The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-02
DEWEY'S GREAT VICTORY
Celebrated by the Essex Club at
Boston.
LONG DEFENDS MKlNLEY
Denounces the Stories of Cruel and
Barbarous Treatment OF the Fill
pinos-Atrocious Slander
q Delight.

Long and two heroes of the Manila
fight, Captain Wildock of Boston and
Lieutenant Commander Rees, formerly
executive officer of the Olympia, be-
sides Commander James r. Selfridge,
formerly of the Puritan, and Lieuten-
ant Commander \. w. Wilmer of the
Monadnock.
Secretary Long began his speech
with an eulogy of Admiral Dewey and
then paid graceful tribute to the
officers and men of the navy. The
greater part of his speech was a de-
fense of the national administration
Philippine policy
He said is part:
Il believe that no more unpatrotic
utterances, or one more unjust to the
administration of the government of
our country has been uttered than the
statement which | see now and then
that the treatment Of the Cubans by
Spain, or the Armenians by the Turks
is not to be compared with our course
toward the Flipinos in Wanton and
deliberate cruelty. The mind that can
utter such an extravaganza is so en-
tirely warped that it's Judgment is val
ueleSS.
However, the statement has been
made that the treatment of the Gu
bans or the Armenians was not worse
than our treatment of the Fil.pnos in
wanton and deliberate cruelty. ! un-
derstand that this is charged. not as
an incident of the condition of war.
but as the deliberate action of the ad
ministration. If this is so it is an ut
terly mean, unwarranted and contempt
ible assertion. Any mind that is not
entirely perverted knows that it is not
true and that the administration has
had no purpose of wanton and delib-
crate cruelty or of any injury to the
Fiiipinos.
Its first. constant and last instruc-
ton has been to insure them every help
to better conditions. You can point to
no word it has uttered, no order it
has given. no mission it has sent that
has not had in view the improvement
of the Philippine islands. If you will
read the recent proclamation issued by
the commission of which President
Schurmann is the head, you are blind if
you do not see that it tenders to them
every advantage of good government
and civilizations. That any man can
suggest that the spirit thus expressed
compares unfaVorably with that of bar
barities in Cuba or the Turks massa-
cres in Armenia. is a reflection upon
either his candor or his intelligence.
THE delay in the ratification of the
lieve that a large element in this coun-
try was opposed to the presidents pol
icy and favored the immediate indie
pendence of the islands; and his agent
here. Agoncillo. encouraged by the de-
lay, encouraged him in this opinion. 1t
is well known when the attack was
made.
Again this delay left no time for
congress to act upon the question of
what disposition should be made of the
Philippines. but left them in the hands
of the president. He has not the power
to dispose of them. They are terrific
ries for which congress must make
needful rules and regulations. The tltle
to them is in the United States His
simple duty is to maintain law and or
der there until congress can act.
"One would think from what some
say that the president had gone out OF
his way to begin an assault and inVa-
sion upon the Filipinos. Upon the "on-
trary, on February 6, around the city
Of Manila where life and property vert
congreeated and entitled to protection
Aguinaldo and his followers were max
ing their assault, shooting down oul
soldiers, creating riot and disturbances
endangering life and property. actually
lighting the torch and attempting tt
burn the city. I can hardly believe
that even the critics of the administra
ton approve of this at the time, or ina
they approve of the Filipinos firing CT
our flags of truce. And yet ! canno
help noticing that some of them have
no word of sympathy for our soldier:
and countrymen, who, in their line o
| duty, were exposed to those dangers il
and around Manila. They have no Wor,
| of praise for the gallant Funston. ie
! when Horatius won eternal fame b,
swimming the Tiber, he was ESCAPING
from the foe; when the young Kansal
| crossed the Rio Grande it was to at
tack the enemy, and in the very teetl
| of the enemys fire. But if some afro
cious islander is invented against III
| good conduct or humanity of our arm.
! it is source of delight to them.
The president had given strict or
| ders to General Otis to avoid cOntic
| in every possible way and General Oti
| had so notified Aguinaldo. The latter
| instead of seeking peaceful settlement
| went on waging war In the discharg
of his duty to maintain law and order
| certainly the president was justified il
+ SuppreSSing the attacks. And. II tn
| best means of defense was for the tim
| being to assume the offensive, afte
| much provocatiOn. in order to proven
further attacks he was justified in that
"Meantime the most enlightened com
| mission he could select had been sen
to Manila with view To pIlnSllS dpo"
! some proper adjustment. This commis
| sion is now at work. One would thini
from what is sometimes said that ol
the one side are simply the American
| armed forces and on the other all tn
| Filipinos and all their interests. On tn
| contrary have you yet taken pains L
| ascertain that the property and com
mercial and other interests of the grea
city of Manila prefer an American pro
tectorate? Do you know that one 0
two of the islands, through their owl
authorities have officially expressed
their qualification at the American su
premacy and sought its protection?
DO you know if there could be a ire
| and well informed expression of opln
ion among their responsible citizen
| they would largely prefer the shield o
| the United States over them?
| IN, ,.n,, l.nnn. that 4 AoninalHn rrS