Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-07-12

accomplish the work IN short order.
! Otis went d6ddering on, declaring
again and again that thirty thous.
sand men were all he needed or
could use. In the light we enjoy
at the present time it does not look
as II either Otis or tho administra-
ton wanted the trouble to end
speedily For long time nocos-
sary re endorsements we're withheld.
Then the Philippine establishment
Was raised to force Of sixty.fiyo
thousand troops Of OIL arms. Still
these were denied the usual regi-
mental transport, aud hence could
only operate few miles from their
bases Of supplies. Officially speak
ing, the rebellion has been crushed.
Otis has so asserted, and the acou-
racy Of his statement has been
adopted as gospel by Mr.. Mckinley.
1t is perhaps triile singular that
/ il such circumstances the president
should hesitate to withdraw even q
single brigade from the Philippines
for emergency service in China.
Whom Congress assembled last
December, Mr.. Mckinley said in
his annual message that it was our
plain duty to give free trade to
Porto Rico, aud his tariff mouth.
piece on the floor Of the House ex.
plained in a letter that this course
1 was necessary, since the same thing
had been accorded to 'all tho other
states and territories, and to Alas.
ka, not yet organized into terri
tory, After long study Of the sub
I ieot, aided by his legal advisers, the
| president had discovered that Porto
Rico had become Is territory Of the
United States and an integral part
Of it, under the plain letter Of the
constitution AT the time we write
Of be still seemed to have ia mind
the closing sentences Of his insug.
uFal address delivered Oh the ith
OF March. 1897. They we're az fol-
lows
Let me again repeat the words
Of the oath administered by the
Chief Justice, which in their 70.
speotige spheres, 30 far "a applicable
would have all my countrymen
observe 4 will faithfully execute
/ the office Of President Of tho Unit
cd States, and will to the best Of
my ability preserve, protect and de-
tend the Constitution OF The Unit.
cd States This is the obligation
| have rcyerently taken before the
Lord Most High. To keep II will
be my single purpose, my constant
prayer, and | shall confidently rely
upon the iorbearance and assistance
Of oil the people in the discharge Of
my solemn responsibilities.
/ We do not permit ourselves the
least doubt that, when Mr. McI<in.
ley spoke as above. he honestly
meant every word he said. lie did
not then realize that obligations
taken by a Republican president
before the Lord Most High in
these days are abrogated and dis
charged by his fundamental obliga-
ton to his political creator, the
trusts Perhaps, the truth was
not forced upon the president until
his plain duty message brought
the trust magnates and attorneys
in an angry drove to Washington,
with the declaration that, unless
the administration should ignore
the constitution and oaths TO sup
port il, and compel Congress to
pass law placing customs tariff
on the domestic trade Of Porto Ri.
co, there would be no oil, sugar, to-
bacco, or rum contributions in the
Hanna campaign chest this year
So Mr.. McKinley's 'siugle-purpose'
aud likewise his constant prayer
went for naught. lie cheerfully
ate his words, and ordered his
henchmen to do the work which
they perfected in the passage Of the
infamous PaYne-F Foraker bill.
We will pay Mr.. Mckinley the
compliment Of believing that his
conscience is not untroubled by this
evil thing he permitted himself to
be dragrooned into doing. The
Philadelphia platform is eloquently
/ A. s.,ntta. =.