Washington sentinel., 1900-01-20
Mr.. Grows SPEECH.

OF Mr.. Crows speech it may be
said that it abounds in statements
that are misleading, chiefly by
reason Of suppression OF facts, and
in a moral obliquity that is sad 10
contemplate.
He says that the Philippines
were acquired from Spain in the
same way that California was ac.
quired from Mexico, but fails to
state the country was sparsely set
tied, that there was practically no
objection by the few inhabitants,
and that the rights OF American
citizens were guaranteed them
This was true of all territory ac-
quired prior to the Philippines, and
makes all the difference in the
world. 1t has been decided over
and over again that the United
States cannot acquire territory to
be held permanently as a colony,
and the idea is repugnant to the
principles of republicanism. The
subject OF republic is an impossi-
bic entity. There may be citizens
who are not voters, but there can
be no subjects. When there are
- - ka ~aN,h1.-
He says there was no alternative
but to substitute the Stars and
Stripes for the Cas- les and Lions
of Spain. He fails to state that
there was in existence in the Phil
ippines a de iacto Government,
with President, a Congress, and
Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Departments, all established
with the consent OF the United
States officers, and Without protest
from its Government. This Leg
islature was stated on high Amer
ican authority to be equal to that
of japan or Mexico, and had sew
eral graduates OF European univer
sites among ITS members. He
tails to state that the amo mt oil ter
ritory held by Spain in the Philip
pines was never large; that at the
date of cession to the United States
this had been almost wh oily taken
by the Filipinos; that the remain
der could have been taken by them
but for the advice of Dewey to
Aguinaldo; that mere cession Of
port or two cannot convey the
whole territory, but only that por-
ton which the ceded party con-
trolls; and that the people Of a ter
ritory can never be ceded, but
must be given a reasonable time
to elect as to whether they shall
remain in the ceded territory, or
go elsewhere. One cannot, even
under the loose constructions OF
international law, buy people at
So a head or at any other sum. AS
a matter of fact Spain had nothing
to cede. He who has nothing, of
course cannot give anything. He
says that on Feb. 4, 1899, Aguin-
ado and his Tagals hTed on Amer
Ican troops, Now it has been
shown from the official dispatches
Of Gen. OTIS over and over again
that the firing was commenced by
a soldier Of Nebraska regiment;
that Aguinaldo was not present,
and that he sent word next dav
that the return FIRE was without his
knowledge or consent, and that he
wanted hostilities to ease, but that
Otis replied. that the firing having
commenced, it must 60 on to the
end. We must therefore hold Mr..
Grow guilty OF deliberate misstate-
ment, or of objectionable ignor-
ance.
He states that Agoncillo left
Washington the night the firing
commenced. He fails to state that
Agoncillo had been bounded by
United States detectives and in
formed that he would be arrested;
and that lew votes were needed
in the Senate for the treaty which
were received as the result OF the
commencement OF hostilities. The
vote on the treaty was had on Feb.
6. The firing commenced on Feb.
4. Aguinaldo disavowed the act
Of his soldiers, while Otis said it
must 60 on to the grim end. Now
who was interested in commencing
hostilities and in counteracting
thema To ask the question is to
answer it.
Speaking OF the revolt Of the
American colonies he says few
"overzealous" patriots threw the
imported tea into the water. The
word "overzealous' shows the
trend Of the Imperialists. What
admirable Subjects" OF George