The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-04-01
A Government Without a Policy
From tie Baltimore sun

From tue Baltimore sun
A dissatrh presumably Inspired gaakCs The posi-
tive statement that "the administration VIII not
decide upon is permanent policy respecting The
Philippines uutil the Schurnaun commission re-
ports The same dispatch adds, Nlfh the same
tone 81 authority. President Mckinley feels that
his present know lelge Of she islands IS Too indefinite
as basis for Il fxed policy The President is
rather late ia making this discovery az 20 she n
perfect state of his knowledge. Tt Is most uuforia
nate that he did not find il ogt before be insisted
n condition Of peace with spain that ,hsi country
should ce5c 70 the Philippines ana tefarc DE
agreed 20 pay s3ogl 90 Tor abe privilege ef making
ysr ur1u the inhabitants 81 the islands far most
noticeable feature 81 th5S announcement fuH
Thomasrillc lies, however. ~ tEc statement ihaf
.aLy rdmilaegt4a viii Hot decide upon 20 l--a1-
a.sf Jsss-g respecting The Philippines and iaas
athc President feels tAat hs SaNv letsc af ihe ls-
lands is 500 indefinite 70 constitute issss r -i
Jrif-9'
This is only another illustration 81 lhe if,e ac-
reudeuee 10 te put tn any statement of declaration
81 the President It is nog many seess sino1 ia
his speech before ;he Boston Homo Market Club.
Mr. Mckinley dscisrei thar with the ratification q
the treaty with spain the responsibility q tAc E2-
ecu;iyc would cease aa3 ths DUTY II determining
our future policy toward the Philippines Nesld
de,olve upuu Congress. That speech was assa eN-
argument hy there sloult beno further hests tiaa
on The part Of the senate % Hatfy the gres}g-
slnce that speech was lrivorri TIE srcsiy a- l=.a
ratife5 not only hy she senate. but bg 1ae Queva
Regent u spain. The contingency has arrived ia
which. according 10 Nj Mckinley repeated dec
lzutaas it would become the auty ei Caugor>s,
under The constitution % maze provision G.. ihe
future disposition government, AIS control, mos
only 81 to Philippines but g ali ef cor urv y &c
sulrcd fosst-ssan.- That daty CuasreS- adjourned
withnU attempting - perform even su the rA,r ~
Hawaii of cegrse. if the PTesiaeu; lad besu sia-
care De sou.t have lost no time lu eoavcaiuE fae
Flly--xth Cougsess O. repair The omission. Aui 90
reiisve aim from the responsibilities ue5ieug Ia tbe
present abnormal siats % affairs Iustcad % tlai.
tbs Pru-lden; uas sgFenous.y opFu~-i 90 say "cs.
Of an cXt-l session. resrrinE apparently o. u-Tp
the powers ~ Congress and - govern te trsrlH-.e
which lately belonged 90 ~qaiu 80 his ouu soEcr-
eizu VIII ud pleasure aud through sae medium
81 his oep military s4traGa ASH political agents
The PresiIsH1 continues Go be disturbed ahoaf
wha, permanent potter" Eis administration ei'i
adopt coming. Us this announcement does. ir"r7
Thomssyii!e 10 means. presume. pa; paiicE be
ani Mt Mars Hanna will slopt CoRgTcss {. uat
in Il. neither d rc she American people. The auly
trouble IS that the President docs nos consider la5
bis pres.a, know ledge Of lhe islands saal1ss1s
basis Tor "a hxed policy" tie accordingly greiess
ta.uast for Is report from his commissioner 1ae
country by this time understands pretty Nea what
The Presidents commissions amount 81, sud aas
vet 10 hear % one OF thc which Calls 90 rgIar, 10
accordance with tho instructions IL has received
from Washington.
IfPuesideui Mckinley really wanted information,
either for his own guidance lortuai - Congress.
he would not Gard d; tiaIcult To obtain In recent
number Of Harpcrs Weekly ihere apIeArsi letter.
stated by tno eiitor ui that journal 81 De from "a
gentleman who weat from View York 90 Manila
about thirty years ago and spent nearly twenty
yuars 10 business there Ia q subsequent notice
Of the same letter the c.iitoE again speaks 81 ths
ssrtters know ledge of the Philippines Is -sxcep-
;ional be having livgd -four years 10 Manila, iwo
years iu AI1ay. four ia Cc5u and seven ia toilo
and having Travelled q good deal besides This
gentleman remarks truly that TO Judge people.
stu more 10 goYoru them successfully il seems 70
me necessary 70 know them psychologlCally aud
this can scarcely De done fIom the deck Of man
of-Nar. as Dewey said, nor. may add, from The
tent OF the conqueror-" As the SUM cf his uwn ob
seryatious and experience after 20 many years tAe
writer gives his opinion Of the Philippines in
the situation in which they aud themselves today
that.
They are not worth keeping. and wil never re.
pay as for the blood and treasure We xpeud upon
them.
They viii tend 70 iuJure u morally
aThcy may involve ns, aud probably viii, IN
political troubles
five intend to govern them it must De with the
iron hand and keen mind, for the truth is not in
them: neither do they understs I'D any concession
except weakness.
1T is not white mans country and never Will
! b.