The Republican., 1900-09-13

surrender and abandonment would have
prevented the fighting and leaves no
doubt in any fair mind OF where the re-
sponsibility rests fDr the shedding of
American blood.
With all the exaggerated phrase max
ing of this electoral contest we are in
danger or being diverted from the real
contention.
Proposed Philippine Government.
We are in agreement with all of those
who supported the war with Spain and
also with those WHO counseled the ratif-
cation Of the treaty Of peace. Upon these
two great essential steps there can be no
issue, and out of these came all of our
responsibilities. II others would shirk
the obligations imposed by the war and
the treaty, We must decline to act fur
ther with them, and here the issue was
made. 1t is our purpose to establish In
the Philippines a government suitable to
tie wants and conditions of the inhabt-
ants and to prepare them for self govern
ment and to give them self government
when they are ready for it and as rapidly
as they are ready for it. That am aim
Ing to do under my constitutional author
ity and will continue to do until con-
EiCSS SuulA QeLcIlilluG lEt SltluS
of the inhabitants of the archipelago.
Are our opponents against the treaty.
II so, they must be reminded that it
could not have been ratified In the SEN
ate but for their assistance The senate
which ratified the treaty and the con-
gress which added its sanction by large
appropriation comprised senators and
representatives of the people OF all par
ties.
Would our opponents surgender to the
insurgents, abandon our sovereignty or
cede it to them? IL that be not their
purpose, then it should be promptly dis.
claimed, for only evil can result from the
hopes raised by our opponents in the
minds OF the Filipinos that with their
success at the polls in November there
will be withdrawal of our army and of
American sovereignty over the archipela-
go, the complete independence of the
Tagalog people recognized and the pow
ers Of government over all the other peo-
pies of the archipelago conferred upon
the Tagalog leaders.
The effect of belief in the minds of
the insurgents that this will be done has
already prolonged the rebellion and in
creases the necessity for the continuance
OF a large army. 1t Is now delaying full
peace in the archipelago and the estab-
lishment of civil governments and has ill.,
tuenced many of the insurgents against
accepting the liberal terms of amnesty
offered by General Macarthur under my
direction. But for these false hopes a
considerable reduction could have been
had in our military establishment in the
Philippines. and the realization OF sta
BILE government would he already at
hand.
The American people are asked by our
opponents to yield the sovereignty Of the
United States in the Philippines to a
small fraction of the population, q single
tribe out of 80 or more inhabiting the
archipelago. Il faction which waut0nly at
tackled the American troops in Manila
while in rightful possession under the
protocol with Spain, awaiting the ratifi-
cation of the treaty of peace by the SEN
ate and which has since been in active,
open rebellion against the United States.
We are asked TO transfer our sovereignty
to q small minority in the islands without
consulting the majority and TO abandon
the largest portion Of the population,
which has been loyal to us, TO the cruel
ties of the guerrilla insurgent bands.
More than this. we are asked to protect
this minority in establishing q govern
ment and to this end repress all opposi-
ton of the majority. We are required to
set up stable government in the interest
of those who have assailed our sovereign
ty and fred upon our soldiers and then
maintain it at any cost or sacrifice
against its enemies within and against
those having ambitious designs from
without.
This would require an army and navy
far larger than is now maintained in the
Philippines and still more in excess of
what will he necessary with the full rec
ognition of our sovereignty. 4 military
support of authority not our own as thus
proposed is the very essence Of militarism,
which our opponents in their platform
oppose. but which by their policy would
OF necessity be established in its most
offensive form.
Betrayal of Obligation.
The American people will not make the
murderers of our soldiers the agents OF
the republic to convey the blessings OF
liberty and order to the Philippines.
They will not make them the builders of
the new commonwealth. Such n course
would be betrayal of our sacred obliga-
I'tions to the peaceful Flipinos and would
place. III tue VI uduBtTOuS dufcu-
turers the lives and property Of the ma
tives and foreigners. 1t would make pos
sible and easy the commission Of such
atrocities as were secretly planned to be
executed on the 22d of February, 1899.
in the city of Manila. when only the Wig
ilance Of our army prevented the at
tempt to assassinate our soldiers and all
foreigners and pillage and destroy the
city and its surroundings. In short, the
proposition of those opposed to us is to
continue all the obligations in the Philip
pines which now rest upon the govern
ment, only changing the relation from
principal, which now exists, to that of
surety. Our responsibility is to be no
less. but our title is to be surrendered to
another power which is without expert
ence or training or the ability to main
tain a stable government at home and
absolutely helpless to perform its inter-
national obligations with the rest OF the
world. To this we are opposed. We
should not yield our title while our obli-
cations last. In the language of our
platform. Our authority should not be
less than our responsibility. and our
present responsibility is to establish our