The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-05-19
Backbone of Imperialism Broken.

From the National Waterman.
Public opinion is onlnipotent in re-
public. Until after popular government
is displaced by militarism, no admins
tration can stand against an enlightened
public opinion At last President McKin-
ley realizes that he has bluudered and is
seeking to cover his retreat in such a
way that the people generally may not
discover it. Surrounded by small coterie
of moneyed men, whose instincts are
those of the pirate, but whose success,
both financially and politically, has been
he mistook the cravings of
their depraved natures for the sentiments
of the American people, and entered upon
a course Of criminal aggression, disre-
garding our national traditions and tramp
ling under foot our national ideals. Public
opinion condemns his policy of conquest
and imperialism as treason against the
genius and spirit of our institutions.
The censored dispatches which reached
us from Manila last week announced that
Aguinaldo had sued for peace, but an
analysis Of the situation based upon all
reliable information that is obtainable
leads to the conclusion that Mckinley
rather than Aguinaldo, is the author of
the peace proposal.
The first dispatches that were received
stated that General Otis rejected any pro-
posal for peace until after all uncondi-
tional surrender was made by the Phil
ippine forces to the forces of the United
States and the sovereignty of the United
States acknowledged by the Philippine
leaders. The later dispatches inform us
that negotiations are under way, and that
an agreement upon terms of peace may
be reached within two or three days. This
last statement that negotiations are in
progress in no wise COMFORTS with the
Dragging, bullying announcement that
was first heralded throughout the land
that an unconditional surrender was all
that would be considered by the American
authorities.
1t must be constantly borne in mind
that all the avenues of information and
communication between the American
people and the Philippines are under a
strict military censorship; that Otis rules
in Manila with as much absolutism as the
rule of the Car in Russia, and that the
American people are powerless to acquire
any information in regard to the situation
i'll the Philippines except such as is doled
out to them by the government censor at
Manila and the President of the United
States at home
1t must also be borne in mind that pub
lie opinion in the United States has
changed with great rapidity during the
past two months until there is no longer
any doubt that an overwhelming majority
Of the American people are opposed to a
colonial or imperial policy by this govern
ment in the Philippines or elsewhere
We must also remember that the scandals
growing ont of the administration of the
War Department, particularly that which
referred to the embalmed and worthless
canned beefthat was Supplied TO the army
as rations, together with the attempt of
the administration to whitewash the beef
trust and the Comniissary Department,
and not only prosecute the general COM
handing the army for making complaints,
but to discredit the testimony of our Off
GERS and soldiers, has gone a long way TO
make it difficult for the government to
secure volunteers, particularly to go to
Manila to wage war of conquest The
attempt of the administration to snub the
general commanding the army aud at the
same time confer undeserved honor upon
Shafter, together with its efforts to de-
prive Admiral Schley of his just merits
and confer undeserved honors upon
Sampson, has weakened the power of the
administration and dampened the ardor
of citizens who would otherwise eagerly
seek to serve their country in either army
or navy.
The mistake that the American nation
was ready to abandon its ideals and enter
upon policy of conquest and imperialism
has at last dawned upon the politician in
the White House, who now realizes that
his rash course is liable to cost him a
denomination by his party in 1900. The
payment of twenty millions Of dollars to
Spain for the privilege OF entering upon a
war of conquest and subjugation, abhor-
rent to all true Americans, was not a
blunder but a crime. The President dis
covered that the American Congress dared
not defy the people and furnish him with
a permanent army. He made the dis
covery that the opposition to his course
IN the Philippines made it hazardous for
him to call for volunteers for that purpose
which Congress provided for. Hence the
only course left for him was to hold un-
lawfully the volunteers that entered the
war against Spain, rush them to the front
and flood the country with accounts of
great victories and stimulate national
pride at the same time by presenting vivid
pictures of the heroism and gallantry of
our soldiers. This being done, the next
move is to make it appear that Agninaldo
and his forces are discouraged and are
suing for peace as a means of extricating
himself from a difficult and unpopular
position.
Why should Aguinaldo sue for peace !?