Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-31
TWELVE PAGES
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY al, 1900.
BUCCANEERING IN THE
PHILIPPINES.

The Boston Post truly says:
1T is commercialsm. not IL crusade
for the higher civilization OF humanity,
that engages the armies of the two
great English speaking nations"
To this the Washington Post re-
spends:
Since 1t is impossible to do good
without money, because life cannot be
sustained without that which costs
money. and since commerce Is a legiti-
mate and honorable means of obtaining
that Indispensable thing, why should
my American hesitate to admit or to
declare that. II there were no profit in
sight, we should not be subduing an in
surrectlon in The Philippines"
But is commerce. or money, n legti-
mate and honorable cause for a war of
subjugation and conquest on our late
Republican allies against Spain? Does
the profit in sight" justify this trcach-
erous and brutal slaughter OF the Fill
pinos. our fellow-R Republicans? Inso-
lence and bravado in foul and cruel
wrong do not pailiate it, but aggravate
1t, especially with Americans of intel
llgence and integrity. who scorn a base
ness all the more because it is n sor-
did and venal one. N1urrell, the West
ern robber. murdered n young man
once because he affected to have plenty
of money about him; but Murrell found
only seventeen cents in cash on the
dead body. Suppose Murrell had found
$4,000 on his murdered victim, would
81 that have sanctified the crime?
1t seems to the Washington Post that
we are subdulng an instruction In tho
philippines, and yet that we would
forego that unfolding of the flag, that
putting down Of resistance to our au-
thor1ty' II there wore no profit in 1t.
Tho Washington Post confesses that,
and asks in amaZement "Why should
any American hesitate to admit or de-
clare that?" Isn't that the ull-sufn-
Client reason of thngs-profit? The air
of confident assurance and innocence
put on by the Post in making the de-
clarauon Is very. significant of the
spirit that inspires the party in power;
but common deccncy stfll demands
that men shall assume virtue
though they have it not"
Upon what American principle, or
any honest principle, did we obtain
such right over the Fillpinos as en-
. hled Mckinley to order and compel
them to submission to him or the
+ United States authority? 1t was no
new claim OF the people of the Philip
pines that they were entitled to free
dom and independence and the sover-
efgnty OF their islands. They had as
serted It for centuries against Spain;
they were in revolt against her when
we declared war: and over and over
{ since and Including 177G-ay. and even
In the declaration Of the war against
Spain--we had formally announced and
proclaimed political and humane con-
4 victions and sentiments which we were
bound In good faith and honor to OBJ
serve toward the Filipinos. Conhding
in our great free government, they
came 70 our rescue, and were faithful
allies in the fight against the mutual
foe. Spain.
At first. Mckinley was content with
@the legitimate fruits of our victory over
1 Spain and meditatcd no villany
against our Eastern allies; hut the Fill
pinos were impatient for an indepen-
dent self government of their own, be-
#ing freed from the SPANISH tyranny.
/ and they proclaimed the Philippine Re
gpublio and attempted to institute it, as
4 they of right might do. Mckinley de-