El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-29
McKINLEY'S letter
OF ACCEPTANCE.
(Cnntinued from lOto page)

congress mas not seen mt to do the one
or the other, and the president had no
authority to do either IL he had been SO
inclined, which he was not. So long as
the sovereignty remains In US " Is the
duty of the executive, whoever he may
be, to uphold that sovereignty and II 1t
be attacked to suppress its assailants
Would our political adversaries do lessF
1t has been asserted that there would
have been no fighting in the Philippines
IL congress had declared its purpose to
give independence to the Tagal insur-
gents. The insurgents did not wait for
the action Of congress. They assumed
the offensive; they opened fire on our
army Those who assert our response
bility for the beginning of the conflict
have forgotten that before the treaty was
ratified in the senate and while it was
being debated in that body and while the
Bacon resolution was under discussion
on Feb 4. 1899, the insurgents attacked
the American army after being previous
" advised that the American forces were
under orders not to fire upon them except
in defense. The papers found in the re-
Gently captured archives of the insur-
gents demonstrate that this attack had
been carefully planned for weeks before
II occurred. Their unprovoked assault
upon our soldiers at n time when the
senate was celebrating upon the treaty
shows that no action on our part except
surrender and abandonment would have
prevented the fighting and leaves no
doubt in any fair mind of where the re-
sponsibility rests for the shedding of
American blood
ing of this electoral contest we are in
danger of 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 ratifi-
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. If 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
the wants and conditions of the inhabit-
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-
gress shall determine the political status
of the inha bitants of the archipelago.
Are our opponents against the treaty?
II So they must be reminded that 1t
could not have been ratified in the SEN
ate but for their assistance. The senate
which ratified the treaty and the con-
Eress which added its sanction by large
appropriation comprised senator's and
representatives of the people of all par
ties.
Would our opponents surrender to the
insurgents, abandon our sovereignty or
cede it to them? II that be not their
purpose then II 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 Mt 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-
piles of the archipelago conferred upon
the Tagalog leaders.
The effect of n 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 n large army 1t is now delaying full
peace in the archipelago and the estab-
lishment of civil governments and has in
huenced many of tie 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 a sta
BILE government would be already at
hand.
The American people are asked by our !
opponents to yield the sovereignty of the !
United States in the Philippines to ,
small fraction of the population. a single 7
tribe OUT of 50 more nhabiting thu.
archipelago. faction which wantonly at /
tackled the American troops in Manila '
while in rightful possession under the
protocol with Spain. awaiting the ratifi- I
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 n 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 u govern
ment and to this end repress all opposi-
tion of the majority. We are required to
set up stable government in the interest
of those who have assailed our sovereign
ty and fired upon soldiers and then
maintain it at any cost 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
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 opponents in their platform
oppose. but which by their policy would
of necessity be established in its most
form.
Betrayal of Obligation.