The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-07-26
Ex.sEcRErARY sHERMAws vIEws
He Favors Rsturping Porto Rico. but
Not the Philippines.


from Washington says:
Former Secretary Of State Sherman In
an interview said: regret TO hear Of the
reported differences between Generals
shafter and Garcia In Cuba.
''If the Cubans deserve enough respect
TO be recognized By the United States. It
seems TO me they should be respected on
the field of battle. They have battled for
liberty and freedom from SPANS tyrrany
for half century or more. and now that
the object for which they have 50 long
fought for Is in sight. they should share
In the fruits OF victory. General Garcia
should have been invited to the surren-
der OF Santiago. and II he was not blum
der was made.
Congress passed a resolution to expel
Spain from Cuba. In that resolution It
was clearly stipulated that we should
leave the Island to the control OF the peo-
pie thereof after a firm and stable gov
ernment had been established. Therefore
we cannot with any show OF consistency
lay claim 70 the island after It has been
taken from Spain.
"It is yet to be determined whether the
Cubans are capable OF self government
II they are well and good; We should turn
the Island over TO them, but II the Gu
bans become dissatisfied with their form
of government after We set 1t up and re-
bel against 1t we would doubtless feel
called upon TO step in and take the island.
This to my mind is the only contingency
which could arise wherein the United
States would be justified in taking Cuba.
AT this time ii is not possible to form
an approximate estimate of the in
demnity We should demand Of Spain.
Much depends upon future events. Il
seems TO me, however that the main incl
dent should not be lost sight Of when the
United States begins TO figure on an in
demnity. l have always believed that
the Maine was blown up by the spaniards
1t may be, however, that the act was
done surreptitiousiy and without the
knowledge Of the Spanish government,
but the Maine went into friendly harbor
on friendly mission and should have
been protected while in that harbor.
This is a fact which the American peo-
pie cannot lose sight Of.
"of the Spanish territory which may
accrue to US because OF the war, there
Is only one island which would be in
favor Of retaining, and that is Porto
Rico. There are reasons why Porto Rico
would be a valuable acquisition, but, as
believe, there Is no reason for taking
the Philippines or Cuba. Annexation of
the Philippines would be endless trouble
for our government. Already We are
confronted with the insurgent leader
Aguinaldo, who has bedecked himself
with jewels, whistles and other trlnkets
to distinguish himself from other mortals
and If we attempt to lay claim to the
Philippine group we may have serious
trouble with the insurgents.
Porto Rico is needed as a coaling sta
ton for our warships in time of war and
for our merchantmen in time Of peace.
The day has come when We should have
coaling stations in all parts Of the world
The present war has forcibly demon
strated that coal is as valuable as gun.
powder, and we should make every pro-
vision for fuel in the future.
I'VE have navy Of fair proportions,
but the future will require an enlarge
ment of our present sea force. am en-
phatically in favor of an increase in our
naval strength. but it is just as well that
the increase is coming gradually.
"our land forces also could be aug
mented. A standing army Of $1,000 would
not be too large for our population. An
Interoceanic canal which hope to see
constructed in the near future, would be
OF great advantage to US in defending our
western coast. It would do away with
the necessity of maintaining large naval
department. canal should be built by
the government"