New-York tribune., 1902-05-28
THE FILIPINOS WERE TOLD.

The head of the Methodist missions at Manila
is reported to have said that Agunaldo once
told him that IF he had known the American
people would do for the Filipinos what they
have done, nothing could have induced him 10
fire a gun or lift a finger against them" This
is called 10y some of those opposed to the
tonal policy in the Philippines "a curious state
ment," with an uncOncealed accent of scepti-
cism. We see no reason for doubling the mis-
sionarys word matter what may be thought
or the sincerity of Aguinaldo. The important
feature of the statement is. however its sug-
gestion of the perennial last ditch" complaint
OF the opponents of the Philippine policy.
Why" they ask in effect. did not this gov
"ernnent tell the FilipinOs its intentions re-
gardng them. it did the Cubans and Porto
"Ricans: Granted that its purposes are benevo-
lent, what assurance had the Filipinos of that
TACT: And in the absence of such assurance
"how can we blame them for taking up arms
for freedom and independence? The whole
fault rests upon this government for not max
ing AT the outset the benevolence of its plans
known 10 the Filipinos"
To this querulous and baseess complaint a
conclusive answer is found In the simple facts
OF the indisputable record-facts which should
be familiar TO every schOOlbOy, and which are
so fundamental that any one ignorant of them
has no business TO discuss the question at all
1t is, of course automatic that the United
States could make no declaration of inten-
tions regarding the Philippines until It had ac-
quired at least something approXimating 10 a
title TO those islands. No nation. any more
than man. is entitled TO dispose of another's
property. 1t is likewise obvious that the United
States did not fully acquire title to the Philip
pines until the Treaty of Peace with Spain was
made by which those islands were ceded 10
this country. Therefore this government could
make no declaration of intentions to the Fill
pinos until that treaty was made. Now. let
us note the sequence of dates:
The protocol which stopped hostilities and
opened the way for a treaty of peace was
signed on August 70 1898 1t stipulated that
the United States should occupy and hold Ma
Mia spending the conclusion of treaty of peace
"'rhich shall determine The control, disposition and
''g0rerHmcnt Of the Philippines" In that very
clause was direct reminder that not until the
conclusion of the treaty would the United States
be in a position 10 say TO the Filipinos what ii
meant 10 do with them. This government then
moved expeditiOusly toward the making of a
treaty. That instrument was signed on Decem-
Der IL. 1898 and provided that Spain should
cede the Philippines absolutely 10 the United
States. Ratification was, however still neces-
sary before the treaty could become valid and
operative, and this government might have
waited until then before declaring it's Philip
pine policy. The President did not wait for
that. however. Confident of ratification, and
desiring at the earliest possible moment to as
sure the FilipinOs of the generous intentions OF
this country. he, on December 21 1898 issued
a proclamation which was published through
out the Islands on January s. 1899. In that