Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-01-12
FRIDAY. JAN. II, 1900.
THEN.AND NOW.

The speech of Senator A. J. Bey
eridge, of Indiana, delivered in th'
United States senate on last Tues
day indicates that he does not be
lieve that the United States is do
ing an injustice to the natives 0
the Philippine. Islands or retardine
the progress of humanity and civ
ilization, by the endeavor of the
United States army to quell the
disturbance, establish peace ano
maintain a humahe and progres-
sive system of government on the
Islands. Why should anyone rea-
son otherwise than that it is the
duty of our president, congress and
the people of the United States te
support our soldiers in fighting the
insurgents until peace is secured
and a modern progressive free gov
ernment is established. Nearly
everyone in congress and out OF
congress, after the destruction OF
the Maine and prior TO the declara-
ton of war between the United
States and Spain, who is now CEN
suring the president for the course
pursued and being carried out in
the Philippines, was urging the pres
ident and denouncing him for not
precipitating the country in war
with Spain Immediately after the
destruction of the Maine. The
president hesitated. Deliberate,
conservative, calculating people
pondered over the situation, know
ing that the country was not pre-
pared for war. Without a sufi-
cient army except to guard the
frontier, and afford a nucleus for
further organization; with guns,
munitions of war and supplies for
q more extensive army lacking,
the president, with quiet and
steady purpose, began to put his
household and affairs in readiness
to meet the foe, which had become.
SO insolent as to reflect upon the
standing and ability of our country
to afford self protection. Guns and
munitions of war had to be manu-
factured, rations and supplies had
to be procured in the markets; the
recruiting, drilling and forming Of
a much larger army had to be
effected. In the meantime, the
press, senators, representatives and
politicians who make it their con-
slant business and profession to
oppose the administration Of
the government as conducted
by the officials of the repub-
lican party, in every respect, were
urging our president, into immedi-
ate clash of arms with Spain.
After a short period of preparation
the president undertook the task
which his political opponents were
so industriously urging upon him.
War began. All minds turned to
ascertain the location of the scat
tered fleets Of the Spanish navy.
It was soon ascertained that one of
the largest and best equipped por-
tions of the Spanish feet was in
and about the Philippine Archi-
pelago. It was readily understood
by every thoughtful American
citizen that the long line of seacoast
of the United States along the
Pacific was not properly protected,
80 as to withstand bombardment
by ,.Spanish men-of-war, then in
those waters. Constant rumors
were being expressed that our Pacific
coast cities were in great danger of
being attacked by the Spanish fleet
in the Pacific. The president in
view of all of these attendant diff
culties gave positive instructions to
Admiral Dewey to destroy that
portion of the Spanish feet. Dewey
found it in the harbor of Manila
and made very short work of the
task assigned to him. The author
ity of the Spanish government be-
Ing destroyed in the Philippines,
and other events Of the war which
led up to the treaty.of peace between
Bhe two countries, placed the islands
under the dominion and care of
this country. While the treaty
was being considered for ratification
by Congress the insurgents led by
Aguinaldo provoked an attack upon
The United States troops in and
about Manila. This country has
not been given any choice but to
light the insurgents to a successful
ssue, or surrender to them, retreat,
pull down the starspangled banner,
ind acknowledge that the United
States was thus whipped and defeat
ID by the insurgents, and their
'riends in and out of Congress. It
would be well for those who de-
lounce the course pursued in the
to consult their records |