The true northerner., 1900-09-14
WHERE THE ISSUE is MADE.
President Declares 1t a Matter of Obiiga-
tion Imposed by War,


"With ali the exaggerated phrase
making of this electoral contest, we
are in danger of being diverted from
the real contention. We are in agree
ment with all of those who supported
the war with Spain, and also with
those who counselled the ratification
Of the treaty of peace. Upon these
two great essential steps there can be
no issue, and out of these come all Of
our responsibilities. If others would
shirk the obligations imposed by the
war and the treaty, we must decline
to act further with them, and here
the issue is made. 1t is our purpose
to establish in the Philippines a gov
ernment suitable 10 the wants and
conditions of the inhabitants and TO
prepare them for self-gOvernment
when they are ready for 1t. That l
am aiming TO do under my constitu-
tional authority-and will continue to
do until congress shall determine the
political status Of the inhabitants of
the archipelago. Are our opponents
against the treaty? If so, they must
be reminded that IL could not have
been ratified in the senate but for
their assistance. The senate which
ratified the treaty and the congress
which added its sanction by large
appropriation. comprised senators and
representatives of the people Of all
parties. Would our opponents surren-
der to the Insurgents. abandon our
sovereignty or cede it to them? If that
be not their purpose, then it should be
promptly disclaimed, for only evil can
result from the hopes raised by our
opponents in the minds of the Filipi-
nos. that with their success at the
polls in November there will he
withdrawal OF our army and of Amer
lean sovereignty over the archipelago;
the complete independence Of the Ia
galog people. recognized and the pow
ers of government over all the other
parties of the archipelago conferred
upon the Tagalog leaders.
"The effect of belief in the minds
Of the insurgents that this will he
done has already prolonged the rebel
lion and increases the necessity for
the continuance Of large army. 1t is
now delaying full peace in the archi-
pelagO and the establishment of civil
governments. and has influenced
many OF the insurgents against ac-
offered by General Macarthur under
my direction. But for these false
hopes n considerable reduction could
have been had in our military estab-
lishment in the Philippines. and the
realization of stable government
would be already ut hand. The
American people are asked by our OPP
ponents to yield the sovereignty of the
United States in the Philippines to
small fraction of the population.
single tribe out of eighty or more in
hahiting the archipelago. fraction
which wantOnly attacked the Ameri-
can troops in Manila while in rightful
possession under the protocol with
Spain, awaiting the ratification of the
treaty Of peace 10y the senate, and
which has since been inactive. open
rebellion against the United States.
We are asked TO transfer our sover-
eighty TO small minority in the ISL
ands without consulting the majority
and to abandon the largest portion
of the population. which has been 10y
nj to us, to the cruelties of the guer-
lila insurgent bands. More than this,
we are asked to protect this minority
In establishing a government and to
this end repress all opposition of the
majority. We are required TO set up
n stable government in the interest OF
those who have assailed our sovereign
~ and fired upon our soldiers. and
then maintain ii at any cost or sacri-
flee against its enemies within and
against those having ambitious de-
signs from without.
PROPOSITION OF THE DEMOCRATS
Argument to Show That IL Would Not
Work Well I'm Practice.
'In short, the proposition of those
opposed to us is to continue all the
obligations in the Philippines which
now rests upon the government, only
changing the relation from principal,
which now exists, to that of surety.
Our responsibility Is to remain, but
our power is to be diminished. Our
obligation is to be no less. but our