The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-10-11
M'KINLEY'S BAD MEMORY
,,s,dcnt Contradiots Himself
IN Discussing the Philip
pinc question.

.s,scut Contradiots Himself
IN Discussing the Philip
pine Question.
Mr. McKinley's letter Of acceptance
brings things new and old out of his
treasure like the householder Of Scrip
,.,o saws the New York Evening Post.
,,dependent Republican. Some of the
controversial weapons he uses, how
.ror with surprising carelessness. In
,,oshing at his opponents he makes
-ibbons of his own previous argument.
For example, he now prints a hitherto
,urnressed dispatch to Dewey's, dated
rulv 25 1898. and saying "Merritt's
most difficult problem Will be how to
deal with the insurgents under Agui-
,sdo. who have become aggressive
and even threatening toward our
army" See ther.." cries the grieved
and indignant president, 1.-The insur-
sents wanted to fight us even before
the peace protocol was signed!"
II one could cross examine this i'm
mune witness, many pertinent ques-
uons would be asked. Why publish
This one OF Dewey's dispatches, and
reen the rest under lock and key?
Why II Mr.. Mckinley was thus warn
cd of trouble, did he not take measures
10 prevent It? Why did he go out west,
Law his hand on his heart, and declare
that he never dreamed" the insur-
cents would attack us? The truth is
that the president, in his eagerness to
make a point against the Filipinos. has
forgotten the role he had before tried
10 play This was that OF bighearted,
unsuspecting father Of his people, bent
only on blessing the islanders. The
idea never entered his head that any
body could attack so good man as he.
So he was correspondingly thunder
struck when the ungrateful dastards
assaulted their benefactor. But now he
drops this simple minded. grandfather
" mask and tells us he was from the
first warned of Filipino Vaccinations.
II knew from the beginning that they
we're treacherous," he protests. not
seeing that, In the act, he makes him
self out negligent and mapping COM
manderin chief.
But the whole thing Is a pure presi-
dential afterthought See how plain
tale shall put down this belated in
yention Gen. Merritt's problem was
to deal with the insurgents. was it?
They we're spelling for fight even in
July, were they? Well, what did Mer-
ritt himself say to the Paris commits
sioners in October? He was specifical-
ly asked II the Fllipinos were disposed
to make trouble, and roundly replied,
q" think there is no danger of conflict
And Senator Frye has publicly de-
clared on this very subject, Nobody
dreamed Of any trouble when we were
in Paris. Gen. Whittier and Gen.
Merritt were before our committee and
testified that the most cordial feeling
existed between the Tagalos and the
United States troops" This leaves the
author of the letter of acceptance look
Ing very like q detected manipulation of
the evidence.
Mr.. Mckinley, however, has another
argument in reserve just as good.
What put and end to the cordial feel
ing?" Certainly it was not the peace
treaty, the presidents asserts. Those
who maintain that it was have for
gotten" he declares triumphantly
that before the treaty was ratified
the insurgents attacked the
American army" Yes, but possibly
other things have also been forgotten
The president may have forgotten
that he, before the treaty was ratified
'sx weeks before), issued a proclama-
uon to the Filipinos asserting that the
cession of the islands was complete
and that our military government
would be extended to "the whole" OF
Philippine territory. He may have for
gotten that this proclamation was 6
gross violation of the constitution, voit
both in morals and in law. He may
have forgotten that, irrespective OF the
legal aspect of the proclamation, i
was drawn in such an excess of wan
tonly tyrannical language, that Gen
otis was alarmed, and tried to sup
press it, fearing that its publication
would drive the Filipinos to instant in
surrection. 1t was published by acci
dent, and the insurrection followed. Al
these facts Mr.. Mckinley may haV'
forgotten, but the future historian vii
not forget them; neither will he for
get to characterize the conduct OF
ruler who tried to shuttle away from
the consequences Of his own inconsid
crate action.
II.., II ina