Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-05


Our Line OF Comm nications-ExPert
Opinion Far Ignored and Naval ON
GERS Mouths Sealed.
The following petition i being eN-
teusiyeiy circulated in Rock Island.
being part OF movement that j. in
the hands OF men identified with the
religious. educational and business
interests of the city:
We, the Undersigned respectfully
urge that the peace commission be
directed To negotiate for the entire
Caroline, Pelew and Ladrone groups;
and if time Is lacking for this, that 4
supplementary treaty. similar to the
Gadsden purchase, be at once drafted.
We base this petition upon the follow
ing grounds:
l. That most of these islands were
settled and civilized by Americans
fifty years ago, while Spain made no
effective claim to them until 1887,
when the American missionaries were
expelled and their property destroyed.
=. That the natives. having been
converted by Americans, and having
largely learned TO speak our tongue
anu reverence our flag. have long
prayed for American protection.
.. That the guarantee of religious
freedom which Is TO be exacted for
these islands is either useless or dan
gerous, 50 long Is they remain under
foreign control: unless if the
Spauiards are left to govern as they
choose, because they gave the same
guarantee long ago and have ignored
it ever since; dangerous. if the United
States attempts 10 enforce the guar
antee. because this Will only store up
another Cuban question, to cost US
blood and treasure hereafter.
+. That the only practicable cable
route follows the Caroline plateau,
while Ectwecn that and Guam such Il
PERCEPTIONS chaSn exists as to render
the ruHniu" of u cable from Ualan to
Guam. IS now proposed, quite inn
possible.
>. That the cable should land only
on American soil. and that the pro
posIl To acquire stations Tor this pur-
pose on islands belonging To another
is inadequate, because they would he
exposed to foreign seizure. and i
dangerous. because liable to cause
friction and foreign complications.
Is. That the Spanish control of these
islands has never extended beyond
the range OF their cannon, and j. ROW
30 far broken that their sale To some
other power j. fore-one conclusion.
:. 1nat their size, character and
location are such as to render them
the key to the western Pacific; so that
any foreign nation with a fortified
station IT BoHape or Zap. would en-
tirclv dominate our line Of commuui-
cations with Manila. and in case OF
war would have a decisive advantage.
3. That since no other nations have
posses sious so situated that their
lines Of communications are thus
dominated by the CJroiiues. the ac-
guisitiun of these islands bv Il foreign
power could only be construed As an
Intentional. deliberate menace TO the
United States.
For these reasons. we believe ii to
be the Imperative duty of the govern
meut of the United states to acquire
all Of these islands. paving for them
any reasonable sum, thereby al once
fulfilling our obligations toward the
natives. providing a secure route for
the cable, removing the possibility of
foreign complications and rendering
our position in the Orient 50 strong
a TO constitute q permanent guaran-
tee Of peace.
A JOINT telegram to the president i
likely TO be forwarded on the same
subject.
Motive i Non-PoIiticaI.
4 prominent citizen of Rock Island. !
in discussing the matter with The
ARGUS. said, ..I'HE ARGUS is asked To 7
give the cause the prominence it de- |
serves A. a strictly uon-partisau !
measure. l regard it As in no sense a |
party question. Otherwise ! should !
keep entirely ont Of il. Many who |
opposed expansion in the abstract are |
now supporting this proposition, |
holding that since il has been decided |
to expand. common prudence dictates |
that positions dominating our line Of |
should not De al !
lowed 10 fall into the hands of a for
eign power whose friendship i At 1
least open To suspicion. The fact is.
as letters in my possession conclU- /
sively prove. that expert opinion has /
been ignored in making the treaty.
Naval officers say that their mouths |
are sealed 10y their position. but that |
an instantaneous popular protest Is
II thus becomes a ques- |
ton affecting the common welfare.
and the cause one affecting human
freedom and civilization.