The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-02
in the Situation Which Con.
fronts United States on
Philippine Question.
A BOTH POPULAR AND LOGICAL
Discussion OF the Direct Prin.
cIples Involved and Ma.
tional Obligations.
Special Dispatch to tho Intelllgeneer.

gInIa Is Judge John W. Mason, OF this
city. He weighs well an issue or a sub
feet OF Importance. He has views on
the great questions before the public
concerning the policy OF the admInlstra-
ton with reference to the restoration
of peace and order in the Philippines,
and as to the attitude Of those who
would abandon the conflict for those
things and the establishment OF prop
er free government. They are sensl-
bic and logical. In conversation
with an Intelllgencer representative
to-day, Mr.. Mason gave the follow
ing conservative expressions, which de-
fines the situation and the patriotic
duty of citizens. and deserves consId-
Grafton. The substance Of Mr.. Mason's
talk is as follows:
II regret as much as any one that
our government has been compelled to
assume control OF the Philippine Is
lands. 1 had hoped that this country
would be never called upon to take
charge Of or govern people so remote
from our shores, and so dissImilar by
nature as the Inhabitants of these is
lands. The United States has not
reached the point where 1t needs more
room. A glance at the map OF the
world will convince you that the
United States has more good territory
locality, climate. fertility Of soil and
other natural advantages considered,
than England, France and Germany
combined. We have all that is really
desirable in the Western hemisphere.
We have ample room for the next CEN
tury. Then, when the time comes for
extending our lines 1t would be better
to extend them to contiguous territory
TO the north and south and to nelghbor-
ing islands.
II am not an anti-expanslonist
Much depends upon the time, and more
on the territory to be taken. The ex-
pansion of this country from the Mis-
slssippl river to the Pacific ocean was
wise. It added immenslty to the
strength and wealth of the country.
circumstances Alter Cases.
'sBut combination Of circumstances
seem to have made 1t necessary for our
government to take, at least tempor-
airy, charge of the Philippine islands. 1
regard this as unavoidable, unless the
government should refuse to accept OBJ
legations cast upon 1t as the result of
its own acts.
"It was clearly right to send Dewey's
Ileet to Manila. It was right for
Dewey to sink the Spanish vessels,
capture their armies, destroy their forts
and do them all possible damage. That
Is war. 1t would have been great
blunder, considered as war
measure, to have sent Dewey's feet
away from Manila Immediately after
4ts capture. 1t must be remembered
that at this time the Spanish fleet was
still manoeuvering around the West
indies, menacIng Cuba and our south
ern coast. Then there was quite for
midable naval force In the AIedIterran-
can, threatening our Pacific cities, and
ready to attack any weak or exposed
position. 1t would have been very i'm
prudent not to have kept a fleet at
this time some where In the Pacific
ocean. We did not know then how ut-
terIy inefficient the Spanish navy was.
I'm addition to this, to have captured
Manila and not to have occupied 1t
would have ben construed as n weak
nes upon our part, and would have de-
BtrOyed to a very considerable extent
the object Of the victory, The occu-
patton of the enemy's territory ndds
very much to the moral effect of a VIC
tory.
Would Have Been Dlsgrncernl.
at should also be borne IN mind that
ut the time Dewey went to Manila the
Philippines we're In rebellion against
The Spanish government, that when the
war between our government and Spain
closed there wns no organized govern
mcut-eIther native or spanIsh-to take
charge OF these Islands. Had our gov
eminent retired at the close of the war
these people would have been left in
anarchy-a condition OF things for
which our government would have been
held responsible, morally and fnan-
claly.
mo government, either in times oil
peace Or war. has the moral or legal
right to destroy existing forms Of gov
ornment, produce anarchy and then run
uway leaving the lives and property
Of the inhabitants to the tender mercies
OF the mob.
THE Spanish government had been
beaten aud compelled to retire. leav-
Ing the government in the hands Of the
United States. The lives and property
Of citizens Of. perhaps, every govern
mont In the world. as well as those OF
the nations. nre now in the Keeping OF
this government and It Is cndcuyorlng
10 establish n government which will
give the fullest protection to all. Thi'
humane effort Ia being resisted by tho
natives.
1T must be apparent to every on'
who considers all IN, facts that oui
government Is In no position to retire
and has not been. since Dewey went
10 Manila. SOME Of us were more