The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-07
THE M'CALL POLICY OF INFAMy.

By his speech in opposition to the army
bill Representative Mccall, of Massachu-
sets. has enrolled himself In the ranks of
unpatriotic and small Americans. His dis
trict embraces part of the city OF Boston.
and he has evidently fallen under the In
fuence of the so-caIled Anti-imperialistic
League which nests in that city. 1t is a pity
that a city which in other national crises
has contributed so much to promoting
patriotism and upholding the government
should at this time be the chief headquar-
ters of a faction as unpatriotic as were the
Federalists of 1872.
Mr.. McCalIs speech against the army bill
took the wide range OF opposition to the
entire Philippine policy of the administra-
patch, "in his warnings of the dangers
which lay ahead of the government il a
colonial policy was persisted in" No per-
son has any idea of persisting in a colonial
colonial policy. 1t is but a new name for
Imperialism. which the people branded as.
a fake In the recent election. No person
thinks of persisting in the policy of terri
torial extension. All that is being done is
to establish the authority of the United
States in territory which has providentially
and Unexpectedly come into its possession.
IL using force to establish the authority of
the government in territory that rightfuIIy
belongs to 1t is persistence in a colonial
policy, then every President who has d.
rected military proceedings against the In
dams has been guilty of 1t. and Abraham
Lincoln pursued Ii from the day of his cleo
ton to that of his death. Continuing, the
report says:
Mr.. Mccall also criticised technically sew
eral features of the bill, especially that
lodging in the President the discretion to
expand or reduce the size of the army at
will. In concluding he likened the uncon-
querable spirit which opposed our sway In
the Philippines to that of Washington at
Valley Forge. Love of independence. he
said. was the modest heritage of the hui
man heart" He declared that the United
States should Immediately give the Filipino
people honorable assurance that they should
have a government of their own.
III ViONlSiOH u Tic army oil winch
gives the President the discretion to in
crease or reduce the size OF the army at
will is a wise one. The power has been
conferred on many Presidents. and has
is to enable the President To recruit the
army up to the maximum, or to any point
below the maximum that circumstances
may require. and 10 reduce il to a peace
basis as soon as circumstances will permit.
This is clearly a measure of economy, and
failure to adopt 1t would put it out of the
Presidents power to reduce the expenses
of the army when the occasion demanded
IL. 1t would. in effect, compel him TO con-
tinue the army on a war footing in time OF
peace. awaiting the authority of Congress
10 reduce it. No person will deny that ii
we are TO hold and govern the Philippines
and man our seacoast defenses and military
posts at home the army must be increased
the maximum proposed by the bill. The
only alternative 10 this is the abandonment
OF the Philippines. which would disgrace
US before the world. The increase OF the
army which IS now imperative would not
continue 10 ne. In a few years. probably
I In two or three. the army could be ma
teriaily reduced. and the chief executive of
the Nation. the commander-in-chief of the
army. should be given a free hand 10 make
the reduction as soon as circumstances will
justify. Mr.. McCalls criticism of this pro-
vision Is equivalent to a statement OF lack
OF confidence in President Mckinley and of
! unwillingness to confer on him a discretion
airy power that has been conferred on other
Presidents.
1t is difficult to read with any patience
Mr.. McCairs comparison of the treacherous
' Aguinaldo and the remnant OF his throat