Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-02-08
Senator who scored Pettigrsw most


seysrely was an anti-sxpansioniss-
who said he was not in favor OF
Philippine acquisition, but was
bound to defend the American lag
when ii was attacked; and he de-
ciarsd that under the circumstances
the senator from South Dakota was
a traitor TO his country IN support
ing the arch traitor Aguinaido. who
had sold himself to Spain and be
srsyed his own country.
But really the ssverest blow to
the senatorial Filipino champion was
delivered by Senator Lodge. VINO
produced a letter written him by
by Admiral Dewey, in which Dewey
! denies the statements Of Aguinssdo,
rehashed by Senator Psttigrew with
so much gusto. The admiral states
that he v promised. directly or
indirectly, Independence for the
Filipincs; that ne never treated
Aguinaldo as An ally, except %
make use of him and his soldiers TO
assist in operations against the
Spaniards; that AguinaIdo ne"er
alluded to the word independence"
in his correspondence with Dewey
or his officers. The statement"
adds Dewey, That | received him
with military honors, or saluted the
so called Filipino flag, is absolutely
false
In the face of this letter Pettigrew
had the impudence to get up again
and reiterate his statement that
Dewey did recognize the Filipino
republic by saluting the Filipino
flag, and to enter into a new defence
and eulogy of Aguinaldo.
The course pursued by Senator
Pettigrew in taking sides in the
open senats with men in arms against
the country and the dag, is absolute
ly without precedent since secession
DAYS. There is no other countrv in
the world where such a spectacle
would be tolerated, and probably
Pettigrew is the only man in the
world who would enact such a role.
The only theory upon which we may
suppose hat he can afford to do it is
that he is utterly discredited as a
senator and a politician and that he
is seeking in bad notoriety a rescue
from the oblivion into which he
would soon invitably fall in the or
binary curse of events.
The publication of Dewey's letter
should stop the mouth of the Spring
field Republican the chief organ of
ths ''antis" and of the orators of that
persuasion who have been retailing
Aguinaldo's falsehoods in their
speeches. As Mr.. Lodge said, the
objection to the anti document
which Pettigrew wants to have
printed in public records "is that it
is a mas of falsehood, a tissue of
lies" If it is a question of yeracitv
between Admiral Dewey and the
wretched Aguinaldo. the American
people will know which to believe.
The vituperative South Dakota
senator has succeeded in n thing,
and that is in Introducing a new
word into the American language.
The word is "Pottigrewiug,'' whio h
has a rather comprehensive meaning,
IL expresses chronic fault finding,
snarting, reckless faIsehood, irres-
p"ns bic defamation and -treasonabl q
utteranoe. Bat for the credit of tn 6
country it may be said shat Petit
grew thus far is the only man who
really ''Pettigrems.7 Senator Mason
OF Illinois, COMES pretty near it. but
he does not entirely cast loyalty to
his country to the winds. The other
~'antis' are evidently ashamed to be
found in Pettigrew's company, and
so they either rebuze him or fight
shy of him.