The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-07-14
THURSDAY. JULY II, 1898.
ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY.


occu patton of Spanish territory. The
message submitted to congress by Presi-
dent Mckinley at the beginning OF hos
tiities, and the resolution passed by con-
gress, each clearly and explicitly declared
IL to be the purpose of the United States
to drive the Spanish army and navy
from Cuba and Cuban waters solely in
the interest OF humanity, and that it was
in no manner the purpose OF this gov
eminent to acquire additional territory or
make it war of conquest. Scarcely had
the news Of Admiral Dewey's splendid
victory at Manila reached US, and long
before soldier had embarked on a ship
to take possession OF Spanish territory
which might be captured in the Philip.
pine islands, when the question of what
We were to do with those islands and the
kind OF government We should institute
in that far off country began to be dis
cussed by the American press. 1t is yet
too early to decide the question, bit i: is
not too early to discuss the subject and
to decide inteligently when the time to
act shall come. In order to carry the
war to successful termination as soon
rs possible, it is undoubtedly necessary
TO cripple and destroy the enemy's power
wherever it il possible to do so that has
no bearing on the subject under consid-
Grafton. The question of the future gov
eminent of the territory to be occupied is
the one to be considered. A peculiar
condition confronts us in this war. Or
dnarily a conquring army is only con
tronted by the subjects of the enemy,
and where territory is not held an indem
nifty can be levied upon the inhabitants
of the conquered territory from which to
reimburse the conqnerers But in this
case We find the inhabitants of all the
outlying territory of Spain in rebellion
against their hone government and max
ing the attempt to set up a republican
form OF government similar to our own;
and in all cases these people Immediately
become our allies.
part OF our governmental donna e find
1t necessary to not only overthrow the
Spanish government there, but also the
government our friends aud allies are at.
tempting to establish The Spanish part
of the problem is not the most serious
part. In fact if that were ALL it could
and would be soon settled. The ingenu.
ity and resources OF the American people
gency that could arise as to form of
government or power to govern. But we
are confronted with two important princi.
pies that are fundamental with our own
government. One is the Monroe doc
trine. which affects our exercising SOW
ereignty over captured territory lying
outside American waters; the other that
principle promulgated by the Declaration
OF Independence and so dear to the
American heart, which says: 1--WE hold
these truths to be self evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are Ell
lowed by their Creator with certain in
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
that to secure these rights governments
are instituted among men, deiiring their
Jrs' porers from The consent of the gor-
trned." That is the fundamental princi-
pie OF republicanism the gulf which
separates it from monarchy. To deny
the inhabitants OF the Spanish islands
the right to establish a government of
that character would be to usurp u power
against which our own patriots of 1876
successfully resisted the British govern
ment, and acknow ledge them wrong and
our own government fraud. Those de-
srous OF extending our possessions by
gobbling all the outlying Spanish terri
tory they can, attempt to excuse the sc-
ton by setting up the claim that the ma
tive inhabitants OF those countries are
not sufficiently intelligent to conduct
government after they have established
one. That is not for us to decide 1t is
the most glaring egotlsm. If We are to
establish policy of that kind there
would be no limit TO our aggression. In
a republic the system of government is
al ways rs good as the people deserve, tor
it is what they make it. 1t is as absurd
for us to claim the right to dictate form
OF government for the people of the
Spanish islands under the claim of SUI
perior wisdom, as it would be for the