The evening times., 1900-10-06
.FREBDOlI FOR FIIZfINOS
Programme Arranged by Consul
General Pratt and AgHinaldo.
Eugene De Racken Says 1t Is the
Ognize the independence OF the
People and Protect Them TIL IHIaeS-
Establish a Stable Government.


The Democratic Congressional Commit
teee, with the assistance OF S. Eugene
De Racken, continues to send out vast
amount Of literature calculated to en-
tighten voters on the foreign policy of
the present Administration. Mr.. De Rack
en- in conversation with Times reporter
upon the Philippine question, said:
This is, taken all in all, one Of the
ugiiest propositions of the century. The
Filipinos several years prior to the His
pano-American war had declared their
Independence of Spain and were up in
arms to maintain their independence when
Admiral Dew ~ arrived in Manila Bay
May i, 1898. They stood in exactly the
same relation to the Americans. as the
Americans stood to the French when Ad
miral Destaing arrived off the American
coast in July, 1878. Had England, after
seeing the futility of trying 10 conquer
her rebellious subjects sold her American
colonies to France as Spain did TO the
United States. who believes that our faith
eTs would have considered French assist
ance in throwing off the British yoke as
Justifying French domination. any more
than the Filipinos are disposed to con-
slider American assistance in throwing of
the yoke OF Spain as justifying American
domination, And who believes that the
French nation could have been induced
under any circumstances TO be guilty OF
criminal aggressions against the Ameri-
cans. as the Americans now are against
the F1lipinos. even had England been SO
mean spirited as Spain has shown herself
to be il selling millions OF her subjects
into serfdom a2rt
4 say selling millions of her subjects
into serfdom adVisedly President McKin-
ley last February, in speaking Of the at
titude Of the Administration toward cur
insular possessions used these words:
Congress is not bound by the limitations
of the Constitution when it enters upon
the task OF legislating for our colonies 1t
may refuse TO the native the right OF trial
by jury, the right of free speech, the right
to bear arms, the right of peaceable assem-
bly,. and of petition, in fact, all those
rights which the Constitution guards ieai-
ously' If this be true, and the Filipino
has no rights which the United States Con-
gress is bound 10 respect. then he is indeed
a serf.
at is clearly the intention of the pres
ent Administration to change the Constl-
tuition OF the United States net in word,
but by implication. This Is the most dam
gerous attack which could possibly be
made upon that instrument, because or Its
insidiousness.
The specious argument is used that the
United States is a sovereign power, and as
such can exercise that sovereignty without
restraint outside the States. This is a
mistake. The United States as such, Is
not sovereign. The States are sovereign,
while the United States is simply a FEEDER
al Government Of delegated authority. Pow
ers not specifically granted to the Federal
~ ~.
States. This principle Of law has been re-
iterated time and again by the Supreme
Court of the United States, but, nothing
daunted the Administration pursues the
even tenor of its way and rules the Phil
ippines and Porto Rico without organic
law or wholesome restraint Of any kind.
And who believes that President Mckinley,
or any other living man, can WELD irres-
ponsibIe power without abusing it? The
theory that kings can do no wrong has
drenched the world in blood before today,
and is responsible for the carnival Of Ta-
piD4 and murder which stalks unchalienged
Throughout the Philippines,
When Congress convened in Decem-
ber 1898 it was a foTegone conclusion
in political circles that that portion Of
the Peace Treaty ceding the Philippine
Islands TO the United States would never
be ratified by the Senate. There remain
ed but enc hope for the Administration,
and that was to pTecipltate hGSt1IueS
and force the Senate out of patriotic
sentiment 10 ratify the Treaty. While
the protocol of August u provided, in
effect. that the United States should
have no jurisdiction in the Philippine
Islands outside of the city, bay, and
haTbor of Manila. pending the ratifca-
tion OF the Peace Treaty by the United
States Senate, it did not deter the Presi-
dent from committing the outrage he
contemplated. Acting upon this scheme,
the President prepared proclamation
under date OF December 81, 1898, the con-
tents of which were carefully guarded
from the knowledge of the Senate.
This proclamation was cabled TO
General Otis. 1t directed him to imme-
diately extend the authority Of the Uni
ted States over the entire archipelago,
and was responsible for bringing on the
first armed clash. Information was i'm
mediateIy cabled to the United States
stating that the Filipinos had wantonly
attacked and killed many Americans,
whereas our troops had fred the first
shot. This information. however, had
the effect OF forcing the Senate to rati-
fy the Treaty, which otherwise would
never have been ratified. Even in the
excited state of the public mind due to
the belief that the Fi1ipinos had wanton-
ly acted in most despicabie manner,