Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-10-01
M 'KINLEY'S BAD MEMORY
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
ture, says the New York Evening Post,
Independent Republican. Some of the
controversial weapons he uses, how
ever, with surprising carelessness. In
slashing at his opponents he makes
ribbons of his own previous argument.
For example, he now prints hitherto
suppressed dispatch to Dewey's, dated
July %, 1898, and saying "Merritts S
most difficult problem will be how to
deal with the insurgents under Agui-
naldo, who have become aggressive
and even threatening toward our
army" See there" cries the grieved
and indignant president, "the insur-
gents wanted to fight us even before
the peace protocol was signed!"
If one could cross examine this i'm
mune witness, many pertinent ques-
tions would be asked. Why publish
this one of Dewey's dispatches, and
keep the rest under lock and key?
Why, If Mr.. Mckinley was thus warn
ed of trouble, did he not take measures
to prevent it? Why did he go out west,
lay his hand on his heart, and declare
that he never dreamed" the insur-
gents would attack us? The truth is
that the president, in his eagerness to
make point against the Filipinos, has
forgotten the role he had before tried
to 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 a man as he.
So he was correspondingly thunder
struck when the ungrateful dastards
assaulted their benefactor. But now he
drops this simple minded, grandfather
ly mask and tells us he was from the
first warned of Filipino Vaccinations.
Il knew from the beginning that they
were treacherous," he protests, not
seeing that, in the act, he makes him
self out negligent and mapping COM
mander-in-c -chief.
But the whole thing is a pure presi-
Dental 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 were spelling for a fight even in
July, were they? Well, what did Mer
rift himself say to the Paris commits
sioners in October? He was specifical-
ly asked if the Filipinos were disposed
to make trouble, and roundly replied,
Il think there is no danger of conflict"
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 a 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
(six weeks before), issued a procama-
tion 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
gross violation of the constitution, void
both in morals and in law. He may
have forgotten that, irrespective of the
legal aspect of the proclamation, it
was drawn in such an excess of wan
tonly tyrannical language, that Gen.
Otis was alarmed, and tried to sup
press it, fearing that it's publication
would drive the Filipinos to instant in
surrection. 1t was published by acci-
dent, and the insurrection followed. All
these facts Mr.. Mckinley may have
forgotten, but the future historian will
not forget them; neither will he for
get to characterize the conduct of
the consequences of his own inconsid-
crate action.