The Winslow mail., 1901-02-21
TO END THE SLAUGHTER.
Even Some Leading Republicans Are
firing of Mckinley's Philip
pine Policy.

pine Pollcy.
Hon. Wayne MacVeagh, who was
attorney general in the cabinet of
President Garfield, who surrounded
himself with particularly able cab
met, does not agree with the present
attorney, Mr.. Griggs, of New Jersey,
that congress or 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
Neagh is not a carping critic, but he
is sick of the bloodshed, slaughter and
devastation of territory in the Phil
ippines. He believes rnat the presi-
dent is doing what he believes to be
his duty, but it is time that per-
sistence in a colossal blunder should
cease. He says that the attempt at
suppression has now been going on
for nearly three years, and has in
ficted vast amount of slaughter, dis
ease and misery on our own sons as
we'll as on those who resist our au-
thority, and I 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 inf1ammatory
character of the presidents proclama-
ton announcing that the United
States would demand complete recog-
milton of sovereignty first, after which
would come the benefcent 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 just as he received it. with the
fatal words in it, demanding a sur
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
cifcation, the people have been "mad-
dened the past five years by rhet-
orical sophistry and stimulants ap-
piled to national pride until power of
discriminating in matters of public
concern or private interest has been
almost entirely suspended. AS SUBJ
stitute for all considerations, the peo-
pie seem to be actuated by the idea
that in all doubtful matters of poll
ties 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. Bullard, of the Thirty
United States infantry, to Capt. Scott,
of Montgomery, Ala, that the condi-
tions of the country practically forbid
bands into which the armies of
Aguinaldo have been broken up, and
that the presence of the American
troops is an encourag cement 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 law order and civilization
upon the yellow man. Consequently,
whether law-abiding or lawless, robber,
murderer or rapist the Filipino who op-
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
home?
1t is no wonder at all. Nor is it
wonder that men in this country, of
the presidents own party, like ex-
President Harrison, eX-Speaker Reed,
ex-senator Edmunds, eX-Attorney
General MacVeagh and a host of other
men of conviction and courage, should
demand 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 blunder right
in the end. 1t will only lead to con-
tinual demand for more men for the
army.-Utica Observer.