The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-05

buttons is a firm belief OF Mr.. McKin-
ley, for he says .sour institutions will
not deteriorate by the extension and
our sense of justice wiz net abate un-
der tropic suns in distant seas IF
there are those among US who would
make our way more difficult. we must
not be disheartened, but the more
earnestly dedicate ourselves upon the
task which we have rightly entered.
We will be consolcd, too, with the fact
that opposition has confronted every
onward movement of the republic from
its opening hour until now, but with
out success. Surely after one
hundred and twenty-five years OF
achievement for mankind we will not
now surrender our equality with other
Powers on matters fundamental and
essential to nationality. we
adhere 10 the principle of equality
among ourselves, and by no act of ours
will we assign to ourselves a subOrdl-
nate~rank in the family Of nations
This seems to us as clear a pro-
nunciamento in favor of definitely
holding the Philippine Islands as could
be devised, and that Mr.. Mckinley
purposes SO 10 do is made more clear
in the latter part Of his address, in
which he says: 81 shall continue the
efforts already begun until order shall
be restored throughout the Philippines.
and as fast as conditions permit will
establish local governments, in the
formation of which the full co-opera-
ton Of the people has already been in
vited, and when established will en-
courage the people to administer them.
The same purpose long ago proclaimed
to afford the inhabitants Of the island
elf-government as soon as they are
ready for it will be pursued with earn
estness and fidelity"
But the President very wisely abb
stains from saying what proofs of fit
ness the Executive will require on the
part of the Filipinos for self-govern-
ment before absolute control Of the
islands will be given to their native in
habitants. This far, at least, we can
go with the President when he says
I'VE are not waging war against the
inhabitants Of the Philippine Islands;
portion Of them are making war
against the United States. By far the
greater part of the inhabitants recoG-
nize American sovereignty and wei
come it as q guarantee of order and OF
security for life, property, liberty, free
dom of conscience and in the pursuit
of happiness. They shall not be ADAM
doned. We will not leave the destiny
of the loyal millions to the disloyal
thousands who are in rebellion against
the United States
AS to Cuba, the President says: "The
declaration Of the purposes of this
Government in the resolution of April
Goth, 1898, must be made good, and to
that end the Executive has been assist
ing the people Of that island with all
practicable speed in the successive
steps necessary to the establishment
of free and independent government
prepared to assume the obligations Of
international laws which now rest
upon the United States under the
treaty of Paris. The peace which we
are pledged to leave the Cuban people
must carry with it the guarantees of
permanence" And the President goes
on to say, "Our enfranchsement of
the people will not be completed until
free Cuba shall be a reality, not a
name; a perfect entity, not a hasty
experiment, bearing within itself the
elements of failure"
But here also the President makes
no definite statement as to the method
by which the Executive will determine
when Cuba has reached this desirable
state of self-goyerning excellence.
AS whole the address is marked by
the characteristics which have distin-
gllished Mr.. Mckinley in his previous
administra ton. It is carefully word
ed. we'll phrased, and appeals to the
better side of the American people, but
it fails in marking out any definite pol
icy which the man in the streets can
understand. Perhaps it is impossible
for the President to have done other
wise in view of all the obligations
which would arise were he to def
nitely state what the various steps of
the Executive would be.
So far, at least, in his dealings with
those peoples we do not see how he
could have acted otherwise. And in
the course of policy he pursued he has
had the approval of the great majority
of the American people.
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