The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-01-06
PLAN OF DEMOCRATS
Policy of Democratic Lenders In tn .
House Regarding the Phil
ippines.

In the house of representatives q
few days ago Mr.. Williams, of Mis-
sissippi, presented u resolution which.
10 use his language, is "the result Of
| consultation among n number of dem
! ocratic leaders in the house" The
resolution declares it to be the pur-
pose of the government to withdraw
it's land and sea forces from the Phil
ippines upon the establishment of
peace and the organization of gov
eminent or governments by the peo-
pie of the islands, provided the Fill
pino government or governments re-
fund to us the $20,000,000 which was
| paid TO Spain. The Filipinos are to
give us q naval station and coaling
stations, free access for our mcrchan-
| disc and our missionaries; but for a
| period of ten years they are to sur
render into our keeping ''the entire
! question or foreign relations" and to
pay the expenses of any troops we
may keep on Philippine territory at
the request of the island government.
The foregoing, according to Mr.. Will
| lams, is the policy OF the democratic
leaders of the house in relation to- the
Philippines. That this is the demo-
cratic declaration of the house has
been doubted outside, but no demo-
crat in the house protested, so it is
fair to assume that the resolution re-
| fleets the sentiment Of the party IN
J that branch of congress. 1t does not
seem that Mr.. Williams and his asso-
| al m
be the democratic policy, but the hasty
zeal of Mr.. Williams in behalf of gov
eminent by the consent of the gov
crncd must be pardoned, since he lives
in state which has deprived 10000
voters OF their right to express con-
sent or dissent regarding their gov
ernmcnt by taking from them the
right of suffrage. lie evidently de-
sires TO make amends for the outrage
in which he participated by giving to
men bearing arms against the United
States the right to do as they please.
There can be no doubt that il Mr..
Williams friend, AGuinaldo, could be
overtaken and presented with n copy
of his joint resolution he would ac-
ccpt with thanfe, provided the Amer
lean congress would adopt it. Under
such freedom rs the resolution gives
Aguinaldo would return to Manila and
60 about governing without regard TO
the consent Of anyone-the work of
governing, in his vocabulary, being
synonymous with robbing the natives
with dispatch and neatncss. Nor
| would he stop with the natives; he
would turn upon the foreigners and
compel them TO empty into his strong
box the profits of their commerce,
since Mr.. Williams resolution gives
Aguinaldo absolute power without re-
sponsibility. The plundered English
and German merchants would appeal
to thQir respective governments, and
their respective governments would
call upon the United States, having
entire charge of the foreign relations
of Aguinaldo's government, to REIN
burse their subjects for property taken
by him and his associates. Having
charge of the foreign relations of the
Filipino government, we would be
obliged to pay the damages. We
might send our ships to lombard Ma
Mia until Aguinaldo should disgorgc,
but it would be very expensive and
unsatisfactory. 1t would be much
cheaper to let Aguinaldo rob the for
eign merchants at his sweet will and
for us to foot the bills without word
Aguinaldo would appreciate that sort
of thing.
1t is unfortunate for Aguinaldo THAI
this democratic resolution cannot
reach him. 1t is just what he has been
having his friends killed for. 1t gives
him all he has ever asked for and all
that he dcsires-the undisputcd right
TO rob everybody in the Philippines
In fact. it is more than he has asked
for, since the United States govern
mcnt must protect him against intru-
sion while he plumbers. This rcsolu.
ton must gladden. Edward Atkinson
Andrew Carnegie, Carl Schurz, Wins
low and most of the democratic lead
ers in the north who have expressed
opinions On the Philippine question
by all means bring the house to q vote
on the resolution in case it receives
the approval of Mr.. Bryan.-Indian'