Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-10
fully concluded at the earliest praeti-

| fully concluded at the earliest practi-
cable moment?
And was it not our duty to protect
the lives and property Of those who
came within our control by the for
tunes of war? Could we have come
| away at any time between May l. 1898,
and the conclusion of peace without
| stain upon our good name?
| Could We have come away without
alshonor at any time after the ratifica-
ton of the peace treaty by the Senate
O. the United States?
There has been no time since the de-
| struction of the enemy's fleet when we
could or should have left the Philip
| pine Archipelago. After the treaty or
peace was ratified no power but Con-
| gress could surrender our sovereignty
or ALLEVIATE foot of the territory thus
acquire. The Congress has not seen fit.
/ TO do the one or the other, and the
! President had no authority to do either,
| il he had been so inclined, which ne
was not. So long as the sovereignty
/ remains in us 1T is the duty Of the
/ executive, whoever ne may be, to up
hold that sovereignty. and If it be at
| tackled, to suppress its assailants.
Would our political a1rersaries do
/ less?
II has been asserted that there would
| have been no fighting in the Philip
pines if Congress had declared its pur-
I pose OF give independence to the Ia
galog insurgents. The insurgents did
not wait for the action of Congress.
| They assumed the offensive, they open
ed fire on our army Those who as
sert our responsibility for the begin
ming of the conflict have forgotten
/ that before the treaty was ratified in
| the Senate. and while it was being de-
| bated in that body, and while the Bacon
/ resolution was under discussion. on
| February 1889 the insurgents attack
ed the American army, after being pre-
yiously advised that the American
| forces were under orders not to fire
upon them except in defence. The pa
! pers found in the recently captured ar
/, chives of the insurgents demonstrate
that this attack had been carefully
planned for weeks before it occurred
J Their unprovoked assault upon our
soldiers al time when the Senate was
| celebrating upon the treaty shows that
| no action upon our part except the sur
render and abandonment would have
| prevented the fighting, and leaves no
DOUBT in any fair mind of where the re-
sponSibility rests for the shedding of
American blood.
With all the exaggerated phrase
making of this electoral contest, we
are in danger of being diverted from
the real contention.
We are in agreement with all of
those who supported the war with
| Spain, and also with those who counsel
led 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
If others would shirk the obligations
imposed by the war and the treaty
we must decline to act further with
them, and here the issue was made
! 1t is our purpose to establish in the
Philippines a government suitable TO
the wants and conditions of the inhab-
ltants, and TO prepare them for self
government, and to give them self
government when they are ready for
! it. That | am aiming to do under my
constitutional authority, and will con-
| tinue to do until Congress shall deter
| 4AIHe Inc pOHIlCdl Status Vi IuS IUQdUl-
tants of the archipelago.
/ Are our opponents against the
| treaty? Ii so, they must be reminded
| that it. could have not been ratified
in the Senate but for their assistance.
| The Senate which ratified the treaty
| and the Congress which added its sane
ton by large appropriation, compris-
ed Senators and Representatives OF the
people Of all parties.
Would our opponents surrender to
the insurgents. abandon our sovereign
| ty or cede it to them? If that be not
their purpose, then it should be prompt
ly disclaimed, for only evil can result
| from the withdrawal of our army and
o. American sovereignty over the ar
chipelago; the complete independence
OF the Tagalog people recognized and
the powers of government over all the
other peoples of the archipelago con-
ferred upon the Tagalog leaders
|
Cost $4,000, 900.
Our title is good. Our peace COM
missioners believed they were receiv-
ing good title when they concluded
the treaty. The executive believed it
was a good title when he submitted ii
TO the Senate of the United States for
| its ratification. The Senate believed ii
was good title when they gave it
their constitutional assent. and the
Congress seems not to have DOUBTED its