The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-10-04
PHILIPPINE POLICY.
Secretary Of War Root Defends the
Administrations Course.
Dignity of the United states Upheld
and Conduct Of American Sol
diers Praised - Decries
Democratic Attacks.

diesru PraiBe0 Decries
Democrat tic Attacks.
Secretary of War .Elihu Root was
present at the formal opening OF the
Illinois republican campaign at Peoria
Wednesday, September "a, and spoke
upon the policy of the administration
in the Philippines, saying:
.'The American people are now called
upon to consider whether they wish to With
draw their support from the policy OF NC
Kinley and OF Roosevelt and eject mousse Oh
repres entatives which will oppose, and py
n hostile majority Illustrate and prevent all
further effective action by the president
.'Of course, such action as that would re-
suit in an Ineffective government. gov
eminent half republican and half democrat
can never be a government OF progress or
of affirmative action. 1t cannot deai Win
difficulties OF accomplish beneficent results.
II the honor and welfare OF the country de-
mand that things be done. that constructive
statesmanship accomplish results. such
divided government would fall. That may
be no reason why the people should not
change the majority in the house for sum :
Client cause. but It is reason why IL shoulo
not be done lightly, thoughtlessly, and lot
the mere sake Of change. Grave disapprov-
the people in thus dividing their govern
ment against itself.
'.Of all the executive problems followins
In the train OF the Spanish war, the PROB
lem Of the Philippines alone renamed.
Success there had not then been Demon
strated, and 1t was stili possipie ina. la,i-
ure there might lead the American people
to withdraw power from republican hands.
Accordingly the Philippine policy OF the
administration was attacked. ask the
people of\the United States to consider the
record made by the democratic party In
that attack.
Ii Policy of Mckinley.
president Mckinley declared that policy
in his message of that year In these words:
.''Until congress shall have made kEowh
the formal expression of Its Will, snail use
the authority vested in me by the constitu-
ton and statutes to uphold the sovereignty
NJ the United States In those distant islaEds
as in all other places where our nag right
fully floats. shall put at the disposai OF
the army and navy all the means whicn the
liberality Of congress and the people nave
provided to cause this unprovoked and
wasteful insurrection to cease. III any or
ders Of mine were required to insure the
merciful conduct Of the military and naval
operations, they would not be lacking; but
every step Of the progress OF our troops mas
been marked by humanity which mas sur
prised even the misguided insurgents. Inc
truest kindness to them will be swift ana
effective defeat of their present leaders.
The hour of victory will be the hour OF
clemency and reconstruction.
:. No effort will be spared to build up the
waste places, desolated by war and by long
years OF misgovernment We shall not
wait for the end Of strife to begin the bene-
ficent work. We shall continue. as we have
begun, to open the schools and the
he In
foster industry and trade and agriculture,
and In every way in our power to make
these people whom providence has brought
within our jurisdiction feel that 1t Is their
liberty and not our power. their welfare
and not our gain. We are seeking TO en-
nance Our flag has never waved over any
community but in blessing. / believe the
Filipinos will soon recognize the fact that
It has not lost It's gift of benediction In Its
worldwide journey to their shores.
Greatest PcrIIs Are Past.
..Our position In the Philippines to-day is
far better than the most sanguine Ameri-
can could reasonably have expected In those
early days of 1899, when the democratic
press and democratic leaders were Joining
with the republicans In the declaration that
the insurrection must be put down. we
shall have discouragements and reverses
In the future, as we have had In the past.
the greatest difficulties are past. The leg
isaation enacted at the last session OF con-
gress secures the good which has been ac-
comphshed, and with wise conservatism
opens the way to future progress. The TAX
ing of a census under its provisions has al
ready been ordered, and after the census
will follow a legislative assembly elected
by the Filipinos in which they can test and
exercise their capacity for government on
the broader field as they are already doing
In their local affairs.
1--WE know now that steady and faithful
adherence to the course which Mckinley
began and Roosevelt Is following will prove
beyond, question or cavil the truth OF the
declaration that our flag has never waved
over any community but in blessing, and
that II has not lost its gift Of ben ediction In
Its worldwide journey to the Philippine
shores.
Before the American people determine
whether II will withdraw from the admin
istration which has done these things, the
power to continue its effective action, and
hamper II by an adverse majority In the
house of representatives, would like to
have them understand ard consider what
part the democratic party has played ir
this history.
Our Dignity Demands Victory.
at concerned the credit and honor and
dignity OF our country that we should sue
coed In the Philippines. II we had failed We
should have stood before an the world, and
in our own consciousness as well. convicted
OF weakness and inefiiciency. Of lacking the
strength and unity OF purpose and the ca
pacity for resoute and persistent action,
without which no nation can be great.
"And, my fellow-citizens. there come al
ways In every great and difficult undertake
ing times when failure seems possible
times when discouragements and difficult
ties ard, doubts beset the pathway OF en-
deavor. Then II Is that high courage ard
mistaken resolve mark the quality Of a ma
tons greatness. and then II Is that faint
hearts with querulous regrets and carpine
complaints seek always to give up the fight.
Such times came during the Philippine In
surrection.
where was the democratic party then
Was II helping that nation to succeed. or
was II helping the administration to fail?
The very men who had cried: Down with
Aguinaldo.' 'Hurrah for the flag, The In
surrection must be put down. the very mon
who had voted to take the cession Of the
Philippines, who had voted the money 10
pay for the Philippines. who had voted foI
the troops to serd to the Philippines to put
down the insurrection. seized the moment
Of encouragement to demand that. In the
face OF armed resistance. the war should be
declared failure. the struggle should be
given up, sovereignty should be rein