The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-01
Spain Must Give Up the
Philippines.
OPINION OF MR.. HANNA.
American Pro,ectorate Until a Gov
ernment IS Set Up.
NOT BUYING WHAT WE CONTROL

Cleveland Oct. 1.-The Leader has
from its Washington correspondent the
following interview with Senator Hanna
concerning the Philippine question.
which is b lieved TO represent the views
OF President Mckinley: II do not know
what the instructions given TO our peace
commissioners are" said the senator,
but so t&r as concern the negotiations
which VIII be instituted in Paris, 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 10 be able to retain any
portion OF the group. She went into the
war and lost. and now ought to be pre-
pared to suffer all the consequences
which a defeat implies. / regard the
Philippines as lost to Spain, ard that
being foregone conclusion. i'm my opin-
ion the problem which next confronts
US relates TO the form OF government
which we will give the islands
when the Philippine question pre-
sented itself there was a strong senti-
m mt among conservative. far-seeing
and thinking men in this country which
favored the retsntion by the United
States OF merely naval base and coal
ing station I'm the islands--this base pre-
sumably being Manila and the bay con-
tiguous thereto. Since then. however,
this sentiment apparently has under
gone very marked change. and now il
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
stable and enlightened form of govern
ment throughout the entire archipelago.
When the war broke out the Philippine
insurrectionists became in a certain
sense the allies of the Americans and IL
therefore is our moral duty 10 see to il
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 necessarily will have
to consider the Philippines our wards.
United States will be called upon TO ex-
ercise a primitive and rather arbitrary
form OF control over the islands, and con-
tinue it until congress finally evolves a
system of government. In other words,
1t seC ms to me we will have to maintain
temporary prote ctorate over the archi-
pelago. ard this will be accomplished
by means of the army and navy now in
,he Philippines and Philippine waters
What Will be the ultimate fate OF the
islards is of course a problem of the
future. Whether the Philippines shall
,ecome an independent nation or a colony
Of the United States, or whether a long
time American protectorate shall b es-
tablished will b. a subject for congress
to decide. IL is well understood that
Spain must abide by the verdict OF our
p ace commissioners whatever that may
prove TO be, for she is in no fit condition
10 rensw the conflict which has resulted
so disastrously TO her. She has no reason
to expect that our commissioners will
agree To any proposition which centem-
plates the continuation OF Spanish con-
troll over any part or all Of the group.
II fesl confident we will have no fur
ther 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. IL is rot at all
certain of course that we will encounter
any such obstacle though II is assured
ly among the probabilities However.
from what have read Of the mission OF
Aguir aldo. the nsurgent chieftain. we
may find the Philippines tractable and
willing TO acc -pt whatever form Of gov
ernment we shall decide upon, so long as
Spair shall have no hand In its admins
tration."
Regarding the ports which come from
Paris that one Of Spain's propositions to
our commission will he that the
Unit d States pay her s400. 900. 900 for the
relinqu's hment of the Philippines Sena-
tor Hanna ~lsnlhcantly: I'VE arc
not payirg money for or buying terri
tory which We now control"
FOR OFFERING a BRIBE.