Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-13
A Trust Imposed Upon Americans.

Aside from the actual happenings of
the war. the question of public interest
which occupies the attention of the
American people at this time is that of
the disposition Of the islands which have
and are likely to fall into the hands of
the United States before peace is con
cluded. Upon this matter there is a
division of opinion, but a great ma
iority of the people is undoubtedly in
favor of the government holding per-
manently every foot of land taken from
Spain.
The minority has rushed to the con-
%clusion that the American people have
lost their natural caution and are hur-
rying into dangers which threaten re-
publican institutions. They argue that
this country does not need more terri
tory, and therefore must under no cir
c%umstances allow the stars and stripes
to protect the islands of the sea.
That more territory is not needed is
admitted; that the present war was not
begun as a war of conquest is also an
other statement of fact, but in making
such statements the worshippers of ira
dition lose sight of that other fact: that
the irresistible force which guides the
destinies of nations has decreed that
mankind must be advanced and elevat-
ed. In obedience to that decree the
United States now occupies a position
from which to take one backward step
would prove of almost irreparable injury
to the causes OF enlightenment, civiliza-
ton and liberty.
For four centuries Spain has posses
sed the fairest islands in the Atlantic
and Pacific The history of that
possession is oneof civil and religious
| oppression, starvation and legalized
rapine. While the other civilized ma
tions of the world have advanced in
commerce, education, manner of gov
eminent and humanity, that nation has
chung blindly to the traditions and glories
of the past, forgetting that the days of
the inquisition were no longer tolerable,
and refusing to recognize that a new
doctrine, that of personal rights and
liberties, had been brought to the world
by the new era ushered in by the dis
covery made by Christopher Columbus.
The practices of cruelty followed in her
colonies, and particularly in Cuba,
brought about a condition which could
no longer be tolerated by humane ma
tons, and it fell to the lot Of the United
States to remove that blot from the New
World.
In carrying out that purpose the Phil
ippines, the Ladrones, Cuba, Puerto
Rico and possibly other islands belong
ing to a nation of retrogression, will fall
into the hands of the American people,
not as the direct result of the war, but
as a trust, to be held until their inhabi-
tants have attained capabilities and
strength to govern themselves. or if
they so desire, to become permanently
a part of this nation. To return those
islands to Spain, or to refuse them pro-
lection against continued wars and
struggles during the state of transition
would be even greater cruelty than to
allow Spain to have retained them in
the first place.
America has unwillingly assumed the
responsibility for the future Of these
islands and their people, and having
once taken up the burden can no more
lay 1t down than the people Of the
| United States can surrender the lib