The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1900-02-09
PBFFER ON EXPANSION
He u phoIds the Presidents Policy
in the Philippines.
IN LINE WITH THE REPUBLICANS
He Says the Democratic Party Is Like
the Waters of the Dead Sea: 1t De-
stroys All Who Go Into 1t.
IN LINE WITH THE REPUBLICANS


lican meeting in Topeka, Kansas last
week, which no longer leaves any doubt
that he is in full sympathy with the
Republican party. His remarks were
uproarously applauded The first part
of Mr.. Peffer's speech was historical.
He talked of great issues which have
agitated the public mind since the olden
times, and proceeded on that line until
he reached the question now before the
people. Continuing, Mr.. PETER said:
"And now we have reached an adj
vanced position in our national career
An incident of war has put us in possess
ion of regions and in charge of people
far away from our old landmark, ard
the democratic party is putting the
governments policy in issue. I am for
the government and against the demo-
cratic party.
Our country In her intercourse
with foreign nations may she always be
III the right; but our country, right or
wrong!
Il believe that this government is 90
ing forward steadily in the line of prog
ress, and it will continue to move for
ward until it is at the head of the world,
This IS the reason that our brethren of
the democratic party cannot understand
this Philippine business. The govern
1on1f "a foI 70 4oo =, i
and it is going to stay there and 1t is
only doing what it is lawful for it to do.
''The democratic party cannot under
stand it. But in four years they will
understand it. They are in favor of ex-
pansi-n now-they are in favor of sup
pressing the revolution there now.
"In 1898 the trouble came, and the
president asked for troops, and there
were five times as many offered as were
needed. Not only that but when the
government offered 5000, 600, 900 worth
of bonds for the carrying on of the war,
the people took them up.
''The French have been great people
Aoi II" v vi Aiis olieII s7o'eInIlIoIl, DttG Inefe
has never been d case like this. And
when we came to the struggle, we found
many of our brethren from the south in
the front ranks. / notice by the papers
that the democrats are trying to get up
a platform. They have not got any
thing left of the platform of 1896. What
al, tn
better do just what I am doing-come
over here and quit.
''Now, I want to talk to you little
about this Philippine business. There
is almost universal want of informa-
ton upon the nature of our present con-
dition, and the facts and the law ap-
plicable to it, When trouble with
Spain came the president quietly asked
a man down at Hong Kong to ascertain
and report the situation over at the
Philippines, in respect to the Spanish
war power there. In short time re-
port was received, about the time that
war was declared. The president gave
the order to the officer in charge at
Hong Kong, and told him to go over
and engage the Spanish fleet at Manila
In few days he had report of an en-
gagement You all know what that re-
port was. 1t left us with the bay of
Manila, the city of Manila and the har-
Dor of Cavite. It was some little time
after that before the trouble began in
Cuba. When the president sent word
out there to engage the Spanish feet,
that was the first sep in the program,
and how well George carried it out we
all know.
Now, some of you lawyers know
what the law of nations is; some of
those not lawyers don't. One of the
laws is that whenever and wherever an
army captures an enemy's country, or
any part of it, and takes possession of
it, and holds it, then it is the duty of
the victor to Immediately take charge
of the people and preserve peace and
order, and protect the right of property.
1t becomes the only government. The
old lines, the old government, the old
machine, is wholly displaced.
so that the very instant that George
Dewey accomplished the destruction of
the Spanish feet, and acquired possess
ion OF the Manila forts. it was his duty,
under the law of nations, to hold them
until further orders, and it was his duty
to establish order and local government,
to protect the people and preserve their
property from violence.
In violation of this order three or