The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-14
Circulation statement.
The Philippine Question.


Americans to learn that the Admnistra-
ton is weakening on the Philippine ques-
tion, but nevertheless 1t is true. To cit
liens who have failed to watch the evolu-
ton of the imperial idea this may come
as a startling fact. Others will regard 1t
as quite a logical consequence OF party
effort to change the institutions Of the
country, resulting in trouble which the
Administration now recognizes as perma-
nent, and from which it would like to be
rid.
II is not so long ago that the American
people were solidly in support of Presi-
dent Mckinley in his determination to
keep and develop the Philippine Archi-
pelago as an American possession. The
intelligent and patriotic masses of the
country considered the acquisition of Por-
to Rico and the Philippines as a sacred
trust-a trust for the people freed from
Spanish n.isrule and tyranny-and expect
ed the Government and the party in pow
er to take the same view of the matter.
They confidently believed that Porto Rico
and the Philippines would be treated as
American Territories, organized as such,
relieved from the tariff prohibitions which
apply to foreign commerce, and brought
under the flag coincidently with the Con-
stitution. As lately as one year ago, the
President and his Cabinet VIGOROUSLY
were convinced that only under the Con-
stitution could the new possessions be
held and administered. But the trusts.
seeing that 1t would be a question between
the Constitution of the United States and
their monoroiies ordained otherwise.
Public opinion today, and the strong
probability that the Supreme Court will
decide that the nag and sovereignty of the
Republic cannot exist anywhere except
under and by authority of the Constitu-
ton, from which alone they derive their
being. have led the Administration. or,
rather, its industrial and financial con-
troll, to take pause. They do not for a
moment contemplate the surrender OF the
home monopoly, with the interests of
which leading Republicans, official and
unofficial, are so intimately identified;
and If the possession Of islands is to
leopard those interests, they are greatly
Inclined t. let the islands go. 1t will be
bad enough if they are compelled to treat
the people of Porto Rico with equity and
according to solemn pledges. The Supreme
Court may compel them to do that; but
that the Philippines also should be gov
erned and not looted, under the pro-
visions of our fundamental law, is prop
osition which the sugar. tobacco, and
other trusts which dominate the party in
power lock upon with absolute horror
Hence. the quiet word is being passed
around that the Administration does not
feel satisfied that an endless war in the
Philippines, involving The necessity for
an army of a hundred thousand men in
the archipelago, TO hold Manila and few
other seaports, is a game worth the
candle. Ii is well enough known that we
should have had little difficulty in pla-
eating Filipino sentiment if we had prom
Used the Filipinos American territorial
government and civil rights under our
Constitution, and had not offered them
the object lesson of our governmental
treachery TO the people of Porto Rico.
But we failed TO do the one, and, to our
disgrace and shame as a nation. did the
other. In both non-action and action VIC
advertised to the world that our boosted
love of liberty and justice must always
be taken as subservient 10 the designs and
demands of the trust oligarchy, without
whose money and power Of persuasion and
coercion Mr.. Mckinley would not occupy
the White House after March next
60 Lat N ,ba
crimes against liberty and our institutions
which have been perpetrated in liberty's
meme in the Philippines. Perhaps We
could not now satisfy the natives that We
intend to make them Americans and citi-
zens as soon as they are able to assume |
that political relation, and In the mean |
time to consider them az Americans any |
way and relieve them and their commerce !
from the burdens We impose upon foreign I
trade and foreigners. There is q grave
question whether. after the bad faith we
have shown in our colonial policy, the
Filipinos ever could be placated and in
duced to accept our sovereignty. Possibly |
that is matter now beyond discussion.
II is true. however that the trusts will /
not, IL they can prevent ii. allow the
Philippines to have free trade with the
mainland. and that, II the impending de-
cision Of the Supreme Court should be
favorable TO the Constitution. and in line
with all the decisions o. our highest
tribunal for three quarters OF a century.
The trusts and the Administration will
want to get rid of our Eastern possessions.
The assigned reason will be that they are
no; worth the annual hundred millions 1t
takes to hold them even nominally. The
real reason will be that monopoly refuses
10 brook the idea of free trade with them.
Not SO long ago Mr.. Mckinley said in
a speech: Wherever the American flag
has been hoisted, who will haul IL DOWN."
But that was when he was honestly in
had been violently imposed upon him by
that public sentiment which forced Kim
into war with Spain. His flag
ism hrs not been preserved since. We
know this because II is not forgotten that,
since that patriotic declaration he has
hauled down the flag in Alaska and al
lowed the British forces who had seized
ana fortified the American Porcupine dis
trict to hold and TO annex It to the Brit
ish Northwest Territory.
Tempora mutantur! The Administra-
tion, which was 50 American two years
ago. when II was thought that exploita-
tion and loot. and not the Constitution, u