The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-15
To the Editor Of the Standard.

10 the Editor Of the Standard
In your leading editorial of your issue
of May IA, THE Right of IT, you as
sumo that your contention that the
volunteers in the Philippine Islands are
used illegally in suppressing the Fill
ipino rebellion against the authority of
the United States is the correct one
and then you proceed to argue on that
hypothesis; and further, by implica-
ton, urge the volunteers to mutiny
upon the theory that 1.-The federal gov
ernment has no right to march these
volunteers an inch,''
Your newspaper has a large circu
lation among the Montana volunteers.
l myself send copy every day to that
command. The effect of an article of
the character of your editorial cannot
at least be deemed to inspire our SOL
diers with due respect for their SUI
perlors who demand their service.
There may be malcontents at Manila,
as there We're at Valley Forge, and it
needs no Oriental Imagination to sup
pose what Washington would have
said If an article suggesting mutiny
had been distributed among his troops.
His language would no doubt have been
as sulphurous as that used at Prince
ton.
You are in error as to the term of
enlistment of the volunteers. Com
pany K of the list Montana was mus
tered into the service of the United
States May z, 1898, and Company NJ
on May s, 1898, for term of two years
or during the war then declared by the
congress. Both of these companies
were from Anaconda
The war with Spain was entered upon
on the part of the United States with
no spirit of aggression or of conquest.
but to prevent condition of intolerable
disagreement of a country near her
borders, the destruction of a people by
processes of slow starvation and by in
human methods of warfare and, to
avenge the destruction Of the Maine.
The acquisition of the Philippine ISL
ands by the United States was owing
to the memorable logic of circumstances.
The victory of Dewey in Manila bay
made it impossible for the United
States to honorably avoid the unfore-
seen responsibilities cast upon the gov
eminent by that victory accomplish
ing, as it did, the Spanish power at
Manila.
The United States government was
met with the question whether or not
it would give up the islands to the
peoples thereof--who are confessedly
unfit at this time for self government.
and thus leave them to become the
prey of the governments who are pur-
suing policy of the conquest of such
peoples; or turn them over to some
nation other than Spain, which might
promise to institute stable government;
or itself assume the task originally UNI
sought of their proper government and
preparation for autonomy.
None but visionary would contend
that it would be sound policy to adopt
the first course which would be but to
turn the islands into a battle ground
of the conquest seeking powers. The
second course would be dishonora BILE
and inconsistent with the dignity of the
United States as a nation.
The other two alternatives being thus
eliminated there remains but one: That
which has been adopted by the admin
istration. The idea that there is any
thing in the constitution of the Unit
ed States against acquiring territory
by conquest or treaty is chimerical.
By the treaty of Paris with Spain the
Philippine islands have become as
much a part of the territory of the
| United States as Florida, California or
! Alaska all acquired by purchase and
| treaty.
| The second paragraph of article VI.
| of the constitution of the United States
provides: This constitution and the
! laws of the United States which shall
| be made in pursuance thereof, and all
treaties made or which shall be made