Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-28
M/SREPRESEN7/NC W

Not satisfied with misrepresenting the
Situation with a pertinacity worthy a
better cause, the democratic press have
undertaken the discreditable work of
drying to distort the words of Admiral
Dewey into an indirect criticism of the
pines. His remark are chopped up into
isolated sentences, the qualifying clauses
being supplied by the bourbon editors
themselves. Not a word fell from the
Ups Of the great naval hero that can be
honestly construed into even an indirect
criticism of the policy Of the administra-
tion. of the efforts put forth by General
Otis, or of the expansion idea.
The fact that Dewey spoke Of Aguin-
aldo as a pretty smart fellow" is imme-
diately seized uDon as a demonstration
of the democratic contention that the in
surgent chief is indeed the great leader
which their imagination painted him.
True, Dewey qualified this remark by
saying that "he has not the brains" But
that does not signify much to the aver
age democratic editor, as he knows how
easy it is for himself to be smart without
having a great surplus Of cerebral matter
between his ears!
The little, insignificant sid issue, that
Aguinaldo has not the brains" cuts no
figure beside the subsequent statement
made by the admiral that he and the
Filipino leader were great friends and
are for that NATTER" OF course, no SEN
sible man would draw a literal conclusion
from such a remark, and accuse Dewey
of being che~ek-by-jowl with an enemy to
the American flag. for u an interpre-
tation of the words of a man in his posi-
ton would be construed as treason to the
cause he officially represents.
' But the profound opponents Of a pure
and undefiled democracy will not permit
the sentence to be qualified. It must
stand out, singly and alone, as an evi-
dence Of the greatness Of Aguinaldo, for
Were he not great he could not be the
friend of Dewey, The Anaconda Stand
ard this morning, with a flourish Of trum-
pets that indicated that it's great fight
against the United States Of America had
at last been won, exclaimed:
He also informs us that he and Agu-
1naldo "were great friends and are for
that NATTER which altogether excludes
the idea Of the Filipino leader being an
"upstart" and a nobody" Surely Admit
raj Dewey has not been making great
friends of "upstarts' and .nobodies.',
While trying to make it appear, from
an isolated sentence, hat Dewey. has an
affectionate regard and admiration for
the rebel chieftain, not eXcelled even by
the touching pathos OF the Standards
to accuse the admiral of treason to the
flag, on account of that remark, were he
q candidate for the presidency on the re-
publican ticket.
The statements made by Dewey to the
effect that the Filipinos are not yet fit for
49, khpbS lIlS Illd De
after a time, and expressing the wish that
the whole business was settled, are
construed by the democratic press as be-
ing all that the admiral could 'say in
favor of he Filipinos without exhibiting
a manifest purpose to arraign the presi-
dent-his superior officer" The fact is,
not a word was uttered by Dewey re-
specting the Filipinos as a people that
has not been already expressed, in one
form or another, by representatives of
the national administration. The ability
of democratic editors to go a long way
after a conclusion shows how beneficial
they would nave been to the cause of
science, had they gone into astronomy
instead of politics.
No one has questioned the proposition
that in time the Filipinos will be quail
fled for self government. And Admiral
Dewey does not for a moment doubt that
ii is through American %cupan and
control that they will ripen up to that
stage of civilization. That has all along
been the idea of the national adminfstra.
ton. Admiral Dewey's suggestion that
She Filipinos are more fitted for self