Evening star., 1899-02-06


Instructed to avoid war. No argument can
lessen this responsibility and no sophistry
cloud il.
From the Philadelphia Record Qnd. DEM.
The actons a Aguinaldo and his junta
have exposed these self-styled liberators as
set of intriguing malcontents of a super
latively malignant type, possessed of none
of the virtues either of savages or civilized
human beings. puffed up with conceit and
unacquainted with the meaning of such
words as honesty and gratitude And these
are the men who have been compared in
the Senate to Simon Bolivar. the hero of
the South American war of Independence.
and by implication TO the fathers of this re-
publici
The present time would be ill-chosen to
criticise the proceedings of those who by
their obstruction have encouraged the Fill
pinos to commit this outrage. The effect
produced on the oriental mind by the di-
vided counsels of our statesmen. however,
can be discovered in the pronouncement of
Aguinaldo's London agent. That worthy
functionary expressed qualification over the
occurrence at Manila because. as he imag-
ined, it would lead to a rejection of the
peace treaty by the Senate and the with
drawal of the American forces from the
Philippines, This expression shows how a
lack of frmness impresses an oriental. 1t
also shows how Aguinaldo and his aids
have misread American character. But
there is no longer room for discussion Of
the question whether or not we shall assert
our authority in the archipelago. That has
been settled. Aguinaldo without any prov
ocation thereto, has levied war upon the
United States. He is a public enemy to
whom no American can give aid and COM
fort without committing disloyal act. We
Shall have to Dacify the islands and assume
control of their affairs for a longer or
shorter period; or are there any members
of the Senate who will still insist that we
must retI eat and leave the archipelago to
such fate as the 'liberators' at Malolos
might prepare for 1t?
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger (nd)
There is no special concern for the safety
of the American forces, who can no doubt
hold their own but they should rot be con-
demned by the inaction of the Senate to
fight solely on the defensive, like rats in
trap. They have occupied Manila as a re-
suit of the war with Spain, and must re-
main there or fgnominiously abandon the
place and the people whom they rescued
from Spanish misrule. But while IN Manila
by right of conquest they are assailed by
native Ftlipinos and must defend them
selves. They can do this best by aggressive
warfare and yet must await the ratification
OF the peace treaty before they can act
with freedom and authority. The situa-
ton is one that calls for immediate ratifica-
ton of the treaty of peace. We can talk
afterwards about what We shall do with
the Philippines.
From the New York Press (rep).
A cannon shot changes ALL 1t did on
done so on February ). 1890. The question
before the Senate and the nation is no long
er one of ratification merely. 1t is also of
capftuiation The Senate votes for or
against the surrender of civilization to bar
baI1sn- It votes whether or no the men
of the northwestern volunteer regiments
who fought and died in defense of Manila
We're right or wrong. 1t votes whether
they and their comrades and survivors have
legal status between now and the as
semblage of the Senate of the next Con-
gresS In extra session. 1t votes to
whether, the great deeps of savagery being
broken up in the Philippines. the food of
barbaric races now pouring In upon the de-
fenses of Manila shall be met by the duly
constituted forces of the United States of
America by an anomalous armed and
uniformed mob-Still the sailors of Admiral
Dewey, still the soldiers of General Otis
but deserted by their government stripped
of all power beyond the naked one of self
preservation. 1t is to be decided whether
these men are to have for their defense and
that of the 100000 souls in their care mere
ly their naked arms, which any buccaneer
might bear, or also the might and majesty
of the United States of America. Do
own or disown the forces in Manila town,
the fleet in Manila bay? That is the ques-
ton. senators-the only one worthy of your
attention Just now.
The head of the Filipino cabinet says we
note, that the assault was ordered in the
hope and belief that the expected but I'M
1 realized defeat of the American forces
would also defeat the treaty. This gentle
mans American confederates should advise
caution to their ingenious savage associate
But. be its authorship and completely what
1t may, the situation is this: that anarchy
and order, civilization and savagery, in the
shapes of American troops and Filipino
hordes, face each other this eth of Feb
ruary across the trenches of Manila and ask
of the American Senate upon which does
it set the seal of its constitutional approx
al. What answer has the Senate for them?
We know the answer of the country for
the Senate
From the Philadelphia North American (repl
What has happened at Manila has been
expected ever since men whom the people
had right to believe were Americans stood
up in the United States Senate and gave
that encouragement to Aguinaldo and his
followers which, a field of battle would
amount to fiat treason.
For every drop of blood that has been
shed those senators who oppose the peace
treaty are responsible, for We do not hold
the Filipinos accountable for their actions
Let all Americans bear in mind, whether
their interest consists only in love for
the flag, or is deepened by the fact that
they have loved ones in the army at Ma
Mia, that this outbreak is the result of
sentiments expressed upon the floor of the
Senate and faithfully reported to Aguinaldo
by his agent. Agoncillo. The opponents of
the peace treaty have sown the wind; let
them reap the whirlwind.
Whether the treaty be ratified or not the
American flag floats over the Philippines by
right of conquest, and the natives must be
taught to respect 1t.