The age-herald., 1900-08-09

the stupendous and far-reaching issue which they have deliberately brought into the arena of politics. When the President, supported by practically unanimo1s vote of the House and Senate, entered upon war with Spain for the purpose of aiding the struggling patriots of Cuba, the coun- try without regard to party, applauded. Although the Democrats recognized that the administration would necessarily gain a political advantage from the conduct of a war which, in the very nature of the case. must soon end in complete victory, they vied with the Republicans in the support which they gave to the President. When the war was over and the Republican lead CTS began to suggest the propriety Of colonial policy, opposition at once mani fested itself When the President finally laid before the Senate a treaty which rec ognized the independence of Cuba, but pro- vided for the cession of the Philippine islands to the United States, the menace of imperialism became so apparent that many preferred to reject the treaty and risk the ills that might follow rather than risk the chance of correcting the errors of the treaty by the independent action of this country.
 Wanted Treaty Ratified
 was among the number of those who believed 1t better to ratify the treaty and end the war, release the voIuntse sers, remove
 
 give to the Filipinos the independence which might be forced from Spain by Lew treaty.
 In view of the criticism which my ac- tion aroused in some quarters l take ths occasion to restate the reasons given at that time. I thought it sa 'ar to trust the American people to give independence to the FilipinoS than to trust the accom- pi1sh ment of that purpose to dIp omaey with an unfriendly nation. Lincoln embodied an ai- gument in the question, when he aske@, "Can aliens make tr3 ses caster than friends can make laws?' l oei- . that we are now in a better position 10 wage Il successful contest against imperialism than would have been had the treaty been rejected. With the treaty ratified clean cut issue is presented between govern ment by consent and government by force and imperalists must bear the re- sponsbility for all that happens until this question is settled If the treaty had been rejected, the opponents of imperialism would have been held responsible for any international complications which might have arisen before the ratification of an- other treaty. But whatever differences of opinion may have existed as to the best method of opposing the colonial policy, there never was any difference as to the great importance of the question and there Is difference now as to the course to be pursued.
 The title of Spain being extinguished, we were at liberty to deal with the Filipinos according to American principles. The Ba- con resolution, introduced a month before hostities broke out at Manila, promised independence to the Filipinos or the same terms that 1t promised to the Cubans. 1 supported this resolution and believe that it's adoption prior to the breaking out of hostiities would have prevented bloodshes, and that the adoption at any subsequent time would have ended hoStilities.
 Time Would Have Elapsed
 If the treaty had been rejected, consider able time would have necessarily elapsed before a nv treaty could have been agreed upon and ratified and during that time the question would have been agitating the public mind. If the Bacon resolution had been adopted by the Senate and carried out by the President, either at the time of the ratification of the treay at any ime afterwards, it would have taken the ques- tion .. imperialism out of politics and left the American people free to deal with their domestic problems. But the resolution was defeated by the vote of the Republican Vice President, and from that time to this a Republican Congress has refused to take any action whatever in the matter.
 When hostilties broke out at Manila, Republican speakers and Republican edi-