The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-26
FACTS Mr.. ROOT Omitted
Democratic Criticism of the Secre.
tary's Canton Speech.
A Statement by the Congressional
Committee Regarding the Philip
pine Policy of the Admir- isl ration
War Declared by the President
Without Authority Of Congress.


The Democratic Congressional Commit
tee has given cut the following sta ,ement
regarding Secretary Roots Canton
speech:
by far the most elaborate effort to de-
fend the Administration policy CT i'm
perialism was made by Secretary Of War
Root at the Presidents home in Canton
on Wednesday, the cath inst. Replying to
his own question, What has President
Mckinley done in the Philippines? MIR.
Root refers to the treaty with Spain ced-
ing the Philippines to the United States,
and, as both candidates for the Presiden-
cy agreed upon the wisdom of ratifying
the Treaty, Mr.. Root starts with the prop
osition that the Treaty was right. He
then states that on the ith of February,
three days before the Senate approved the
Treaty, some Of the natives attacked in
vastly superior numbers our army in the
possession Of Manila, and after desper-
ate and bloody fight were repulsed in
every direction.
What President Mckinley has done
In the Philippines says Mr.. Root. has
been to defend aid assert the sovereignty
of the United States thus acquired. What
is charged against him is that he did not
= yield or procure Congress to authorize
him to yield the sovereignty Of the United
States to the Filipinos who resisted the
change
IF the facts were as Mr.. Root states
no hey
conclude the case in favor Of the Presi-
dent No argument would be required.
Let us supply some OF his omissions and
then see what becomes Of the Fres- dents
case. Mr.. Root studiously avoids any
mention of the following facts:
''That on December 81, 1S9S-ten days
after our commissioners at Paris had
signed the Treaty of Peace, and forty
seven days before its ratification by the
Senate of the United States. and four
months. less ten days, before it became
operative by an exchange of notifications
by the two Governments-President Nc
kinley issued an order directing our mill
tary commander in the Philippines to ex-
tend possession and military rule through
out the Philippine Islands. 1t was agreed
in the Treaty itself that to give it validity
it must be approved by the Senate and the
President (as required by our own Con-
stitution) and the crown of Spain, and that
these notifications must be exchanged be-
tween the two countries. 1t was signed
December TO- 1898, confirmed by the Sem
ate February 6. 1899. confirmed by the
Queen Regent of Spain, March 20. 1899. and
Publications exchanged and the Treaty pro-
claimed on the 18th of April, 1899.
THE two Governments had agreed that
pending the negotiation of this Treaty the
United States might occupy the city, bay,
and harbor of Manila, but that all the re-
mainder Of the Philippine Islands should
remain under Spanish sovereignty until it
shoul dbe decided by the Treaty which of
the two Governments should be sovereign
over them. The charge against the Presi-
dent, therefore. is not, as stated by the
Secretary of War. that he did not yield
the sovereignty CT the United States, but
that he usurped the treaty-making power
when he declared in his communication to
the Secretary of War, dated December q,
. 1898, that the whole Of the Philippine ISL
ands passed from the sovereignty of Spain
to the sovereignty of the United States OF
December 10. 1895. the day on which the
Treaty of Paris was signed by the Com
rnisii4nfGrH ssfgnIng or the treaty at Paris on
December 10, 1898. by the Presidents Com
missioners and the Commissioners of Spain
did not pass the sovereignty of the Phil
ippines TO the United States. The state
ment is prepos ferrous, grotesque, and abb
surd. Mr.. McKinley's order of December
q, 1895, to seize the islands was as IN
authorized and as gross a violation of his
oath of office as would be an invasion of
Canada by our army under his sole au-
thority.
''Mr Root as a stump speaker in Ohio
may meet the exigency of the political
campaign by emitting these controlling
facts In the case; but Mr.. Root, the emil
nent New York lawyer, will never soil his
reputation by any pretence that the Phil |
tppine Islands became a possession of the !
United States prior to the ratification of I
the Treaty by the United States Senate |
and by the Crown Of Spain. This last
named action was on the Goth of March, |
1883. Three months before this ratifica- !
ton by the Crown of Spain, and three
months. therefore. before the termination
OF Spanish sovereignty in the Philippines,
President Mckinley ordered the military
occupation OF the entire group. This was
a declaration OF war against the Filipino |
government which had been established |
near Manila and which was in possession
OF the entire island Of Luzon except the
city. bay. and harbor of Manila, and was
also in possession of the city of 1loilo on
the distant island OF Panay. Not only
was 1t an act of war, but it was an act of
characterization against Congress and its
rightful authority over the question. in
case the Treaty should be ratified. It
was forcible annexation which the Pres
ident had said would be criminal agrees
Sion. 1t was war for the subjugation of
people whose only offence had been
friendship and assistance to the United
States. and who until that time looked upon
the Americans as deliverers and not as op-
pressors.
THE battle of February 4, 1899. was not
an attack upon our army by the Filipinos.
General Otis declares fsee his report. page
96) that the engagement was one directly ,
defensive on the part of the insurgents ,
and OF vigorous attack by our forces ,
Mr.. Root says: "A body of Filipino troops ,
marched under cover of night. swiftly and
silently, through our lines. regardless of ,
the sentry's challenge. and. when he fired. ,
Voileys of musketry and roar of cannon
on every side. commenced the proposed
destruction of our army The body of