Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-15

strengthen Dewey in the distant ocean
and assist ia our triumph over Spain.
with which nation we we're at war; Was
it not our highest duty to strike Spain
at every vulnerable point. that the war
might be successfully concluded at the
earliest practicable morGemt2
And was IL not our duty to protect the
lives and property Of those who came
within our protocoi by the fortunes Of
time between May l. 1855, and the con-
ciusion Of peace without stain upon our
good name2
could We have come away without dis
honor at any time after the ratification
of the peace treaty by the senate Of the
United StatesR
Cannot Desert the Philippines.
There has been no time since the de-
struction Of the enemys fleet when We
could or should have left the Philippine
archipelago. After the treaty Of peace
was ratified no power but congress could
surrender our sovereignty or ALLEVIATE a
foot OF the territory thus acquired. The
congress has not seen fit 10 do the one
or the other, and the president had no
authority TO DO either. II he had been so
inclined which he was not. So long as
the sovereignty remains in US II Is the
duty OF the executive. whoever he may
be- 70 uphold that sovereignty and If il
be attacked to suppress its aSsailants
Would our political adYersaries do less
1t has been asserted that there would
have been no hghting in the philippines
If congress had declared its purpose TO
give Independence to the Tagal insur-
gents. 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 ratiiled
in the senate, and while II was being
debated in that body, and while the
Bacon resolution was under discussion
on Feb. 4. 1899, the insurgents attacked
the American army. after being previous
" advised that the American forces were
under orders not to fire upon them ex-
cept in defense, The papers found in the
recently captured archives of the insur-
gents demonstrate that this attack had
been carefully planned for weeks before
ii occurred.
With all the exaggerated phrase making
Of this electoral contest we are in danger
Of being diverted from the real conten-
ton
It IS our purpose to establish in the
Philippines q government suitable to the
wants and conditions Of the Inhabitants
and to prepare themrfor 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 continue to do until congress
shall determine the political status of the
inhabitants of the archipelago,
Are our opponents against the treaty?
If so, they must be reminded that ii
could not have been ratified in the senate
but for their assistance. The senate
which ratified the treaty and the congress
which added its sanction by a large APP
propraton comprised senator's and repre-
sentatives of the people of all parties:
Would our opponents surrender to the
insurgents abandon our sovereignty or
cede II TO them? If that be not their pur-
pose then 1t should be promptly disclaim-
ed for only evil can result from the
hopes raised by our opponents in the
minds of the Filipinos. that with their
success at the polls in November there
will be q withdrawal of our army and of
Epif ~
pelago; the complete independence of the
Talal0g people recognized and the powers
Of government over all the other peoples
Of the archipelago conferred upon the
Talalog leaders.
Opposition Delays Peace.
The effect of a belief in the minds of
the insurgents that this will be done has
already prolonged the rebellion and in
creases the necessity for the continuance
of large army 1t is now delaying full
peace in the archipelago and the estab-
Iishment of civil governments. and has
influenced many of the insurgents against
accepting the liberal terms of amnesty
offered by Gen. Macarthur under my di-
rection. But for these false hopes a con-
siderable reduction could have been had
in our military establishment in the
Philippines, and the realization OF a stable
e0ver inert would be already at hand.
Tie 1'marican people will not make the
mUrderers of our soldiers the agents OF
lie ItE1ubllt 70 tt-ANfN liz ptNaf'iAAe7 VI
liberty ard order to the Philippines. Ihey
will not make them the builders of the
new commonwealth. Such course would
be a betrayal Of our sacred obligations to
the peaceful Filipinos, and would place
at the mercy Of dangerous adventures
the lives and property Of the natives and
foreigners II would make possible ana
easy the commission of such atrocities as
were secretly planned to be executed on
the 22d OF February, 1893. in the city or
Manila, when only the vigilance OF our
army prevented the attempt
No government can so certainly pre-
serve the peace. restore public order, es-
tablish law, il stice and stable conditions
Gf oC s. Neit her congress nor the ex-
ecHt'va can establish stable government
il tleS7 ISLANDS except under our right
or SOY reg =, ~ our du9 t1il'S %'lu ia
rot 90 it as Al p~otector9te power so COM
u1etely or eo ~.'c5ls --u.-y as we are Going
il row rs the sovereign power we can
in4tat ton and shape means to ends,
and r.tCe tin Ftlipinos to self develop
mtlt ana self government.
There v..re those who two years ago
were rushing us on to war with Spain
who are unvgilling now to accept its clear
consc queuco. as there are those among
us who advocated the ratification of the