Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-01
MUST IoSE ALL.
Spain Cannot Hope 10 Retain Any
Part Of the Philippines.
Senator Hanna's Statement. Believed to Ex.
press the Presidents Views.

Cleveland, Sept. 3O-The Leader has
from it's Washington correspondent the
following interview with Senator Han
ma, concerning the Philippine question
which is believed to represent the views
of President Mckinley:
Il do not know what the instructions
given to our peace commissioners are"
said the senator, but SO far as concern
the negotiations which will be insti-
tuted in Paris, I can see no other re-
suit than that Spain will have to re-
linquish her sovereignty over not only
Luzon island but the entire Philippine
archipelago. Spain has no reason to
expect to be able to retain any por-
ton of the group. She went into the
war and lost and now ought to be pre-
pared to suffer all the consequences
which defeat implies.
Il regard the Philippines as lost to
Spain and that being a foregone con-
clusion, 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 presented itself, there was a
strong sentiment among conservative,
far seeing and thinking men in this
country. which favored the retention
by the United States OF merely naval
base and coaling station in the islands
this base presumably being Manila,
and the bay contiguous thereto. Since
then, however, this sentiment appa-
rently had undergone very marked
change and now it appears for the
most part that those same men who at
first believed we should occupy Manila
alone are advocating 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 obli-
cations to the insurgents to establish
a staple and enlightened form of gov
eminent throughout the entire archi-
pelago. When the war broke out the
Philippine insurrectionists became in a
certain sense the allies of the Ameri-
cans and it, therefore, is our moral du-
ty to see to it that in the future they
shall be assured safe and civilized rule,
and until the United States determines
in just what manner the Philippines
ultimately shall be governed, we nee
essarily will have to consider the Phil
ippines our wards.
During this transitional period The
United States will be called upon to ex-
ercise a primitive and rather arbitrary
form of control over the islands and
continue it until Congress finally evcl-
YES system of government. Insesher
words, itsseems to me I'VE will have to
maintain a temporary protsctorafe
over the archipelago and this will he
accomplished by means of the. army
and navy now in the Philippines and
Philippine waters. What will be the
ultimate fate of the islands is, of
course, a problem of the future
Whether the PHILIPPINES shall become
an independent nation or a colony of
the United States, or whether a long
time American protectorate shall be
established will be subject for Con-
gress to decide.
1T is well understood that Spain
must abide by the verdict of our peace
commissioners, whatever that may
prove ITO be, for she is in no fit condi-
ton to renew the conflict which has
resulted so disastrously to her. She
mlssioners will agree to improvisation
which contemplates the continuation of
Spanish control over any part of all of
the group. I feel confident we will
have no further trouble in an armed
way with Spain. The only obstacle
with which we may have to contend is
the opposition of the insurgents to our
plans. 1t is not at all certa ain of course,
that we will encounter any such OBJ
stacle, though it is assuredly among
the probabilities. Hover, from what
I've read from the mission of Agui-
naldo, the insurgent cheftain, we may
find the Philippines tractable and will
ing to accept whatever form of govern
ment we shall finally decide upon, so
long as Spain shall have no hand in it's
administration"
Regarding the reports which come
from Paris that one of Spain's PROPOSE
tons to our commissioners win be that
the United States pay her $4OO, 900, 900
for the REIMBURSEMENT of the Philip
pines, Senator Hanna said signifi-
cantly I'VE are not paying money
for. or buying territory which We now
control"