Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-29

Country in the Present Problem as to
What Is to Be Done With the East India
Archipelago.
The Chicago Record through an en-
tensive system of interviews gathered
in leading cities throughout the coun-
try. undertakes to present this morn
ing the consensus of public opinion as
to the disposition on the part of the
United States of the Philippine islands.
In the apparently approaching peace
negotiations with Spain this is to he
a problem of supreme Importance.
Happily the weight of sentiment in
this country, as borne by the Records
Investigation, is opposed to acquire
ment by this country of the far away
isles of the sea. The Rock Island cit
liens who have been interviewed CO.
incide in these convictions.
Here are the views sent from this
city:
Mayor MediII.
Thomas j. Medill. Jr.. mavor-"I
am not in favor of the permanent re-
tention Of the Philippine islands except
as a coaling station for our navy. The
retention of these islands as a part of
our war indemnity would lead us into
complications with foreign countries.
and at the same time break down our
time-honored and democratic policy
of attending to our own affairs and
inviting other countries to attend to
theirs. 1t would invite interference
from other countries to our own CONT
nent. Let the war indemnity, as far
as the Philippines are concerned, he
paid in cash, and if necessary hold the
Philippines until it is paid"
Representative McEniry.
William McEniry, member of the
legislature-"I am in favor of this
government maintaining the Monroe
doctrine as construed by Secretary of
State Olney in his letter to Lord Sails
bury on the Venezuelan question,
when he said that the fiat of this
United States is law upon the Ameri-
can continent (meaning the western
hemisphere). If we deny the right
Of any government of the eastern
hemisphere to acquire territory upon
the western hemisphere, we ought to
| coniine ourselves to the same prinei-
pie and not attempt to acquire terri
tory upon the eastern hemisphere
The declaration of war by our govern
| ment against Spain was for the liber-
alton of the Cubans. When we have
accomplished this we have accom-
plished all that we demanded of Spain.
Since Spain required us to take up
arms to liberate the Cubans. we have
a Just right to demand of Spain in
demnitv in territory as well as in
money. | am in favor of this gov
eminent anneNing Porto Rico, and
am opposed to the annexation OF any
territory beyond the bounds of this
hemisphere. Under the Monroe doe
trine we certainly have right to
insist upon holding SO much of the
Philippine islands as is necessary for
a coaling station
Are YOU in favor OF surrenderilg
up the Philippine islands to the
| Spanish government
| If there are sufficient number Of
the inhabitants of the Philippine
islands to maintain stable form of
government | would favor the turn
ing over of the Philippine islands to
the inhabitants. If not. or in other
words. if the Spanish rule as hereto
fore enforced by the Spaniards in the
philippine islands is more stable and
better able to give protection to the
Inhabitants, | should favor the sur
rendering up of the Philippine islands
TO the Spanish government. A re-
publican form Of government cannot
successfully exist without an intelii-
gent people. lfthe intelligence ofthe
inhabitants of the Philippine islands
| is not such as to insure n ranuhlican