The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-11
The An,i-Expnn.ioni.t Position.

Practically year has elapsed since the
Tagal Washington planned TO insugurate
his young republic in the Philippines" by
general massacre of all Americans, in
Guiding women and children, then in Ma
Mia. The movement failed although ii
had been prepared for with conscientious
care, and had the benefit of liberal financial
aid from the friends OF the cause in the
United States Aguinaldos open mutiny
followed, but no republic that we have
heard Of unless the savage native rule Of
the mutineers in districts which the incom-
potency OF Otis permitted them to occupy;
the attempts of Aleiandrino and Tino TO
murder Lieutenant Gilmore and his men,
the siekening assassination OF Luna by
Aguinaldo, and the torture and butchery OF
American prisoners are to be accepted as
evidence Of the establishment and mainten-
ance of one.
However, the American Filipinos, true to
their sentiment Of sympathy with their
brethren in Luzon, who were cheerfully
fighting our flag and cutting the throats OF
such of our soldiers and citizens as they
could get at, have ignored the non-exist-
ence OF the young republic in the Philip
pines" have continued TO contribute of
their means and encouragement to the in
surrection, and. have never failed on any
day in the interim to assail President Nc
Kinley for his honest and patriotic efforts
10 maintain American sovereignty over and
10 restore peace and order in the posses
sions which became ours by solmeu treaty,
duly and constitutionally ratified.
1t may be objected that we, who have
often and severely criticised details of Mr..
McKinley's policy in the Philippines are
estopped from regarding it as honest or pa
triotic. 1t has been both, nevertheless. He
has never hewn one inch from the line as
far as principle is concerned In carrying
out his purposes, he has been Handicapped
by the necessity of confding actual organi-
cation and movement to tbc agencies and
tools imposed upon him by a partisan power
he is in no situation to resist. Left TO
his own high conceptions of honor and
duty. Il is impossible TO believe that he
could have made the mistake of delegating
authority to make mar the history of
his great regime TO persons like Otis or
DENLY. But the free moral agency which
his religious convictions represent TO him
as the birthright of man has not been his
as political possession.
II is easier to criticise a policy and its
application than II is to construct one al
Tentative and tell the world how TO work II.
During all the time OF our trouble in the
Philippines We have been favored by our
domestic enemies with persistent assaults
upon the national course; but until now
we have never been allowed to know what
those anti-American and Tagalophile in
dividuals would have the American people
10 do in the way of positive action. Now,
at last, Mr.. George Frisbie Hoar, of Massa
chusetts. who vii De generally accepted as
better entitled to speak for the American
Filipino. as constituting tie leadership
and all the brains Of their movement, than
any other person, has consented TO relieve
the tension by announcing definite policy
and programme.
We are no longer left in doubt concern
ing what Aguinaldo's friends admirers,
and contributors would do we're the power
invested In them. In an open letter. ad-
dressed TO certain Boston newspapers. the
senior Senator from the Bay State takes
the country into bis confidence respecting
his ideas of our duty and responsibility in
the premises ''Lel me state what !
would do today" observes Mr.. Hoar and
then in his own clear and forcible man
ner. which perhaps is neither as clear nor
As forcible as the manner OF his earlier
contributions TO the history of partisan
politics. he goes on TO say that Aguinaldo
being hunted fugitive and In conceal