The record-union., 1899-04-02

but small portion OF SeVeTd1 LllilioiiS.
They represent the ambitions of but
handful of leaders. They do not stard
for the great interests of the people OF
Manila for instance, nor for those hun
dreds of thousands of the inhabitants
who have welcomed US with joy, and
among whom free civil government IS
now being established by our aid
Secondly the Senator errs in his prem
ises, in stating that the Filipinos are
striking for liberty because they were
enslaved, oppressed and down trodden
until our advent released them and
made them freemen. This Government
has manifested no intention of restoring
their shackles. On the contrary we
have distinctly indicated to them cur
purposes as kindly, assisting and ele-
waiting; but we could not officially and
definitely lay out our plans before them
until the peace treaty with Spain re-
sisted by Mr. Hoar was concluded, for
the very simple reason that Spain re-
garded the F'ilipinos as rebels, and we
were bound under the protocol to make
no adjustments in the archipelago un-
til Spain had divested herself of do
minion in it.
Before this happened, while the flag
Of truce was flying, while the treaty
was pending ratification, the men be-
hind Aguinaldo rudely and peremptorily
demanded entry into Manila General
Greene's paper on this point in the April
Century is Of profound interest).
which claim we resisted. To have
granted it meant anarchy, massacre and
arson for which we would have been
held accountable by the world and our
conscience. AT this juncture. angry
at being held back from the loot of the
city and the ravage of its homes, the
Filipinos under Aguinaldo sought a pre-
text of offense, a shot was fired by
sentry at some snealxing fellows at
tempting to pass through our lines, and
instantly, as if by pre-arrangement, the
insurgent troops opened along all
points with shot upon our men, and
war Of insurrection was on.
That is the whole story in brief. And
this Senator Hoar assumes, with sin
gular inconsistency, is fighting for lib
erty, for his own land has at home had
to resist and punish similarly, many
aboriginal tribes, which it wished TO
treat with peacefully but who provoked
hostiities In fact the title to the
homestead Of the Senator is based on
less secure foundations Of right than
are our claims to be present in tie
Philippines since we went there as one
prosecuted in the name Of humanity,
and to loosen the chains from the limbs
of a downtrodden and oppressed peo-
pie; whereas with few exceptions
American territory, ON this continent
has come into the line of title to US
by rude dispossession of the red men,
against whom we held no adverse claim
of title. However, the fact is that the
Filipinos are not fighting for liberty,
but are fighting most unrighteously,
against their deliverers from semi
slavery.
We are not disposed to repeat it too
often-though truth can bear repetition
but cannot resist the impulse to again
say, and with emphasis, that but for
the distractions put in the way Of the
ratification of the treaty with Spain by
Senator Hoar and few other mistaken
men, there would in all probability
have been no war with the Filipino in
surgents. 1t was the hesitancy, the op-
position in the Senate of such as Mr..
Hoar, that gave Aguinaldo opportunity
and encouragement, under advices sent
back by the crafty Agoncillo, to precip-
itate conflict which prompt ratifca-
tion of the treaty would have pre-
vented.