Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-11-04
preme court were made by George F..
Edmunds, e. j. Phelps aud James G.
Carter Of New ork.
OPPOSITION TO PHILIPPINE ANNExA-
TlON

TlONs
The opposition throughout the country
to the annexation of the Philippine
Islands is very pronounced, including
prominent leaders of all parties. The
following from the Burlington Free
Press shows the very serious antagon-
ism to the project in the United States
senate and elsewhere:
The administrations demand through the
peace commission for the possession of the |
Philippine islands was brought about, accord. |
ing to Washington dispatches, through the |
convincing of President Mckinley of the ex
istence of a strong public sentiment In favor /
of the annexation of the entire group. This
impression on the part of the president is
said to have been strengthened during his |
recent trip in the west, and a plausible air is /
given to the assertion by the statement that |
the president was a reluctant convert to the
idea Ct our territorial expansion on the OPP
posite side of the globe
If the administration did not give definite
instruction to the American peace commits
siOners before their departure for Paris re-
garding the Philippines, as alleged, and 1t
has since become converted to the cause OF
further territorial eXpansion,i 1T must have mis-
interpreted the expression of public opinion
to a remarkable degree. If this is the case the
administration may have noted the pfeYa'
lence of general opposition to allowing
Spain to retain possession of the Philippines,
and jumped to the conclusion that the people
thus opposed to Spanish retention of the
islands we're unit in favor of our annexa-
ton of the entire group. But this by no
means follows. Various ways have been
suggested as to the disposition TO be made of
the Philippines, outside of the continuance
of Spanish domination The independence
of the Philippines, the establishing of a tenn
porary protectorate by the United States and
the maintenance of a joint protectorate are
among the projects considered by those who
object to the surrender of the islands to Spain
ana the return of former conditions in that
territory; so that this latter sentiment is by
no means to be counted solidly in favor OF
our annexation of the Philippines.
Assuming that the administration did thus
allow itself to be misled it must have had its
eyes opened in II convincing, if not pain.
full manner by the storm of protests called
forth in this country by the announcement
that the American peace commissioners had
made demand upon the Spanish commits.
sioners for all OF the philippines and espec
tally the protests of the United States sen
atOrs whose consent If not their advice, is
essential to the consummation of treaty of
peace. Senator Morrill, had alrea y taken
/ strong position in opposition to the anneXa-
ton of distant isanl territory. Senator
IIoar of Massachusetts reiterated and empha
sized his opposition to the annexation of the
Philippines in an address.
Since the suggestion was made that the
United States pay Spain $iO000,00O for the
Philippines no less than eleven United States
senator's besides those named, have public.
ly expressed unalterable opposition TO any
such plan. These are Senators Jones and
Berry of Arkansas, Harris of Kansas, Hale of
Maine, Burrows of Michigan, Roach of North
Dakota, Chandler of New Hampshire, Till
man of South Carolina, Pettigrew of South
] mi TpunpsGpp Daniel a
Virginia. The names enumerated in slude
Democrats as well as Republicans but the ad
ministration may need all the support it is
! likely to receive in aid of the annexation
project.
The opposition which will probably create
more of a sensation in Washington than any
other is that of senator Eugene Hale of
Maine, who is one of the Republican leaders
of the upper house of congress. Senator
Hale, in speaking on the subject, said ::
l would not take the Philippines if
Spain would give us $400U0,000 with them +;
The sooner we drop them the better"
Senator HOar is equally emphatic in
his opposition to the annexation of the
islands, and other senators who have not
publicly expressed their views on the sub.
ject will be found bitterly opposed to the ex.
tension of our national boundary thousands of
miles into the far East. Even if Spain yields
to the demands of the peace commissioners,
ii is not unlikely that the senate will reject
any provisions for the annexation of the
Philippines.
This probability brings us to another con.
sderation. The ianish are not unaware of
the strong sentiment in tho United States
against our annexation of the whole group
and the protest of the spanish commission
ers against our taking the islands will I'M
doubleday be more vigorous and sustained
than their contention over the Cuban debt.
The question then arises, whether in the
event of the refusal of Spain to surrender the
Philippines into our hands, the administra-
ton could afford to go to war for the posses
sion of the coveted territory while public
sentiment in this country so strongly
divided on the issue of annexation. SO long
as the administration confined its attention
to the West Indies in the peace negotiations.
all was clear sailing; but now that it has
jumped to the other side of the world iG finds
itself in the deep sea, both literally and fig
uratively; and 1t must founder until the SEN
ate passes upon its action in demanding all
of the Philippine islands