The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-23
PROBLEMS or THE FUTURE.


dncea only the Introductory remarks of
our recent article on the Eastern question,
leaving out the argument which followed.
AID then bring against rs ms charge OF
having treated the subjec: iippantly. and
OF having failed TO answer its question
True, we said at the outset that t;ape-
rialisn was campaign cry. and there IS
always more or less c.ap-trap about cam
paign cries, 10 matter from what party
they enanate. But. having dismissed tnat
phase of the question, we treated the SUB
iect as seriously as We knew how, con-
tending that ii was, il the language OF
Mr.. Cleveland. a condition and not theory
that confronted the people of these United
States in the East. The IndeS-Appeai IN
sists. however. that we gave it a categori-
cal answer to its question as to whether or
not we favor the policy Of President Nc
kinney towards the Philippines. Time and
again we have said that we did not see
how Mr.. Mckinley could consistently have
pursued any other policy than that which
he mas pursued in restoring order in the
Philippines and in aiding the people of
those Islands to establish a stable form of
government. We have said this in simple
Justice to the head of the nation. In DIS
cussin- his acts we have not considered
his party affll.ation. we have not discussed
him as me nominee Of the Republican
party for the Presidency. but as President
Of these United States, as commander-in-
chief OF our forces. as that officer of Gov
ernrncnt whose duty it was to deal with
thu instruction in The Philippine Islands
We have said, and we say it now, that it
was plainly President AicKinley's duty
10 suppress the Instruction to protect the
neaceabls inhabitants of the island from
Agtltnaide's band, and that it would have
been base and cowardly and disgrace to
no na.,,n to have withdrawn under fire
and "a have left the Filipinos to the mercy
Of the 3nsurrecuonists.
So much for the past. As for tho future,
we said 10 our Petersburg contemporary,
as we had time and again said, that the
future policy of this Government towards
tina Philippines was {. question to be de-
ctded according to the emergencies that
might arise and that 1t could not be dis
posed of offhand We maya remark just
here that there are various differences
among The Democrats on this poins. MI
Bryan says, that if elected President, he
viii cali Congress together in extraordinary
session and recommend that the Fiiipinos
be given their independence; but he does
not propose TO Withdraw the troops until
order has been restored. The Atlanta Con-
stttution, whose editor IS a part of the
National Democratic organization, recently
said on this point:
As We have pointed out in these columns
time and time again, 1t is preposterous 10
ST ppose that any sensible Democrat ever
entertained the idea that the United States
could afford to Shirk the Responsibilities
thrust upon them by the fortunes CT war
In matters OF such large import as the oc
cupation Of these islands by the Americans,
we do not believe IN accident The event
is Provident;al IL its nature; it means
something more important than the W.sest
man can now fOresee Whatever il may
mean, it certainly did not and does not
mean that we are to turn these people over
TO tneir own unframed and undlsc.pilned
political desires, or to become tho prey oil
European rapaclty. Mr. Bryan has
never been in favor of Withdrawing our
troops from the PHILIPPINES under fire.
AS we understand the position of the
IndeS-Appeal, it is not in accord with Mr..
Bryan and the Atlanta Constitution in The
views above expressed.
The Memphis Commercial-Appeal says:
The anti-expansion plank of the Kansas
City platform may serve some purpose as q
campaign document, but il is absolutely
meaningless as 4 declaration IN favor OF
abandoning the philippines, because 1t
states. as condition precedent, that we
must establish a stable government in the
islands before dong anything else. and he
establishment Of a stable governments "1!l
kser US busy for many Years unless the
Tagal insurgents quit shootnS at our Ieo-
pie who are fashioning q stable govern
melt. This seems 10 Us as pain as PIKE
STAFF.
again, Senator Morgan. OF Alabama, who
was recently reelected by a big majority
from that State. said in a recent interview,
thar tbs United States. having now per-
formed its first great duty in China, should
complete it in caring for our own people
and others involved IN q common peril and
distress, and added these significant words:
our ability 10 do this splendid work came
from our strength IN the Philippine II
that strength IS increased, we can maintain
there an armed neutrality and give an
ASYLUM 10 those entitled TO our care until
the clouds pass by.
AS for The Times, II has simply con-
tended that the United States must OF ne
cessity play conspicuous part hereafter
in the affairs Of the East, and that it is
scarcely less than rash for this Govern
,nent 10 commit itself pnequivocaiiy, at
This time, 10 any definite policy with regard
10 the philippine islands: We have been
dealing With tho situation as great ma
tionaf question rather than as question OF
party politics. We hase said, and we IN
sist, that nc matter which parry shall De
in power next year. no matter vino IS
elected President, whether Bryan or NC
kinney, this nation has vital interests IN
the East that must be protected II is q
practical question. question that We can
not get away from. and il must be dealt
with in practical way. If Mr.. Bryan
l L.,