Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-28
NINA T|0N0F THEREPUBLICANP ARTY, SEPT. 8.

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\ Feb. 10, 1900, says that he was present at
the Interview between Admiral Dewey and
| the insurgent leader. and that In this inter-
view Admiral Dewey made no promises
whatever He adds:
He tAguinaldo) asked me II my govern
ment was going to recognize his govern
| ment. answered that l was there simply
In military capacity; that could not ac-
knowledge his government, because had no
4 authority to do so.''
Easy to Find Fault.
Would not our 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
ish aeet; and and If TT the e latter, t whittier would
| they have directed to sail? Where could
1t have gone? What port in the Orient was
| opened to 1t?
! Do our adversaries condemn the expedi-
tfon under the command of General Merritt
\ to strengthen Dewey in the distant ocean
in Unf m %ar Ma it
our highest duty to strike Spain at every
| vulnerable point, that the war might De
L successfully concluded at the earliest prac-
| ticable moment?
Asks for Honest Opinion.
And was 1t not our duty to protect the
/ lives and property of those who came WITHIN
we have come away at any time between
| May 1, 1898. and the conclusion of peace
/ without stain upoh our good name? Could
we have come away without dishonor at any
| time after the ratification of the peace treaty
by 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
tory thus acquired. The Congress has not
seen fit to do the one or the other, and the
President had no authority to do either, II
1 \ ~, .,aIrr nod HNn1a hn rant
| So long as the sovereignty remains In us it
| is the duty of the executive. whoever he
may be, TO uphold that sovereignty, and II It
be attacked to suppress It's assailants. Would
our political adyersaries do less?
Begun by Insurgents.
! 1t has been asserted that there would have
| been no fighting in the Philippines IL Con-
gress had declared ia, Its purpose to give n inde ae
! surgents did not wait for the action of Con
gress. They assumed the offensive, they
| opened fire on our army.
| Those who assert our responsibility for
the beginning of the conflict have forgotten
| that before the treaty was ratified In the
| Senate, and while it was being debated In
that body and while the Bacon resolution
was under discussion, on Feb. 4. 1899, the
| insurgents attacked the American army,
American forces were under orders not to
| 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 1t occurred.
| Only Gne Course Open.
Their unprovoked assault upon our sol
diers at a time when the Senate was delib-
Grating upon the treaty shows that no ac-
/ ton part except surrender and aban-
donment would have prevented the fighting,
1 and leaves no doubt in any fair mind where
the responsibility rests for the shedding of
American blood.
With all the exaggerated phrasemaking
| 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
4 these who connseled the ratification of the
treaty of peace. Upon these two great es-
| sentfal steps there can be no issue, and out
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-governmenf. and 10
| give them self-goyernment when they are
| ready for it, and as rapidly as they are
ready fer It, That am aiming to do under
| my constitutional authority, and will con
rinue TO do until Congress shall determine
| the political status of the Inhabitants of the
| archipelago.
Plea for Consistency.
i Are our opponents against the treaty. II
so. they must be reminded that 1t could not
+ have been ratified in the Senate bnt for their
! assistance. The Senate which ratified the
treaty anu the SONSfeSS WHICH liS
sanction by large appropriation comprised
Senators and Representatives OF the people
], of all parties
Would our opponents surrender to the in
surgents, abandon our sovereignty or cede 1t
. TO them? If that be not their purpose. then
it should be promptly dlsclaimed for only
evil can result from the hopes raised by our
opponents in the minds of the FiGDinos, that
with their success at the polls IN November
| there will be withdrawal of our army and
of American sovereignty over the archlpela-
so. the complete independence OF the Taga-
| log people recognized and the powers OF
(! government over all the other peoples OF the
(, leaders.
ProIongs the Rebellion.
/ The effect of belief In the minds of the
ready % prolonged the rebellion and Increases
| the necessity for the continuance of a large
!. army. 1t is now delaying full peace in the
! governments, and has Influenced many OF
i the insurgents against accepting the liberal
! terms of amnesty offered by Gen. Macarthur
| under my direction. But for these false
hopes considerable reduction could have
| ben had in our military establishment I'm the
| Philippines and the realization of stable
government wonld be already at hand
= The American people are asked by our op-
ponenfS to yield the sovereignty of the
! United states in the Philippines to small
I fraction of the population single tribe out
of eighty or more inhabitfng the archipelago,
faction which wantonly attacked the
/ American troops in Manila while in right
1 Spain. awaiting the ratification of the treaty
of peace hy the Senate, and which has since
been in active. open rebellion against the
/ United States. We are asked to transfer
| our sovereignty to small minority In the
| Islands without consulting the majority and
| to abandon the largest portion of the popu-
/ lation. which has been loyal to us, to the
/ cruelties of the guerrilla lnsurgent bands.
/ Demands Cannot Be Met.
More than this, are asked to protect
!! this minority In establishing a government,
| and to this end repress all opposition of the
{! majority. We are required to set up sta
| BILE government In the interest of those who
have sssaiied our sovereignty and fred upon
I our soldiers, and then maintain 1t at any
/ cost or sacrifice against its enemies within
and against those having ambitious designs
| from without.
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
] soverei gnty. A military support of author
!. ity not our own, as thus proposed. is the very
/ essence of miiitarism, which our opponents
| IN their platform oppose. but which by their
| policy would of necessity be established in
! Its most offensive form.