The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-22
WHAT 1T MEANS.

WHAT H MEANS.
What the effect of AguiGaldos proclaim
alton may be on the natives of the Phil
ippines is a good thing to speculate on.
So is the present attitude of the admins
tration press on the same subject
1t is positively delightful to read the
paeans of praise which find expression at
this time toward the recent insurgent
leader. Our contemporary, the Pioneer
Press, -surpasses itself
Could anything be more affecting than
this, for instance:
Nor is there any abasement in his
submission not merely to Irresistible
force but to the will of his. people and to
every obligation of patriotic concern for
their happiness and their freedom. On
the contrary, the fallen leader of lost
cause takes on new and higher dignity
downward through the dark Valley of
Death to the Delectable Mountains which
lead upward to the full sunlight of lib
eruy and progress The world will have
a higher opinion of the genuinenesS of his
patriotism and the breadth of his states
manship since he has abandoned a hope
less fight for the shadow to embrace the
rich substance of liberty in its best and
highest FORMS"
Now, the truth of the matter is that
there was no recourse left 70 Aguinaldo
save to issue such proclamation. 1t
was merely an acceptance of the inev-
liable. There was nothing else for him
to do He had reached the end of his
rope; and Funston, of Kansas, was at the
other end
1t must seem somewhat remarkable to,
our friends of the administration that
Democrats take SO lightly the arrest of
the leader of the Filipino Instruction
But there is nothing whatever remark
able about it. Democrats believe a peo-
pie to be entitled to liberty who are in
tent on securing and defending it to the
limit Of their physical powers The FIJI
Had they ever had an opportunity to
consider their true relationship toward
the American people; had their leader
ever been treated otherwise than with a
deliberate purpose to deprive him and
them of their liberties by force and fraud,
there never need have been any endur-
ing trouble between Americans and the
Tagal population.
The same forces which made it neces-
sary for Aguinaldo and his followers
to go into rebellion are now trying to
minimize the Importance Of his surren-
DER. They had the same purposes then
that they have now. The essential diff
ference between the two situations lies
in the fact that the military powers were
acting under instructions from Washing
ton then; while, when Aguinaldo's cap
ture was under consideration, military
officers, not politicians, were in control
1t is not an occasion for self-yrat-
ulation. 1t is one which suggests the
final solution OF the problem Of the Phil.
ippines. Aguinaldo has a great oppor-
tunitY confronting him. The American
people are in a situation to teach the
Flllplnos the art of self-government.
They want to do it. The declaration OF
Agllinaldo opens up the opportunity. It
does not matter now to inquire whether
those people are worthy of liberty.
There is no such question. If they are
not now, they will be later if we dis
charge our obligations
Aguinaldo's proclamation will not count
overmuch. His capture is the thing.
The policy Of his capture has been all
right thus far Before six months have
passed, unless we have failed to utilize
our opportunities, the Philippine islands
will be thoroughly pacifed.