The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07
SUNDAY, JANUARY :, 1900.
ruE pn1s.1priN15 SITUATION.

The following is the text OF the res"-
luton introduced into the Senate by Sen
a,or Beveridge OF Indiana, in relation
10 our contr.sl of the Philippine islands
.Resolred. That the Philippine Islands
ara territory belonging to the United
states that 1t is the intention of the
Emitted States 20 retain them as such,
and to establish and maintain such
governmental cortiol throughout the
archipelago as the situation may de-
mand.
1t is hard to gainsay any proposition
contained in this resolution whether one
be an cxpansonist or opposed TO eXpan-
sion. We do not understand how any
intelligent man can deny that at pres
cnt the Islands are territory belonging
10 the United States According 20 all
public law everywhere the sovereignty
in and title 10 the islands were in Spain
prior to the treaty of peace between that
country and the United States. Spain
coded them 10 the United States by TINT
treaty as she was entirely capable Of
doing. and that cessions passed the title
TO them to the United States govern
,nent Whether il was wise that TINS
should have been done or whether 1t
was foolish-whether it was pathetic
nc. TO vest the title in the United States
or The reverse, the fact is undeniable
that the title actually was passed 10
this government, and has been in It
from The day the treaty was signed until.
now No man, therefore. who has any
regard for the opinion that sensible peo-
p!e are TO have Of his intelligence, will
question the first proposition of this reso-
luton that tho Philippine Islands are ter
ritory belonging TO the United States.
Whether wc will continue to hold them
as territory of the United States is an
other question. But that they are her
territory new and must remain her ter
ri,ory until wrested from her or volun-
tarily abandoned by her is as certain
as anything in this world can be.
II is hard also to gainsay the PROPOSE
lion that the United States will hold them
as her territory. How long she will
continue TO hold them as ner territory is
also another question. But she will
hold them for the present and as the
resolution attirms. until she establishes
a government for them that the situation
demands 1t seems clear, therefore,
that Senator Beveridge has introduced q
resolution which all parties can support,
and, therefore. a resolution which WI.
mean nothing. and that he had just rs
well have left unintroduced.
The gossip OF Washington is that the
leading Republican Senators have con-
ciuded that it is just as well to leave
this whole subject alone until hosuliues
have come 10 an end in the Philippines.
This is the sensible view of the case
10 what purpose pass resolutions now
which the continuance of the war and
change OF circumstances will shelve in
the course OF time: There is but enc
appropriate resolution for Congress at
this time. and that is tina. this govern
nient VIII continue the present war until
al armed opposition le its authority has
come to an end. and that it will then
deal with the situation as justice and
determination TO have an orderly and
peaceful administration shall dictate.
That is the mood aud purpose Of the
American people. and all else is mere
leather and pruneIia.