The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-10
HOUSTON MONDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER TO- 1900

lit not our honest duty 10 strike Spain q
every vulnerable point that war might b,
Successfully concluded at the earliest
| practicable moment And was II not oul
duty 10 protect the lives and properly o
| those who came within our control b,
the fortunes OF warf Could we have com,
away at any time between May /. ts9s
and the conclusion OF peace without Z
stain upon our good nameg
| Could wo have come away without dts
honor at any time after the ratification
OF the peace treaty by the senate OF tins
United states?
There has been no time since the de-
structlon OF the enemy's feet when we
could or should have left the Philippine
| archipelago. After the treaty oil peace
was ratified no power but congress could
surrender our sovereignty or ALLEVIATE 4
foot OF the territory thus acquired The
congress has not seen At 10 do the one OF
the other snd tho president had no au-
! thority to do 80 II he had been 80 In
ciined. which he was not So long as IN,
sovereignty remains In use II i the duts
OF the executive whoever fs may be, to
uphold that sovereignty. and II Il be at
| tackled 10 suppress Its assailants Would
our political adversaries do less?
1t has been asserted that there would
have been no fighting in the Philippines
II congress had declared its purpose 10
give independence to the Tagal insurg-
ents. The Insurgents did not wait for the
action OF congress, They assumed the
offensive, they opened fire on our army.
Those who assert our responsibility for
the beginning of the conflict have for
gotten that before the treaty was rati-
fed in the senate and while Il was being
debated in that body. and while tn Baco
resolution was under discussion on Yep
ruary 4. 1899, the insurgents attacked the
American army, after being previously
advised that the American forces We're
under orders not to fire upon them except
In defense. The papers found in the res
Gently captured archives of the insurgents
demonstrate that this attack had been
carefully planned for weeks before It oc-
cured. Their unprovoked assault upon
our soldiers at time when the senate
was celebrating upon the treaty shows
that no action on our part except sur
Tender and abandonment, would have
prevented the ighting, and leaves no
doubt in any fair mind OF where tho re-
sponsbllity rests for the shedding OF
American blood
With all the exaggerated phrase making
of this electoral contest. we are in dan
ger of being diverted from the real con-
tcntion. We are in agreement with all
OF these who supported the wor With
Spain, and also with those who counselled
the ratification 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. II Others
would shirk the obligations imposed by
the war and the treaty we must decline
to act further then with them. and here
the issue was made. 1t is our purpose to
establish in the Philippines government
suitable to the wants and condition of the
Inhabitants and to prepare them for self
government and to give self4goyernment
when they are ready fog IT,
That ! am aiming to do under my con-
stitutional authority and viii continue to
DO until congress shall determine the
political status OF the inhabitants OF the
archipelago
Are our opponents against the treaty?
II so they must be reminded that 1t could
mot have been ratified in the senate hut for
their assistance. The senate which rutl-
fled the treaty and the congress which
added its sanction by large apprnpria-
tion comprised senators and representa-
tiyes of the people of all paIlies.
Would our opponents surrender to the
insurgents. abandon our sovereignty or
cedA II to them? II that be not their pur-
pose then 1t should be promptly dis
claimed for only evil can result from the
hopes IA sed by our opponep $ III the mlnds
of the Filiplnes, that with their success
at the polls in November there will be
withdrawal OF our army and of American
sovereignty over the arehlpehsgo. the
independence OF the Talag Taga-
log recognized and the powers OF severn
ment over all the people OF the Philippines
conferred on the Tagalog leaders.
The effect of belief In the m nds at
the insurgents thnt this will be done has
already prolonged the rebellion and in
creates the necessity for the continuance
Of large army. II is now, delaying iull
peace in the archipelago and The estab-
lishment of civil government and has IL
nueneed many of the insurgents against
accepting the liberal terms OF amnesty Of
fered by General Macarthur under my di
rection But for these fal6e homes, a
considerable reduction could have been
had in our military establishment In the
Islands and the realization of STAB
government would be already at hand
me American people are asked by our
opponents to yield the sovereignty of the
un ted States in the Philippines to small
faction of the population, single tribe
out OF eighty or more inhabiting the archi-
peiago, faction which wantonly attacked
the American troops In Mauila whi,e In
rightful possession under the protocol
WITH Spain, awaiting the ratification OF the
treaty Of peace by the senate and which
has since been In active, open rebellion
against the United Staten. We are askei
10 transfer cur sovereignty to so small
minority In the islands without consultinr
ne majority and to abandon the Iarges,
portion of the population which has been
loyal to us to the cruelt-es OF the guerrilla
nsurgent bands, More than this, we are
asked to protect this minority In establish
ng a government and 10 this end repre7s
Ill opposition of the majority, We are
requested to set up q stable government
n the Interest OF those who have assailed
our sovereignty and fired upon our SOL
hers and then maintain 1t at any cost or
iaerihce against our enemies This would
'equire an army and navy far larger than
5 now maintained in the Philippines.
military support Of authority NOT our
'wn as thus proposed is the very essence
u militarsm, which our opponents in their
platform oppose, but which by their policy
would necessarily be- established in
is most offensive form. Tie Amer
can people will not make the
nurderers OF our soldiers the
'gents OF the Republic to convey the bles- (
'igns OF liberty and order to the Philip
Zines. They will not make them
builders Of the new commonwealth. such
course would be a betrayal Of oar
obligations to the peaceful Fill
'inos and would place at the
mercy OF dangerous adversaries the
ives and property of the natives ana