Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-02-09
LOYALTY PUT TO TEST.

The Aguinaldo letters written by Rob
ert w. Wilcox at time when he was
to all intents and purposes an Ameri-
can citizen, constitute a serious charge
delegate to private life with the consent
of a Republican President and by the
vote Of a Republican Congress.
The Bulletin has had little sympathy
with Attorney Gears mission in It's
political phase and as based upon the
illegality of Delegate Wilcox's election
or the charge of bigamy. If the will
cox election was Illegal on account Of
sufficient competent electoral machin-
cry contained In the Organic Act. the
defeated as well as the successful par
ties showed themselves equally short
sighted in going to all the trouble Of
making nominations and casting their
ballots. II Wilcox is a bigamist accord
ing to the moral law Of the Catholic
faith he would be expelled from the
church; II by the law Of this land he
would have answered for 1t in the
courts.
Robert Wilcox. declared enemy OF
American rule. self declared ally dc.
sirous of joining band OF insurgents
engaged in shooting down American
citizens, while he was enjoying the
privileges and protection of The Amer
lean flag Is an entirely different mat-
ter. II comes as an unpleasant sur
prise. II strikes at the very foundl-
ton Of American loyalty. II Is a slap
in the face to every American who has
ever fought toiuphold the flag at home
or abroad. II casts a slur upon eve.y
home that has given its best blood,
upon every mother who has given her
boy to fight the battles of the nation.
II Is a kick at the corpse Of the ma
tons honored dead. which every tenet
Of American faith teaches the boys and
girls. the citizen present and prospec-
tive to regard as sacred.
Granted that the letters given can
be proved to be, authentic, the decision
relative to Delegate Wilcox's right to
sit In Congress places President Will
liam Mckinley and every Republican
Congressman who voted to continue
American control in the Philippines by
force of arms on trial. If the Presi-
dent or the Congressman individually
or collectively. can view this incident
with Indifference. they thereby indt-
vidually and severally give the lie to
their every protestation and assertion
OF loyalty to the flag. their thoughtful
regard for the high moral mission OF
the nation and their condemnation OF
such men as Atkinson and other SUP
porters of the Filipino cause. Indiffer-
ence on their part means an open Nd-
mission to the people Of the United
States that these prOtestatiOns and the
condemnation were and are a farce
created with the purpose and intent uf
playing upon national loyalty merely
to catch votes and retain political pow
er. 1t will say to the American pco-
pie Is more distinct and positive terms
than word of mouth can possibly ex-
press that the flag is a phantom. that
national integrity is co NEEDY to be
waved and to be played upon for poll
teal purposes only. 1t will he a mess
age TO the citizens OF all the new pos
sessions, more pointed, more direct
than ther written or spoken message
OF the President or Congress that ma
tional loyalty in its American sense is
only a cloak to he put on or cast aside
according as II may he used for poll
teal profit or to blind the people as TO
underlying motives.
Such Indifference seems impossible
as It can serve only to bring the Re-
publican party into contempt and make
its national standard bearer and its Con
gressionl representatives unworthy Of
the support OF honest American citl-