The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-11
their selfish and treacherous designs.


THE OTHER SIDE.
Would not our adversare:7 nave. sent
Dewey'S feet to Manila to capture ana
destroy. the Spanish sea, power there or,
dispatching it there. would they have WITH
drawn it after the destruction of. the
Spanish fleet: and if the latter, whittier
would they have directed it to sail? Where
could it have gone? What port. in the
Orient was opened to it? do our adFef-
saries condemn the expedition 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 war? Was it not our highest
duty to strike Spain at every Vulnerable
point that the war might be successfully
concluded at the earliest practicdole
moment?
And was it not our duty to protect the
lives and property of those who came
within our control by the fortunes OF war
Could we have come away at any ttine
between May /, 1S9S,and the conclusolf OF
peace without a stain upon our Soou
name?
Could we have come away without dis
honor at any time after the ratification
of the peace treaty by the Senate OF the
United States2
There has been no time since the destruc-
ton of the cnen.ys fleet when we could OF
Should have left the Philippine Archpei-
ago After the treaty Of peace was ratl-
fed no power but Congress could surren-
der our sovereignty or alienaIe a 1901 Oh
the territory thus acquired. The Congress
has not seen fit to do the one or the other.
and the President had no authority to do
either if he had been so Inclined. Wnicn
he was not. So long as the sovereignty
remains in us it is the duty Of the EXecu-
tive whoever he may be, to uphold that
sovereignty and if it be attacked to sup
press its assailants Would our poiucal
;ldversaries do less?
III .IPTNOS TO BLAME
1t has been asserted that there would
have been no fighting in the Philippines
if Congress had declared its purpose to give
Independence to the TaSal insurgents. Inc
insurgents did not wait for the action OF
Congress. 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 ana
while it was being debated IN that body
and while the Bacon resoiution was unaer
discussion, on February 4, 1889, the insur-
gents attacked the American army, alter
being previously advised that the Amerl-
can forces were under orders not TO .hre
upon them except in defense. Inc papers
found in the recently destroyed archives OF
the insurgents demonstrate that this
attack had been carefully planned 1or
weeks before it occurred. Their unpro-
5voked assault upon our soldiers at ume
wnen the Senate was celebrating fupon the
treaty shows that no action on our part
except surrender and abandonment would
have prevented the fighting, and leaves nc
doubt in any fair mind of where the
responsibility rests for the shedding OF
American blood.
With all the exaggerated phrase-mak1ns
of this electoral contest, We are IN Danger
of being diverted from the real contention
We are in agreement with all or those
who supported the war with SPAN, ana
also with those VINO counselled the ralnca-
ton OF the treaty of peace. Upon these Two
great essential steps there can De no ISSUE
and out of these came all OF our respon-
sDbilties If others would shirk the obi
cations 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 PhlllppneS d
government suitable to the wants and con-
ditions of the inhabitants, and to prepare
them for self-government, and to give
them f-government when they are ready
for 1T and as rapidly as they are ready
for it. That I am aiming to do under my
constitutional authority, and will continue
TO do until Congress shall determine the
pos teal status OF the inhabitants OF the
archipelago.
Tt1E TREATY OF PEACE.
Are our opponents against the treaty?
If SO, they must be reminded that it could
mot have been ratified in the Senate but
for their assistance The Senate which
added its sanction by large appropriation
comprised Senators anu Representatives Of
the. people of ali parties.
Would our opponents surrender to the
insurgents. abandon our sovereignty, or
cede it to them? If that be- not their
purpose, then it should be promptly dis
claimed, for only evil can result from the
hopes raised by our opponents A7nsthe minds
of the Filipinos-that with their. success
at the polls in November there will be a
withdrawal of our army and Of American
sovereignty over the archipelago; the COM
plete independence of the Tagalog people
recognized and the powers of government
over all the other esples ofsthe archipeiago
conferred upon the Tagalog leaders Il
STRUGGLE PROLONGED.
s The effect of "a belief in the minds of the
Insurgents that this viii be- done has
already prolonged the rebellion, and
increases the necessity for the continuance
of large army. 1t is now delaying full
peace in the archipelago andSt establish
ment.of civil governments. and has dniiu-s
enced many ofs the insurgents against
accepting the liberal terms of amnesty
offered by General SAIacArthur under my
direction. But for these false hopss a con-
stderable reduction Could have been had
In our mi .itary esta b ashm ant IN the Phil
sipp.nes; end the realization of n stable
government would be already at hand
The Amed lean people are asked by our
o,,yo,ep re IN Weld the soyereienIy he'll