Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-09-28

Fen 10. 1900, says that he was present at
the Interview between Admiral Dewey and
the lnsurgent 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 10 recognize his govern
ment. ! answered that | was there simply
IN n military capacity; that could not ac-
KnowledSe his government, because had no
authority to do so.'
Easy to Find Fault.
Would not our Rdversaries have sent
Dewey's fleet to Manila to capture and de-
stroy the Spanish sea power there or. dis.
patching 1t there. would they have with.
drawn II after the destruction OF the Span
iSh fleet; and IL the latter whittier would
they have directed to sail? Where could
II nave gomez What port In the Orient was
opened to It?
Do our adversaries condemn the expedi-
tion under the command of General Merritt
to strengthen Dewey in the distant ocean
and assist In our triumph over Spain, with
which nation we were at war2 Was It not
our highest duty 10 strike Spain at every
vulnerable point, that the war might be
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
our control by the fortunes of war7 Could
we have come away at any time between
May l. 1898. and the conclusion of peace
without a stain upon our good name2 Could
time after the ratification OF the peace treaty
by the Senate OF the United States2
There has been no time since the destTuc.
tion OF the enemy's fleet when We could or
should have left the Philippine archipelago.
After the treaty of peace was ratified no
power but Congress could surrender our
sovereignty or ALLEVIATE foot OF the terri
tory thus acquired. The Congress has not
seen tlt to do the one or the other, and the
President had no authority to do either, II
he had been so inclined, which he was not.
So long as the sovereignty remains In US Il
Is the duty of the executive, whoever he
may be, TO uphold that sovereignty, and II 1t
be attacked 10 suppress its assailants Would
our political adversaries do less?
Begun by Insurgents.
1t has been asserted that there would have
been no fighting in the Philippines II Con
gress had declared Its purpose to give indie
pandence 70 the TasM Insurgents. The In
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 1t was being debated in
that body, aud while the Bacon resolution
was under discussion, on Feb. 4, 1900. the
insurgents attacked the American army
after being previously advised that the
AWeIlCuu IOrceS were unuer 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 II occurred.
Only One Course Open.
Their unprovoked assault upon our sol
dierS ut time when the Senate was DELHI
Grating upon the treaty shows that no ac-
ton on our part except surrender and aban
donment would have prevented the lighting
and leaves no doubt In any fair mind where
the responsibility rests for the shedding OF
American blood
With all the exaggerated phrasemak king
or 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
4Mse who counseled the ratification Of the
yaty OF peace. Upon these two great es.
sential steps there can be no Issue, and out
Of these came all of our responsibilities. If
others would shirk the obligations Imposed
by the war and the treaty, we must decline
10 act further with them, and here the Issue
was made.
1t is our purpose to establish iu the Philip.
pines n government suitable 10 the wants
0Rd conditions OF the Inhabitants. and to
pare them for elf-goyernment, aud to
give them self-government when they are
ready for II, and as rapidly as they are
ready for II. That am aiming to do under
my constitutional authority, and will con.
tinue TO do until Congress shall determine
the political status OF the inhabitants OF the
archipelago.
Plea for Consistency.
Are our opponents against the treaty. II
so, they must be reminded that II could not
have been ratified In the Senate but for their
assistance. The Senate which ratified the
treaty and the Congress which added Its
sanction by large appropriation comprised
Senators and Representatives OF the people
Of all parties.
Would our opponents surrender to the In.
abandon our sovereignty or cede IL
TO theml II that be not their purpose, then
L should be promptly disclalmed for only
evil can result from the hopes raised by our
In the minds of the lfilipInos, that
with their success at the polls In November
here will be withdrawal OF our army and
)f American sovereignty over the archlpela
20, the complete independence OF the 'Tapa.
og people recognized and the powers OF
government over all the other peoples OF the
archipelago conferred upon the Tngnog
leaders.
ProlonRs the Rebellion.
The effect OF q belief In the minds OF the
that this will be done has nj.
'eady prolonged the rebellion and increases
he necessity for the continuance or n large
lrmy. II Is now delaying full peace In the
archipelago and the establishment of civil
governments, and has Influenced many OF
he Insurgents against accepting the liberal
erms Of amnesty offered by Gen. MacArthur
Inder my direction. But for these false
ropes considerable reduction could have
)en had In our military establishment In the
Philippines and the realization of "A stnble
government would be already at hand
The American people are asked by our on.
1Onents to yield the sovereignty OF the
United States in the Philippines to small
fraction OF the population, a single tribe out
" eighty or more inhabltlng the archipeago
! faction which wantonly attacked the
merlcan troops in Manila while I'm right.
al possession under the protocol with
spain, awaiting the ratification Of the treaty
" peace by the Senate, and which has since
Ieen In active, open rebellion against the
United States We are asked to transfer
,nr sovereignty to a small minority In the
Stands without consulting the majority and
o abandon the largest portion OF the popu.
'ruelties OF the guerrilla lnsurgent bands.
Demands Cannot BE Met.
More than this, we are asked to protect
his minority In establishing Il government.
md to this end repress all opposition OF the
majority. We are required TO set up sta
'le government In the Interest OF those who
ave assalled our sovereignty and fired unon
ur soldiers, aud then maintain II at any
ost or sacrifice against Its enemies within
nd against those having ambitious designs
rom without.
This would require an army and navy far
arger than Is now maintained In the PhIllp.
lines and still more In excess OF what will
,e necessary with the full recognition OF our
overelgnty. military support NJ author.
ty not our own, as thus proposed, is the very
ssence OF militarism. which our opponents
n their platform oppose, but which by their
,ollcy would Of necessity be established in
Is most offensive form.
No Premium on Murder,
The American. people will not make the
nnrderers OF our soldiers the agents OF the
epublic to convey the blessings Of liberty
nd order to the Philippines. They will not