The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-08

a great standing army constantly main
tanned in the open field in a cause of con-
quest more than 5000 miles beyond our
shores; transport ships have taken our
boys to foreign chimes; taken them in
life, in strength and buoyant expectation,
but brought them back cold in death to
be laid in soldiers graves. The public
press gives us daily accounts of strife
and battle, of hardship and disease, but
every moment we are assured that the
conflict is at an end. Every condition
incident to war prevails but they tell us
this is peace. Oh, what fools those NOR
tails be!
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
1.-THE war with Spain and the conduct OF
the present administration has brought
us face to face with the most serious
problem that has confronted our country
men since the adoption of the federal con-
stitution. The question of slavery was
matter of detail compared with the great
question of principle that is now involved
and which is of the same nature as the
subjects considered by the trainers of
our government in the establishment of
our institutions.
son the 18th of April, 1885, the Presi-
dent sent to Congress message sug
costing intervention to end the war then
existing between the Cuban and the moth
err power. On the 18th day Of that month
Congress adopted resolutions in sub
stance declaring that the people of the
island of Cuba are and of right ought to be
free and independent and that it was
the duty of the government of the United
States to demand that Spain at once re-
n
that island and at once withdraw its
land and naval forces from Cuba and Gu
ban waters. Authority was conferred
upon the President to use the entire land
and naval forces of the union and to call
into actual service the militia OF the sew
eral States to effectuate the declaration.
The resolution adopted expressly discialm-
ed any intention to exercise control over
Cuba except for the pacification Thereon
and asserted it's determination when that
should be accomplished to leave the gov
eminent of the island to its people. The
events which followed in quick succession
need not be recited. These resolutions
were declaratory of our motives and inten-
tions. AS an incident of the war that FOL
lowed, an American squadron was dis
patched in search of the Spanish war YES
sells and they were discovered in the har-
Dor of Manila. And in the dawn or the
morning, in which broke the dawn of that
MAY month, the iron hand of Dewey
struck the gong of victory that sounded
the death knell to Spanish tyranny In
Cuba. Every eye was turned TO the
geographical map to find the location OF
the great battlefield that proclaimed the
valor intelligence and ability of the Am
erican navy and opened the eyes OF all
nations in unconcealed astonishment at
the power it manifested. Victory was
conceived at Manila and born at Santiago
when Commodore Schley destroyed the
last remnant of Spanish power upon the
seas But why did not Dewey return ?
This was the question that trembled on
every lip. His work was done, his mis-
sion had been accomplished.
ION August IL, 1898, the protocol of
agreement between the United States and
Spain was signed at Washington and on
December 10th the so-called treaty OF
peace was signed at Paris. What satire
upon our constitution.
CONSTITUTION DISREGARDED.
1.-THE Constitution. A mere handful OF
.sculptors clay as elastic and pliable as
Republican conscience, to be shaped to
Republican policies and moulded to out
line the party desires. campaign sub
scription list appeals more strongly to
judicial construction In one breath they
clothe the people of the Philippines with
the sanctity of constitutional protection
and in the next they assert that the Porto
Ricans shall have no constitutional pro-
lection until that territory is admitted
Cfatp c npStilpnt1al
climate of the Luzon saps the life blood
of the American soldier, so the same cll-
matte differences take the spirit from
the constitution, leaving it an insert,
shapeless mass to be kicked hither and
thither at the caprice of Republican ex-
pediency They appeal to the constitution
to support a contention, when that can De
done with plausible excuse, and repudiate
the constitution, under plea OF changed
conditions. when they find 1T necessary
to the accomplishment of their purposes.
They love the constitution. And why not,
when they can use it to serve an OBJECT,
or reject it when it interferes with their
policies. AS the old topper proclaims whis-
key cooling drink in summer and
warming drink in winter, so they excuse
their treatment of that great Magma Char
ia that was conceived in the inspiration
of Heaven, rocked in the cradle OF JUS
tice, reared in the atmosphere of individ-
ual liberty, and sanctified in the ordeals of
a century
by the provisions of that treaty Spain
relinauished sovereignty over and title
to Cuba, ceded to the United States the
islands of Porto Rico and other islands
then under Spanish sovereignty in the
West Indies, the island of Guam in the
Marianas or Ladrones, and the archipelago
known as the Philippine Islands, upon the
payment of the sum of twenty millions of
dollars. The treaty also expressly pro-
vided that 1T should not in any respest
repair the property, or rights,
which, by law, belonged to the
peaceful possession of property
of all kinds of provinces, municipalities,
public or private establishments ecclesi-
astic or civil bodies, or any other asso
citation having legal capacity to acquire
and possess property in the aforesaid
territories renounced or ceded or of pri-
vate individuals, of whatever nationality
such individuals may be- No attempt
was made to convey property, but, in the
unholy barter, eight millions of souls who
occupied and owned that property, were
sold into slavery The table on which