Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-20

President McKmley's letter OF ac-
ceptance Is more u1ln a mere political
statement of opinion. In its complete
review of the acts Of his admnistra-
tion it affords also much information,
entirely new to the public, particular
ly in regard TO Philippine affairs, as
to make 1t a state paper Of the high
est rank. No citizen who cares to be
fully informed about ehese questions
Of such vast consequence can afford
TO overlook the information. official in
character, that the letter supplies.
much of it never known until now,
and many of the facts of most recent
occurrence.
Important in this information is the
confirmation of what was previously
only surmise, that if the United States
did not take the islands, another pow
er stood ready to acquire them from
Spain. This is not explicitly stated in
the letter, but it was one Of the cir
cumstances controlling the presidents
instructions to our commissioners in
Paris to negotiate terms OF peace with
Spain.
Full quotations from these instruc-
tions as sent our commissioners from
time to time. make a graphic narra-
tive and also completely confirm the
correctness of the presidents position
that circumstances compelled the
United States, as a matter of duty, to
assume full responsibility for the Phil
iYoine islands. AS the president says,
war brings responsibilities which we
could not honorably run away from"
The official records further fully
show that there was never any alli-
aace between this government and
Aguinaldo. No other view of this il
possible In regard to these confidential
Official communications. unless we as
sume thai Admiral Dewey and Gener.
a. Otis ana other official representa-
t:Tc> Of tho United States on the
ground deliberately lied to him and to
the pc ople in their official capacity
The presidents instructions to the
Taft commission, now in the Philip
as complete reply to every pretense
of imperialism, showing the promise
| to the islanders of all the rights and
privileges that Americans have at
home.
OF vital interest, and right down TO
date, is information that has just ar
rived at Washington, being the latest
report of the Taft commission, dated
SO recently as August 81. This re-
port, signed by all the members of the
commission, Democrats as well as Re-
| publicans, shows that the insurrec-
tion is virtually suppressed. All West
ern Luzon, except two provinces, is
substantially at peace. The people are
busy planting their crops and asking
for municipal organization. Railways
and telegraph lines have not been dis
turbed for five months. The econom-
ical administration OF the revenues of
the islands by the existing military
government has already created a sur
plus fund OF $4,000 900, schools are be-
| ing established everywhere, and the
natives are availing themselves of the
opportunities for education with such
eagerness that. in a few years, English
will be the official language.
| 1t is the purpose to admit Filipinos
to such offices under the provisional
| government as they are able to fill,
in order that they may familiarize
themselves with the duties of self-gov-
ernment. But the American people
will not want the Philippine Islands
turned over to Asuinaldo and his fol-
lowers under protectorate. They
will not make the murderers of our
soldiers the agents of the republic to
carry the blessings of liberty and Or
der to the Philippines"
"These fats show my countrymen
what is being done to bring the bene-
fits OF liberty and good government to
these wards Of the nation," says Pres
ident Mckinley. lie adds: Not for
aggrandizemont, not for trade, not for
exploitation, but for humanity and
civilization After showing what has
been done, the president gives this
pledge for the future:
1T is our purpose to establish in the
Philippines a government suitable to
the wants and conditions of the inhab-
itants and to prepare them for self
government, and to give them self
government when they are ready for it
and as rapidly as they are ready for
it
This, of course, is according to the
conclusions that congress may reach
in its own time ami way For it must
be remembered that whatever Presi-
dent Mckinley has done or is doing,
is always subject to the authority of
congress, and that his acts are simply
holding the ground and making the
best that passing opportunity may per-
nit, of circumstances as they arise He
is the custodian under the constitution
of these possessions of the United
States Their final disposition can
alone be made by congress, acting as
the peoples direct representatives
That, however, will surely be just as
Mckinley says:
"The Amprican ouaStion iS hatuaan