El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-27
WHO SHALL SHAPE
OUR
NATIONAL POLICY?

Written Z or the HERALu.

When the s'intolerable conditions
in Cuba called forth from the people of
this country an emphatic dem ana for a
war with Spain, the duty of conduct
ing that war devolved upon our pres
ident. We know how earnestly he
la bored to avert the r,-tO calm the
violent passions of the people, and to
open the way for u peaceful settle ment
of the question:: how long he hesitated
over q step which he, with q statesman
like wisdom, clearly fOresaw might be
attended with grave consequences, and
might lead us far beyond our legiti-
mate sphere of action. Yet the people
the times required it. Then our pres
ident assumed the burden cast upon
him with heroic courage, and began
the prosecution of the war with deci-
sive force and effect. Victory soon
crowned our efforts, but then came the
evil consequences of the cOnflict-con-
sequences which our president had
foreseen and attempted to evade, the
long, trying. and grievous troubles in
troubles are but the natural
outcome of the original cause
of sction-the Intervention in
Cuba, and such being the
fact. the case of Cuba and of the Phil
ippines must be treated as an indivis-
ible one, governed by exactly the same
principles, and requiring the same
measure of wisdom and justice in the
treatment OF it. We forced the Cuban
crisis, and the crisis in the Philippines
has been forced upon US. The only
way open for US is to meet this crisis
upon it's merits, for we cannot shirk it
with honor, to accept it as one OF
the consequences of our Intervention
in behalf of Cuba. Unless we do 80,
we shall certainly be confronted in
the Philippines with conditions far
more intOlersbIe than those which we
fought to eliminate from Cuba.
Such being the condition of affairs
with reference to the Philippines, we
must, of necessity, leave the direction
of our policy to the president who is by
the constitution and laws, invested
with power and authority to act in the
matter, and to prosecute the case to It's
legitimate bounds. Throughout this
grave and complex matter tho presi-
dent has exhibited a degree of wisdom.
candor, and Craftsmanship which
should commend him to the people of
all shades of political belief, and COM
mand for him the highest degree of
public confidence and moral support.
He is charged with an enormous re-
sponsibility in this conflict, and
is amenable to the people
for his action in the
promises. IL there any reason to doubt
that he has acted in the past, and will
act in the future, in an honorable and
straig htfoward manner? Is there any
doubt but that, in shaping his course
with reference to the Philippines, be
has been sctuated solely by sense of
duty, as he understands it, duty to-
ward God and mar? Is there any reason
to doubt that he has been guided from
the outset by his honest judgment, and
the best interests of the American
people? Is there any reason to doubt
his sincerity, his patriotism, or bis
loyalty to the country? Measuring
his course by the ordinary standard of
wisdom and justice, and by the facts
negative in each instance. Would IL
not be better, far better, then
instead of heaping abuse up
on the president, or attempting
to hinder and delay his work, to give
him loyal support in this conflict?
Would it not be better to aid the pres
ident in his effort to esta blish peace
and order in the Philippines fret, and
then when the question of the ultimate
disposition of the islands comes up, to
bring up the contest over the future
of the islands? Would 1t not be wiser
to lay aside ell sentiments in this mat
ter until 1t assumes mature stage for |
decisive action, than to interfere while |
it is in an en- bryO state, and thus pre-
vent its full, legitimate development?
Would it not be more commendable |
and dignity of the country, than to |
give moral and political support to |
those who are in arms against it's |
rightful authority?
The undergraduates, so-oalled, |
seem to act upon the theory that Pres |
ident Mckinley is all wrong in chap |
ing his Philippine policy, and that
right. But how do they know that?
Are we not justified in accepting the |
honest judgment of our president in |
this matter rather than that Of q half |
breed Malay, a sower of sedition, and |
a rebel by birth, by instinct, and by |
training and experience? Should we |
not rather accept the guidance of our |
president in shaping wise, statesman
like course in this matter, than to fol |
low the lurid pathway of Aguinaldo?
''How long halt We between two opin-
ious?"
In respect to the policy toward the |
it will be we'll for the anti
expansionists to ponder these princi-
Piles which are laid down for their guild
ance. Let 1t be understood, once for
all that, despite the usurpation and in
of APainaldO, despite the
fan atical opposition of its enemies, des-
pite the foul-mouthed utterances of |
senseless agitators, despite the treas
onabls acts and words of recreant
the war against the rebels |
in the Philippines will be pursued
with relentless vigor by the admins
tration at Washington, with all the
forces at its command until the affairs
in the islands are esta blished:
l. Upon a firm footing of peace, and
the restoration of civil order.
2. Under firm and stable civil gov
errment, able to assert its authority in |