Middletown transcript., 1898-08-20
KEEP IHE ISLANDS.
NOT FOR OUR OWN SAKE, BUT FOR
THE SAKE OF THEIR PEOPLES.

NOT FOR OUR OWN SAKE, BUT Fol
THE SAKE OF THEIR PEOPLES.
AS understand il, the U. tied State'
went int this war against Spain in tbs
/ cause of freedom. For three yeaI'
Spain had been endeavOring to Conquer
these people. The means employed
were savage. Hundreds Of thousands
were starved. Yet the Cubans, with
gleat herOism. were continuing The
struggle. In spite of their burned
homes, their wasted fields, their dead
comrades, tie Cubans were not con.
quered, and still waged war. Under
those circumstances we said TO Spain
"You must withdraw from the western
world. The Cubans have the right TO
be free."
It was understood and declared at
the time that we were not waging war
for the sake of territory, thatswe were
not trying to annex Cuba, but that We
were moved by compassion-a compass
sion that became as stern as justice.
I did not think at the time there would
be war. supposed that the Spanish
people had some sense, that they knew
their own condition and the condition
of this republic. But the improbable
happened, and now, after the successes
we have had, the end of the war is in
sight, and the question arises: "What
shall we do with the Spanish islands
that we have taken ?"
CAN'T GIVE THE PHILIPPINES TO
SPAIN.
OF course we could not, without stul-
tifying ourselves and committing the
greatest Of crimes, hand back Cuba to
Spain. But to do that would be no
more criminal, no more infamous than
to hand back the Philippines. In those
islands there are from 5000, ,0G0 10 10,-
600. 900 of people, and tl.ey have been
robbed and enslayed by Spanish officers
and soldiers. Undoubtedly they were
savages when first found, and undoubt-
edly they are worse now than when
discovered - more barbarous. They
wouldn't make very good citizens of
the United States; they are probably
incapable Of self-government, but no
people can be ignorant enough to be
justly robbed or savage enough to he
rightly enslaved. | think that we
should keep the islands. not for our own
sake, but for the sake Of these people.
''As far as the Philippines are con-
cerned, | think that we should endea-.
vor to civilize them, and to do this We
should send teachers, not preachers.
We should not endeavor TO give them
our superstition in place of Spanish SUI
perstition. They have had superstitions
enough. They don't need churches,
they need schools. We should teach
them our arts; how to cultivate the
soil, how to manufacture the things
they need. In other words. we should
deal honestly with them and try our
best TO make them a self-supporting
and self-governing people. The eagle
should spread its wing over those
islands for that and for no other pur-
pose. We cannot afford to give them
10 other nations or to throw fragments
of them to the wild beasts of Europe.
We cannot say 10 Russia: You may
have part" and to Germany: "You
may have share" and to France:
"You take something" and SO divide
out these people as thieves divide plum
der. That we will never do.
WON BY AMERICAN BRAVERY.
There is, moreover, little sentiment
mixed with this matter in my mind.
Manila Bay has been filled with Amer
ican glory. There WIS won ono of our
greatest triumphs, one of the greatest
naval victories of the world-won by
American courage and genius. We
cannot allow any other nation to be.
come the owner Of the stage on which
this American drama was played. 1
know that we can be of great assistance
to the inhabitants of the Philippines.
l know that we can be an unmixed
blessing to them. and that is the only
ambition | have in regard to those is
lands. would no more think of hand
ing them back to Spain than l would
of butchering the entire population in
cold blood. Spain is unfit to govern.
Spain has always been a robber. She
has never made an effort to civilize
human being. The history Of Spain,
think, is the darkest page in the history
of the word.
at the same time have a kind of
pity for the Spanish people. feel that |
they have been victims-victims of sn-
perstition. Their blood has been suck |
ed, their energies have been wasted and
and they excite my SYM
pathies. OF course there are many good |
good men, good women.
Cervera appears to be civilized man,
a gentleman, and feel obliged to him |
for his treatment Of HobsoD. The |
great mass Of the Spaniards, however,
must be exceedingly ignorant, and as
passionate as ignorant. Their so-called
leaders dare not tell them the truth
about this war. They seem to be afraid |
to state the facts. They always en-
mence with lie, then change it q |
little, then change it little more, and
maybe at last tell the truth. They
never seem to dare to tell the truth at |
first, il the truth is bad. They put me
in mind of the story of man tele- |
to q wife about the condition |
Of her husband. The first dispatch |
was: your husband is well, never |
better.' The second was: sYour hus-
band Is sick, but not very The third |