The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-09-22

Feb. 10, 1900, says that he was present at
the Interview between Admiral Dewey and
| the linsurgent leader, and that In this inter
view Admiral Dewey made no promises
He (Aguinaldo) asked me If my govern
ment was going to recognize his govern
n, ment: !, answered that. = was there simply
IN military esp city; that could not ac-
knowledge his government, because I had no
authority to do SOL Il, SO: :.
Easy to Find Fault
Would not or adversaries have sent
DeWey,s feet to. Manila to capture and de-
stroy the Spanish sea power there, or. dis
patching It there, would they have with
ee aad hf ne # the
they have directed to sail? Where could
opened to it? 4 -}&, -
tion under the command Of General Merritt
to strengthen Dewey in the distant ocean
| and assist In our triumph over Spain, with
nsR ghes dty te Strike Spain Ma at
Vulnerable point, that the war might be
sue cessfully concluded at the earliest prac-
ticable moment? r. |E r..
- Asks for Honest Opinion.
And was it not our duty to protect the
lives and property Of those who came within
our control by the fortunes Of war? Could
we have come away at. any time between
May 1, 1898, and the conclusion Of peace
| without stain upon our good name? Could
we have come away with out dfshonor at any
time after the ratification Of the peace treaty
b. the Senate Of the United States?
There has been no time since the destruc-
should have: left the Philippine archipelago.
! After the treaty of peace was ratified no
power but Congress could surrender our
! sovereignty or ALLEVIATE foot of the terri
tory thus acquired. The Congress has not
| seen ft to do the one or the other, and the
President had no authority to do either, If
he had been SO inclined, which he was not. ,
So long as the sovereignty remains in us it
Is the duty Of the executive. whoever he
may be, to uphold that sovereignty, and If 1t
be attacked to suppress its assailants. Would
our political adversaries. do less?
Begun by Insurgents.
It has been asserted that there would have
been no fighting in tie Philippines If Con-
| gress had declared Its purpose to give indie
pendence to the Tagal Insurgents. The in
surgents did not wait for the action of Con
gress. They assumed the offensive, they
opened ire on our army.
Those who assert our responsibility for
the beginning Of the conflict have forgotten
that before the treaty was ratified in the
that body. and while the Bacon resolution
was: under discussion, on Feb. 4, 1899, the
insurgents attacked : the American army,
after IT. r being previously advised that the
fire upon them except in defense. The pa
pers found in the recently captured archives
of the insurgents; demonstrate that, this at
| tack had been carefully planned for weeks
before it occurred.
f. Only One Course Open.
Their unprovoked assault upon our SOL
diers at time when the Senate was DELHI
Grating upon the treaty shows that no ac-
ton on our part except surrender and aban-
donment would have prevented the fighting,
and leaves no doubt in any fair mind where
the responsibility rests for the shedding OF
American blood.
al ho +o6 nh ;;
OF this electoral contest, we are in danger of
being diverted from the real contention. We
are In agreement with all of those who sup
ported the war with Spain, and also with
those who scounseled the ratification of the
treaty of peace. Upon these two great es-
sential steps there can be no issue. and out
OF these came all Of our responsibilities. If
others would shirk the obligations imposed
by the war and the treaty, we must decline
to act further with them and here the issue
was made.
1t is our purpose to establish in the Philip
pines government suitable to- the wants
and conditions Of the Inhabitants, and to
prepare them for .self-goyernment, and to
give them enhancement when they are
ready for it.. That am aiming to do: under
my constitutional authority, and viii con
tinue to do until Congress- shall determine
| the political status Of the, inhabitants Of the
archipelago.
Plea for Consistency.
: Are our opponents against the treaty? II
SO, they must I've reminded that 1T could not
have been ratified in the; Senat e but for their
/ assistance. The Senate which ratified the
treaty. and the Congress- which added its
sanction by large appropriation comprised
Senators and Representatives of the people
of all parties. - t'.'..-
! surgents. abandon our sovereignty or cede II
; to them? II that be not their purpose, then
1T: should be. promptly discaimed, for only
y evil can result from the hopes raised by oul
q IL, hn Ind ~ 81 4 lot, ~,
j: with their success at the polls in November
/ there will be withdrawal Of our army and
! OF American sovereignty over the archipea
60, the complete independence of the Taga
! government over all the other peoples of the
archipelago conferred upon the Tagalos
leaders.
/ Pro1onss the Rebellion.
The effect of belief in the minds of the
insurgents that this will be done has al
ready prolonged the rebellion and increases
the necessity for the continuance Of large
army 1t is now delaying full peace in tho
> archipelago and the Establishment of ciyi
governments, and has Influenced many OF
the insurgents against accepting the liberia
terms OF amnesty offered by Gen. Macarthur
hopes a considerable reduction could have
! ben had in our military establishment in the
! Philippines and the realization Of stable
government would be already at hand.
! The American people are asked by our op-
i ponents to yield the sovereignty Of the
7, United States in the Philippines to small
traction OF the; population. a single tribe out
! of eighty or more inhabiting the archipelago.
a faction which wantonly attacked the
American troops In Manila while IN right
I fu possession under 4; the protocol with
Spain, awaiting the ratification Of the treaty
| Of peace by the Senate, and which has since
been In active, open" rebellion against the
United States. We are asked to, transfer
our sovereignty to a small minority in the
/ Islands without consulting the majority and
{ to abandOntith largest portion OF the popu-
4 lation, which has been. loyal to us. to the
cruelties of the guerrilla insurgent bands.
-4l Demands Cannot Be Met. -
! More than this. we are asked to protect
this minority In establishing government
and to this end repress all oppos. ton OF the
majority. We are required to set up sta
| BILE government In the Interest of those who
have assaf1ed our sovereignty and fired upon
our soldiers, and then maintain It at any
cost or sacrifice against its enemies within
and against those having ambitious designs
! from without. n
i4@.This would require an army and navy far
larger than is now maintained In the Philip
pines and still more in excess OF what will
be necessary with the full recognition OF our
sovereignty. "A military support of author
lily otfCur own, as thus proposed. is the5ye Y
essence OF nilitarlsm. which our opponents
In their platform oppose, but which by their
policy would ofSnecessity be established ii
| Its most offensive form.
NosFremiunl on Murder.
The American people Will not make the
republic TO convey the blessings OF ffbert {
and order to- the Philippines They will not
make them the builders of the new, common
wealth. Such q course would he Il he srayn 1