivered two important speeches,
which have an important bearing on
the Philippine question, and which
prove that imperialism has an exist
ence only in the Imagination of those
who are politically opposed to the
present administration. The Presi-
dent, in his Ocean Grove speech,
states in unmistakabIe language the
policy of the government, which is !:
peace first, then, with charity for
all, establish a government of law
and order, protecting life and prop
erty, and occupation for the we'll
being of the people who will partici-
pate in it under the Stars and
Stripes.
1t is not the President nor the army
and navy who are responsible for the
situation in the Philippines to-day.
Had it not been for the traitorous
actions of such men as Edward
Atkinson and that class of Congress-
men who delayed the ratification Of
the peace treaty, there would be
probably existing to-day in the Philip
pines the same condition of affairs as
exists in Cuba and Porto Rico.
President McKinley's object and
aim was not directed one way in
Cuba and Porto Rico, and another
way in the Philippines The fortunes
of war placed the former islands
under the control of the United
States, and the same war placed the
Philippine Islands under the same
flag. And had the United States not
assumed sovereignty in the Philip
pines, the islands would have been
fallen upon by the nations Of the
world, who were waiting like pack
of hungry wolves for the opportunity,
and the latter end of the Filipinos
would have been worse than the
first.
One of the great arguments of the
anti-expansion, anti-imperialists il
that the United States is seeking tC
deprive the people of the islands OF
f-government, and that the United
States desires to govern without the
consent of the governed. President
Mckinley effectually disposes Of this
when he says that the purpose Of the
administration is TO provide govern
ment "for the well being of the people
who viii participate in it under tn,
Stars and Stripes
In his speech welcoming the Tentl
Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Presi
dent virtually declared the policy o
our government, when he said
'Peace brought us the Philippines
by treaty cession from Spain. Tn
Senate of the United States rattle,
the treaty Every step taken was il
obedience to the requirements of tn
Constitution. 1t became our territOr.
and is ours, as much as the Louisiani
purchase or Texas or Alaska
In few words he recounted tn
circumstances which led to hostilities
nobly exonerates General Otis frou
blame and takes upon himself all tn
responsibility for the humane polio
which has proved unsuccessful. Their
will be no further parleying, he says
with those who wage war against tn
United States.
This anti-imperalst cry is no ne'
theme for the Democracy. 1t is no
ancient history by any means, whe
this same party were the advocate
and upholders Of slavery, not in tn
PHILIPPINES, but in the q nited States
when the Declaration Of lndepenC
ence had declared that all men wer
created equal. President McKinle
fought to make that statement in tn
immortal document true, and he ca
he more safely trusted to see that il
principles are maintained than ca
many of those who are railing again'
him and his administration.