The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-02-09

PaVAAO pO1OA0 OASy are pOllJlClduS
Here is his letter:
United States Senate,
Jan. IL, 1900
I have learned through the pres.
that so-called American league has
been organized in Groton and that yor
have been made president of it. Il
such be the case / know you have
taken the step conscientiously and
honestly believe that you are doing
the right thing by your cou ntry.
However, I wish to write my views
fully and ask that you give them
careful consideration.
This is not political question but
one that has been forced upon us in
the conduct of war with Spain fol-
humanity's sake. 1t would not be
wrong to stand by an administration
in such times as these, even though
ones political instincts may be differ
ent.
In my jud cement President McKin-
ley's policy touching the Philippines
is correct, and many prominent Demo
Gratis and Populists throughout the
country are in thorough accord with
him. | refer to such men as Senator
Morgan and Senator Teller. than whom
there are no more conscientious men
in the United States. Mr. Bryan
recently belonged to this class.
The mistake of many who oppose
the administration is the mixing of
propositions. The crushing of the
rebellion in Luzon-a territory by
treaty under the sovereignty and
jurisdiction of the United States-is
one proposition; the final disposition
and government of those islands is a
separate and distinct proposition.
Upon the former proposition Mr..
Bryan was once right. He urged his
Democratic friends in the Senate to
ratlfy the treaty with Spain, thereby
giving us sovereignty over the Philip
pine Islands. Later he took the only
logical ground remaining-namely
that the rebellion in such territory
should be crushed. The lives and
property of Americans and foreign
governments demanded such action.
But Mr.. Bryan, after having gone
upon record as regards this expression
in more than a dozen interviews, later
found it necessary in order to please
his party and retain his position as
leader to berate the President and his
associates for shooting down innocent
Filipinos, and the prosecution of a
war solely for greed. " In other
words, he has placed himself in very
unenviable attitude before the Ameri-
can people on all sides of the question
for purely selfish ends. l cannot fol-
low Mr.. Bryan to his conclusions,
though he is less bitter than Pettigrew
and others, who had they been in most
any other country would have been
arrested for treason. I like to feel
that am patriot. I take delight in
standing by my country when it needs
my assistance. My father-a Union
me to respect the flag
and defend it wherever planted. I
would not haul it down. But what
must we say of Mr.. Atkinson and his
associates, including Pettitgrew, who
advocate pulling down the flag, with
drawing our troops and apologizing
to the world for our attempt to main
tain our sovereignty at the same time
secretly praying that the god of
battle may sustain Aguinldo until he
is finally triumphant. - Their only
logical climax is shame for their
country Our climax, so far as po-
litical action is concerned, should be
to Danish them beyond the confines of
political life. From papers, official
and otherwise, captured from the fol-
lowers of Aguinaldo, we learn that
the utterances of these enemies of
their country have stimulated the ex-
ertions of the enemy In Luzon and led
them to believe that by keeping up
the rebellion until the assembling of
Congress the administration would
be rebuked Had the treaty been
the first week after coming to
the Senate, in my judgement not a
shot would have been fired in the
Philippines. Upon the heads of these
citizens must rest there
fore the blood of the killed and
wounded i'll that far off land. The
soldiers of our late war as we'll as of
the Civil War, have no place in their
hearts for copperheads" and it mat
tiers not when or where an election
may take place the returns will show,
as they always have shown, that the
patriots outnumber those who sympa-
thize with rebellion.
Finally, as regards the second propo-
sition-the final disposition of the
Philippines-th whole matter is wise
ly left by the President in the hands
of Congress. We must consider the
question in the light of duty to
civilization and the welfare of our
government 1t is not wise for any
one to PREJUDICE any case. 1t would
unwise for any man to adopt an
ironclad rule in the beginning of bust
ness life that he would invest money
only in merchandise and never in real
estate. The time might arise when il
would be right and profitable to do so.
The United States have expanded in
the past, though many thought it un-
wise at the time. The hand OF
Providence may be in our occupation
of the Philippine Islands. One thing
is certain, the United States can give
these unfortunate people the best
government under the sun-a govern
ment which means liberty for all. TIC
the Filipinos. law is synonomous
with oppression. They have never
known any government except the
Spanish and that meant oppression.
In my judgement after two years Of
of those islands will want more of il
and will ask for annexation.
More than that, it some times hap
pens in the economy of nature tina
nations as we'll as individuals have
need to be delivered from themselves
Through inter tribal wars iii theil
semi barbarious state they have killed
and manned thousands of their popu
lation in years gone by. A few live
may be lost in the present struggle
but in the end with a stable govern
ment the people will settle down hap