Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-24
AGAINST ANNEXATION.
Carl Schurz Tells Why He Thinks
We Should Not Acquire
Spanish Colonies.

Saratoga. n. Y. Aug. 20.-Carl Schurz,
in an address last night before the ma
tional conference on the foreign policy of
the United States, strongly protested
against the acquisition of foreign terri
tory by the United States. He said in
part:
The future policy of the United States will
be largely determined by the peace soon to
be concluded with Spain. We have to re-
member that the war with Spain was Vir-
tuallv initiated by the resolution adopted by
Congress, which declared that the people of
Cuba should be free and independent. Then,
moved by the sense of duty, the United
Spanish forces from Cuba, that the Pres-
dent should use the army and navy and
militia Ito such extent as may be necessary
to carry these resolutions into effect''-that
is, to iberate Cuba-and that. such liberia
ton and pacfication of Cuba accomplished.
the United States emphatfcally disclaiming
disposition or any intention to annex Cuba.
would leave the government OF the island to
the people thereof
Now, l ask the advocates of annexation
among us whether if this republic under
any pretext annexes any of the Spanish col
onies, it does not really turn this Solemnly
advertised war of liberation and humanity
them what they will have TO say when our
detractors repeat against US their charges
of hypocrisy and selfish moriyes:
If these questions cannot be satisfactorily
answered this might be the end of the dis
cussion. But in these days of ours it is we'll,
perhaps, TO go on proving that honesty is
really the best policy. What shall we DO
with these Spanish colonies if we do annex
them: Are these colonies any of them
such that we could with safety make states
of this union Of them? | challenge the ad-
vOcates of annexation to show me q single
instance Of a tropical country in which peO-
pie of that kind have shown themselves able
to carry on domestic gov eminent in u man
ner fitting it for statehood our union.
Let the thought of anneXing these islands
and their population to the United States
either as states or as subject provinces be
occupied by our military forces under dis
Greet commanders. until they are thoroughly
pacified and until the people thereof, with
such aid on the part of the United States as
may be necessary, will have formed eff
fective civil governments and an armed!
force Of their own for the maintenance of
public order and security. Let them. in ac-
the resolution Of Congress, the control Of
those islands to be turned over to the people
thereof and let this final settlement include
agreements with them securing to American
citizens the islands the fullest protection
in their right of owning property and carry
ing all kinds Of business
The problem of the future of the Philip
But as to tie main point that concerns the
United States. [ shall say that the same
principle should be adhered to as in the case
of Cuba and Porto RicO-that is. we should
obtain by means Of agreement, the greatest
attainable facilities for commerce and civil
izing influences with the least political re-
spOnsibiities and entanglements; in other
opening to our activities of the territories
concerned