Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-24
The Policy of Surrender.

Suppose General Mcclellan had been
elected President. and a democratic House
chosen along with him. in 1854 What would
have been Mr.. L4incoln's duty in the prem
ises? To arrange for truce between the
two armies until the party which had voted
the war a failure and was pledged to
policy of peace could take hold? Would he
not have been instructed to that end by the
verdict at the polls? Could he in the face
Of these Instructions have continued active
operations in the field between election day
in November and the 4th of March?
And suppose he had arranged a truce.
hating Grant and Sherman where they
then were with their commands. When the
4th Of March arrived. and the new Presi-
dent had been inaugurated, and the procia-
nation calling the new Congress together
in extra session issued which side would
have been in the better position for the
parley? The confederates, undoubtedly.
They would practically have won their
fight They would have been able to come
to the council board prepared and strong
enough TO dictate their terms. The
federals having declared against further
war. the confederates would simply have
named the conditions upon which the Union
should be restored or have set up accord
Union of their own. Nothing would appear
to be palmer.
Suppose Mr.. Bryan wins in November
and a House is chosen In agreement with
his views on the Philippine question. What
will be the duty of Mr.. Mckinley in the
premises? Shall he arrange a truce with
Aguinaldo and his followers until Mr.. Bryan
and his party can take hold? Shall he sus-
pend all efforts 70 assert American author
ity in the Philippines as against those who
challenge 1t with force until the party
comes in instructed to give the Filipinos
independent government?
And suppose he arranges such a truce.
Which side will come TO the council table
in the better position TO enforce its ends?
Obviously. the Filipinos They will have
won their fight With the verdict Of No
vember In their favor. they will be able to
describe the sort of government they want.
and insist upon entering upon 1t at once
and in their own way. There must be no
more force exercised by the United States
Criminal aggression will have been re-
buked at the polls, and the soldiers and
the sailors must hurry back home.
Mr.. Lincoln was reelected, and the Union
was restored. The party of freedom made
the terms of peace and they were gener-
Gus beyond parallel The man in the White
House and the man in command of Apo
mattox were alike chivarous and patriotic,
and the country has had occasion ever since
to bless the work they then did. Had the
south made the terms they would logically
enough have been based either upon a di-
vision of the country, the re-enslave-
ment Of the negro within the old borders Of
his servitude. And either result would have
been calamitous to this whole continent.
Does not every consideration OF national
safety demand that this republic and not
the Tagal insTrectionists shall fix the re-
lations between the Philippines and the
United States? Would not sentimental and
pusillanmous surrender to those who have
disputed and defed the national authority
be fraught with untold woes to this gov
eminent?