The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-01
PHILIPPINES PUZZLE.
Senator Hanna Discusses Our Gov.
ernment's Policy. ;
THE ISLANDS ARE LOST TO SPAIN

Whether the Islands Are Retained by
the United States or Turned Over tc
the Insurgents VIII Be For Con.
eress to Determine.
Cleveland, Oct. 1.-The Leader has
from Its Washington correspondent the
following Interview with Senator Han
na concerning the Philippine question,
which Is believed to represent the
views of President Mckinley: =.
II do not know what the instructions
given our peace commissioners are"
said the senator, "but so far as con-
Germs the negotiations which will be
instituted in Paris today l can see no
other result than that Spain will have
to relinquish her sovereignty over not
only Luzon Island, but the entire
Philippine archipelago. Spain has no
reason to expect to be able to retain
any portion Of the group. She went
into the war and lost, and now ought
to be prepared to suffer all the con-
sequences which such defeat i'm
plies. l regard the Philippines as lost
to Spain. and that being foregone
conclusion, in my opinion, the problem
which next confronts us relates to the
form of government which we will give
the islands.
when the Philippine question first
presented itself there was a strong
sentiment among conservative, far see
ing and thinking men in this country
which favored the retention by the
United States of merely naval base
and coallng station in the isand-this
base presumably being Manila and the
bay contiguous thereto. Since then,
however, this sentiment apparently
has undergone very marked change.
and it appears for the most part that
these same men who at first believed
we should occupy Manila alone are ad-
vocating the termination of Spanish
rule in the whole group.
aside from the fact that the general
sentiment of the country seems to be
against returning any of the islands to
Spain, the United States is under OBJ
legations to the insurgents to establish
a stable and enlightened form Of gov
ernment through the entire archipelago.
When the war broke out the Philip
pine IisuIIetllUllStS Dttdille Ill d GER
tain sense the allies of the Americans,
and 1t therefore is our moral duty to
see to 1t that in the future they will
be assured safe and civilized rule. and
until the United States determines in
just what manner the Philippines ul-
shall be governed, we neces-
sarily will have to consider the Philip
pines our wards.
During this transitional period the
United States will be called upon to
exercise primitive, or rather arbitrary
form of control over the islands, and
1t until congress finally
evolves a system of government. In
other words, it seems to me we will
lave to maintain a temporary protec-
orate over the archipelago. and this
will be accomplished by means Of the
lrmy and navy in the Philippines and
Philippine waters. What will be the
lltimtae fate of the islands is Of course
problem of the future. Whether the
will become an independ-
mt nation or colony of the United
states or whether a long time Ameri- |
an protectorate will be established will |
e subject for congress to decide.
at is well understood that Spain must
bide by the verdict of our peace COM
1ssioners. whatever that may prove to
e, as she is in no fit condition to renew
he conflict which has resulted so disas-
rously to her. She has no reason to ex-
ect that our commissioners will agree
} any proposition which contemplates
le continuation of Spanish control over
ny part or all of the group. I feel con-
dent we will have no further trouble
| an armed way with Spain.
"The only obstacle with which we may
ave to contend is the opposition of the
to our plans. 1t Is not at all
'rtain. of course, that we will encoun-
n any such obstacle. though it is as
lredly among the probabilities. How
yer, from what have read Of the mis-
on of Agoncillo, the personal repre-
ntative of Aguinaldo, the insurgent
lieftain, we may find the Philippines
actable and willing to accept what
'er form of government we will finally
,cide upon, so long as Spain will have
, hand in its administration"
the reports which came
ON Paris that one of Spains proposi-
)ns to our commissioners will be that
e United States pay her s40O,O 900
r the REIMBURSEMENT of the Philip
Des, Senator Hanna said, significant
: 1--WE are not paying money for or
lying territory which we now con-
ol."