Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-09

1
Demseosue Rather Than Befitting
| n Patriot.
| What has caused Mr.. Bryan and the
party which he bosses to change front
on the Philippine question? The Bry-
ante position is one of criticism Of the
, president because in the discharge of
his sworn duty, and in obedience to
the law of the United States, he is
using the army to put down the in
surrection in the philippines, notwith-
standing the fact that the treaty with
Spain was ratified by Democratic votes
after that insurrection had been be-
gun. 1t seems hardly credible that
men could attack the president for
carrying to finish war that was in
existence when the purchase of the
islands was authorized by their own
party leaders. Yet such is the fact.
The attack of the Filipino forces
upon our troops in the Philippines be-
gan on February 4, 1899, and on that
same night Aguinaldo issued his proc
lamation declaring war against the
United States. Yet it was not until
February 6, two days after, that the
treaty was ratified, and that by 10
Democratic and Populist and Silver
party votes. And it is fact, admitted
by Mr.. Bryan himself, that some OF
these votes were cast for the treaty by
the "advice and consent" of William
Jennings Bryan.
| BY this action the leaders of the
Democratic and Populst parties delib-
erately bought an insurrection already
going on, agreeing that the United
States should pay s20,00O,00O for the
islands where it existed, and in so do
ing placed upon the shoulders of Pres
ident Mckinley the duty of suppress
ing it, He could not do otherwise. Yet
they are criticising his course, though
of course it is well understood that the
criticism is for political effect only
Mr.. Bryan feels the criticism of his
two-faced course, and in his Indianap-
oils speech of acceptance he made a
halting and ineffective defense of his
course. He said he wanted the peace
treaty ratified so that the volunteer
army could be disbanded, and the ma
tion be saved the expense 1t entailed.
This excuse is gauzy. Two days be-
fore the treaty was ratified. the in
surgents began fighting our forces in
front of Manila. On the same day
Aguinaldo declared war against the
United States. Mr.. Bryan knew, as did
every Democratic senator who voted
for the ratification of the treaty, that
we would have to continue the war to
put down the insurrection. So Mr..
Bryans apology is insincene and does
not cover the case.
Facts Io the Case.
The question of the retention OF the
Philippines was decided by the senate
in ratifying the treaty which provided
that Spain should relinquish them to
us. The government could not direct
our forces to sail away from the Phil
ippines after the destruction of the
Spanish power there. That would have
not only left them in anarchy, but
have also invited scramble among
European nations for their control.
AS President Mckinley said in his
message, IF we desert them, we leave
them at once to anarchy and finally to
barbarism; we fling them-a golden
apple of discord-among the rival
powers, no one of which could permit
another to seize them unquestioned; !;
their rich plains and valleys would be
the scene of endless strife and blood
shed"
The peace treaty provided for their
purchase, and it was ratified by two
thirds vote of the United States SEN
ate, and by the advice and consent OF
William Jennings Bryan, who resigned
his position in the army and came to
Washington to urge the members OF
his party to vote for it. This action by
congress added to the duties of the
president to maintain order in the
Philippines. The treaty ceding the is
lands to the United States was signed
December 10. 1898; on January 4, 1899
II was sent to the senate; on Febru.
airy 4, the Filipinos began their attack
upon the American forces and Aguin.
Paldo issued his proclamation of wal
against the United States. Yet, OIL
February 6, with these facts well
} known in the United States, by the
''advce and consent" of Mr.. Bryan, 6
sufficient number of Democrats anC
, Populists cast their votes in it's favor
to bring about ratification, and the
new duty was thus by both partie:
placed upon the shoulders of the pres
ident to suppress an insurrection il
the territory, which by that ratifica
ton of the treaty was finally acquired
two days after the insurrection began
Among those voting for ratification
were Allen, of Nebraska, Populist
Butler, of North Carolina, Populist
Clay, of Georgia, Democrat; Faulkner
of West Virginia, Democrat; Gray, o
] Delaware, Democrat; Harris, of Kan
: sas, Populist; Jones, of Nevada, Sill
: yer; Kenny of Delaware, Democrat
A Kyle, of South Dakota. Independent
Lindsey of Kentucky, Democrat; Nc
Emery, OF Louisiana, Democrat; Nc
Laurin, OF South Carolina, Democrat
A