Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-02-15

Democratic senators hold to the
same opinion. The long-winded ha-
rangues 10y the opposition, in which
the virtues of A~guinaldO have re-
ceived more praise than the president
OF the United States, have given cour-
age and confidence to the former and
assurance to the junta representing
him In this country. The b%alderdash
INDUCED in by Senators Hoar, Hale,
Tillman and Others has caused meal
culable mischief. The adoption of
the treaty was Of paramount impor-
tance, and 1t should have been done
promptly, as this country was tech
nically at war with Spain until the
treaty was ratified. As ratification
Of the treaty bound us to no perma-
nent policy al regards the Philip
pines, it is difficult to understand the
position taken by even so small a
minority.
The Washington correspondent of
the Chicago Times Herald says the
opposition to the treaty has been a
political game, and that the Ameri-
can soldiers slain and MANNED at Ma
Mia are n sacrifice to the petty am
bition Of scheming politicians. 1t fur
Their says:
"Col. William jennings Bryan urged
the Democratic senator's to vote for
the treaty and settle the future of the
Philippines afterward. SenatorGo
man conceived the idea OF prov
ing himself a stronger leader in his
party than the late candidate for the
presidency. 1t is believed the Mary
land senator hoped by defeating the
treaty to snatch from the Nebraskan
the Democratic nomination for presi-
dent in 1900. He wheedled all the dis
affected elements In the senate into O
combination against the treaty."
There may be a great deal Of truth
in this. 1t il at least some satisfac-
ton to know that only two Republi-
can senator's voted against the treaty
-Hoar of Massachusetts and Hale of
Maine.
Ii is thought that Agoncillo, repre-
senting Aguinaldo in Washington,
was quietly informed that the treaty
wosld be defeated several days be-
, fore the vote was taken, and that he
cabled his chief the information and
possibly urged the opening Of hostili.
ties. 1t was a queercircumstance, at
least, that a battle should be fought
a day before the vote was to bt
taken.
II there was anything needed to
show the unfitness of the Filipinot
: for immediate seli-government, they
have supplied 1t by a wholly unpro
voked attack upon the American
troops. Possibly the Spanish-Amer
= lean statesmen and editors have don,
their part to make these ignoran'
' people believe that the United States
I" intends to rule them with an iror
hand, but no unpreiudiced, sensible
man believes that. The ignoranc,
u and misconcepti0n of the Filipinol
d 10 shown by the surprise they mani
. fest at the action of our troops II
- gathering up their wounded and car
y ing for them IN hospitals. But thcs,
10 deluded heather, led by a few ambi
e tious and INSCRIPTIONS men, havede
fled the power Of the United States
c which meant them only good, anC
u they will find that they are not con
a tending against Spain before many
days.
We believe that eventually the Fill
d pinos will have agovernment of theiI
own. but the attack upon our forces
at Manila will not tend to hasteI
that day. There were no indication.
ID that the Filipinos were about t,
. throw off the Spanish yoke. Hat
. Spain been free to deal with her Phil
Z ippine subjects alone she would moi
have found It a difficult task. Tn,
American warships and troops al
Manila did more for the Filipinol
D than they could possibly do for them
i selves, yet they show their apprecia
tion by attacking their b~enefactors
The situation IN u peculiar one, but
a there IL only one solution, and that
IL to make the power of this govern
t ment felt, II not by kindness, then by
force. In the meantime the political
e blatherskites and small American.
will get all the comfort they can out
= OF it. We had copperheads during
the civil war to keep patriotic blood
from getting sluggish, and a few
:, kickers will not come amiss now.