Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-01-10
TO END THE SLAUGHTER.

G0O LIE LIN
Even Some. Leading Republicans Are
firing OF McKinley's Philip
pine Policy.
Hon. Wayne Macveagh, who was
attorney general in the cabinet of
President Garfield, who surrounded
himself with a particularly able cab
met, does not agree with the present
attorney, Mr.. Griggs, of New Jersey,
that congress OIL the administration
has authority not conferred by the
constitution, and that the flag may
be separated from the constitution at
the sweet will of either. Mr.. Mac
is sick of the bloodshed, slaughter and
devastation of territory in the Phil
ippines. He believes n the presi-
dent is doing what he believes to be
his duty, but it is time that per-
s~istence in a colossal blunder should
ease. He says that the attempt at
suppression has now been going on
for nearly three years, and has In
ficted a vast amount of slaughter, dis
ease and misery on our own sons as
well as on those who resist u au-
thority. and | cannot understand why
anybody, whether an imperialist or
an anti-imperialist, should not rejoice
at seeing a stop put to further slaugh-
ter, a general amnesty proclaimed
and the Philippine islands, for the
present, at least, granted the same
form of territorial government as we
have Just established in the Sandwich
islands and as our territories have al
ways enjoyed"
No one doubts that the war could
have been avoided had there not been
the most unwise course on the part
of the president in the days when he
tried to bring about the ratification
of the treaty of Paris. Even Gen.
Otis recognized the inflammatory
character of the presidents proc,ama-
ton announcing that the United
States would demand complete recog-
milton of sovereignty first, after which
would come the beneficent policy of
benevolent assimilation. Otis tried to
avert the trouble by editing the proc
lamation, but Admiral Walker had in
the meantime issued the proclama-
ton lust as he received it. with the
fatal words in it, demanding a u
render of sovereignty, and the war
began in a few days.
Gen. Macarthur, in his report, is
sued on November 10 last, declared
that, in spite of all appearances of pa
cificat.on, the people have been mad
dened the past five years by a rhet-
orical sophistry and stimulants APP
piled to national pride until power OF
discriminating in matters of public
concern or private interest has been
almost entirely suspended. AS a sub
stitute for all considerations, the peo-
pie seem to be actuated by the idea
hat in all doubtful matters of poll
tics or war men are never nearer
right than when going with their own
kith and kin, regardless of correct
ness"
This guarded view is confirmed by
an unofficial report, written by Col.
B. L. Billiard. of the .Thirty-ninth
United States infantry, to Capt. Scott,
of Montgomery. Ala, that the condi-
tons of the country practically forbid
the successful pursuit of the small
bands into which the armies OF
A~guinaldo have been broken up, and
hat the presence of the American
troops is an encouragement to out
lawry. He says:
In addition. the strain of outlawry In
the Filipino blood has been fostered.
swollen and strengthened by five years
of unrest and rebellion, since the year
1896. Finally. it is the white man. first
the ~Spaniard. now the American, who has
always been the agent that has forced
unwelcome la. order and civilization
upon the yellow man. Consequently
whether law-abiding or lawless, robber,
murderer or rapist. the Filipino who OPP
poses the white mans system is hailed
by all the people as their champion. He
is fed, concealed. protected and encour-
aged. If punished, it is always by the
white man. and he becomes a martyr in
the eyes of his race.
These are the conditions in these is
lands to-day. 1t is useless to say they
will soon change, for they have not
changed in the past five years, two of
them under American domination at that.
Is it. therefore. any wonder that the au-
thorities here are scratching their heads
and asking each other what in the world
are we going to do when we begin to lose
troops. when the volunteers start to go
homer
1t is no wonder at all. Nor is it a
wonder that men in this country, of
the presidents own party, like ex-
President Harrison, ex-Speaker Reed,
ex-senator Edmunds. eX-Attorney
General MacNeagh and a host of other
men of conviction and courage, should
demand a change of policy that will
produce different results than those
we see now prevailing with no like
lihood of improving. Persistency in
following up a blunder once made
isn't going to make the blu1der right
IN the end. 1t will only lead to a con-
tinual demand for more men for the
army.-Utica Observer.