Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-28

campaign, the one that temporarily
dwarfs all others by comparison, is
whether. the republic itself is to con-
unue. Because of the magnitude of
this question, which not only the
Democratic platform. but the public
concern declares to be the paramount
issue of the campaign. 1 desire to use
IL good part of this address in COM
inenting upon the speech, mainly con-
cerned with this topic, delivered at St.
raul recently by the Republican can
uldate for Vice President. l shall de-
vote the greater part of the time to-
night 10 the consideration of Imperial
ISM. 1t is one of the paradoxes of his
tory that policy of subjugation and
conquest should have been the inheri-
'aiice OF war OF liberation.
THE PHILIPPINES.
Reviewing the American attitude to-
ward the rilipinos he said:
1t is claimed that circumstances
were such as to compel us, with due
regard to our interests and our inter-
national duties to pursue in these
islands thereafter, the policy for which
the administration has become re-
sponsible. a brief examination. how
ever, of those circumstances will suf-
flee TO show that the policy adopted
was not only unnecessary, but that it
was In the highest degree disadvanta-
geous to the United States, While in
volVinS the utmost cruelty and injus-
tice towards the inhabitants of those
Islands and violating every priciple of
good faith and the honorable tradi-
tons of American diplomacy"
He said the coming of Aguinaldo
was at the invitation of Admiral
Dewey. and said the Admirals state
ment that we never promised the Fill
ipnos their Independence conveys a
false impression. Our conduct was
such as to eStop an honorable nation
from using such plea as n justifca
ton or excuse for attempting to sub
jugate the islands. He read from va
rious reports to show that we had
deceived the Fiiipinos and kept them
in the dark as to our purposes.
After maintaining that our course
had compelled the Filipinos to oppose
us by force of arms Mr., Towne took
up the proclamation issued by General
Otis January 3, 1899, under instructions
from the President. This proclamation,
he declared. SIS OF tho very essence OF
Imperialism. Divested of it's cant and
made over into plain language the
proclamation tells the Filipinos that
we had seized their island by brute
force and propose to hold il. and that
they must submit to our pretention,
yield to our assumed authority or be
shot to death. 1t boldly proclaims the
right of conquest, the highway robbery
OF nations. For the first time In Amer
lean history IL is asserted by the re-
lsponsihle ieaderSoi.ii great L. pa
n President OF republic that we may
rightfully wage war for purposes OF
dominion and acquire property in the
land of other nations and jurisdiction
mere test of superior strength. 1t vio-
lates the most sacred traditions OF our
history.
PREPARATION
but what is probably as sinister In
this proclamation as even this fragrant
endorsement of force as the basis OF
political authority, and as significant
of imperlalstic tendencies in the exc
cutive. Is the cool assumption by the
President of the power to act before
the execution OF the treaty. The treaty
was not yet ratified. 1t had not indeed
been approved by the Senate. but might
easily never have been approved, since
the final action of that body IS said 10
have been taken by n bare majority of
one vote. This assumption OF power
admittedly before the treaty conferred
II on him. and where the exercise of 1t
was certain TO involve the nation in
war. as 1t soon did, was most prodigi-
dous"
RoOSEVELT'S SPEECH.
Taking up Governor Roosevelt's
speech, he declared 1t to be ''enor-
mously Disappointing" Neither in mat
ter OF in manner is it worthy of its
t,restsfo11. In respect or argument the
speech is, with rare exceptions, an
alienation of evasion and assertion.
In spirit 1t is a compound OF scold and
scullion. AS to its facts it abounds
In inaccuracies which, If accidental,
are inexplicable as coming from man
who has performed creditably in his
tory and biography.
But the world is accustomed to in
constituencies from Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t
has long looked upon him as a predes-
tined and incorrigihle eccentric. 1t
has given up attempting to explain
him or to reconcile him with himself.
1t is quite impossible, whether 1t
would be worth while otherwise or not.
to make an entirely satisfactory dag
nOSiS of n civil service reformer in
partnership with Thomas c. Plat, a
citizen soldier. who ridicules the vol
unteer; n leader In battle who finds
glory in being rescued from an am
bush; hero who boasts of shooting
fleeing foe in the back: q candidate
who plays and poses to delegates and
galleries to obtain Il nomination that
he does not want: gentleman who
charges six and a half million of his
countrymen with lawlessness, dishon-
eSty and cowardice: q Statesman who
mounted on n hobby. rides roughly at
grave questions in economics and poll
ties swinging his partisan lariat and
yelling like an intellectual comanche.r
Mr. Towne then read quotations
from the st. Paul speech OF Governor
Roosevelt, which he said showed the
truth of what he had said of that
speech as whole. He argued at con-
siderable length against any possible
constitutional right under which the
United States could hold and govern
colonies, ridiculng the alleged claim
that this right was given by that pro-
vision of the constitution which gives
Congress the power 10 make all need
full rules and regulations respecting
the territory and other property" OF
the United States.