Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-09
THE PRESIDENTS INAUGURA-
TT0N

nAf- nlchintey IS truly remarkable
man and his inaugural address last
Monday Is one OF the most remarkable
OF HE public utterances. Had he not
succeeded as few men have ever done
: 10 bypnotizlng his countrymen 80 hal
the msjoriiy Of them accept as gospel
anything he chooses to say, he would
never have ventured on the succe ssiou
of false assumptions and audacious
Misrepresentation with which this
speech abounds. 1t is marked by q
self-complaceny ard "snug salts &C.
ton" with his own performances
which have provoked criticism OF the
press that graver defects, unfortunate
ly, have not seemed generally TO a.
tract.
Let Us look at some points in this
last authorized deliverance of the
President of the United States AMI
despot of the Philippines-for such he
was appointed by act of Congress last
week. In the outset reference is made
to the anxiety general four years ago
as to our currency and credit" which
has now passed away, and, as q mark
OF the vast improvement since, we ere
reminded that "the Congress just closed
has reduced taxation in the sum of
Sal 100000" There is no reference to
the fact that this reduction was simply
the removal OF part of tax imposed in
1898 for war purposes and now no
longer necessary. The impudent ss.
sumption of credit therefor es due to
the administration ia ludicrous, il harm
less. More absurd even than this are
the pious warnings which follow
against "profigacy 10 public expendi.
lures" These come with singular iii
grace from an executive who has APP
| proved without scruple every appro-
priatlon made by the most extravagant
| Congress ever convened in Washing
ton, and who seems really to have for
gotten that the veto power exists. The
unblushing river and harbor bill was
talked to death by Senator Carter, who
knew full we'll there was no hope, II
passed, that 1t would not receive execu.
tive approval.
The general subject of expansion is dis
cusssd In series. OF cauting p'atitudes
characteristic oftheir august source, but
they are not otherwise memorable. 1t
is in discussing our future relations
with Cuba that the insincsrity OF
this precious document Is peculiarly
evident. 1.-THE declaration of the pur.
poses OF this government in the resolu-
ton Of April 20, 1898, must be made
good" Is fret announced, and then we
are reminded OF the virtunus efforts OF
the administration ever since to carry
out those purposes; yet the President ia
"glad to be advised by the recent act OF
Congress OF the policy which the legis- |
lstive branch OF the government deems
essential to the best interests of Cuba |
and the United States" Now anyone |
who has followed this subject knows |
quite as well as Mr.. Mckinley does
tDat the act of Congress to which be
refers is absolutely inconsistent with
the letter and spirit of the Teller reso.
luton of April 20, 1898. II is not neces-
ssry to claim that Congress has erred
10 thus declining to make good a silly |
pledge given 10 moment of excite. |
ment. 1t may have done nothing more
than what was necessary and proper in |
now refusing to Cuba the absolute in
dependence formerly guaranteed--but
1t would not sound well to say this In an
inaugural address and, consequently,
the Inconsistency Is dishonesty liz
n0red.
The concluding paragraph 10 regard
to the burning question OF the Philip
pines Ia the most noteworthy of all and
invites review more extended than
there ia now time for. We are told
that "tbe governments representatives,
civil and military, are doing faithful
aud noble work in their mission of
j. 9. in the wicked work
Of robblng gallant people of their in
dependence; though it ia beDigDly
added that "the way is still open for
those who have raised their arms
against the government for honorable {
submission to Its authority" George {
LII could not have improved upon this.
But the height OF misrepresentation {
zones later: "Our countrymen should
lot be deceived. We are not waging J
var against the Inhabitants of the
Philippine Islands. a portion of them I
ire making war against the United i
states. BY far the greater part OF the {
Inhabitants recognize American SOW @
,reignty They shall q
lot be abandoned. We will not leave o
he destiny Of the loyal millions 10 the il
stands to the disloysl thousands who "
re In rebellion against the United B
tates.n q
Passing blythe nonsense OF calling n
eople "rebels," who never acknowl. N
dyed allegiance to US and never had P
ny cause to do so, and imagining for o E
loment what popular feeling here W
'ould be toward them were any other "
alton than this engaged in their SUBJ m
lgation, let US look to the facts. Per. 90
APPS 1t is unimportant now to settle the al
lestlon OF who Is "wagipg war; on b
HON, but 1t Is monstrously untrue,
,cording to the beat unprejudiced &C.
cunts from the islands, that large
sjority OF the people accept our sway. th
o speak of "disloyal Thousands and bs
oval millions" 10 this connection il a de
,wnright, shameless effort 10 produce 10
false impression and should be re- of
lked accordingly by an Indignant ed
'ople. Is it not unaccountable tina. 30
requires seventy thousand OF our best te,
pops now, and, as competent military an
thority has repeatedly declared, pa
rye force for an indefinite period, to col
pc with so Insignificant number OF vii
ebels"? Is 1t not an Injurious re- tn,
ction upon American soldiers thus to DO
nimize the foe? Br
L. NJ. B. pr,
irfax Co., Va, March s, 1901. as