The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-11
WEDNESDAY, MAY IL. 1898.
ONE PAIN DUTY.

We MHAAu u NfAe 4AANNAi+r' $500
every way commemorate citizen say yes
terday that we ought 20 appropriate tho
Philippine Islands and make them part
Of the United States. III We seize them"
said he. eve will stand high in the esti-
nation Of the world"
But II seems TO the Times that 1t IS far
more important for us 10 stand high in our
own estimation than in tho estimation Of
the world. And can We stand high IN
our own estimation If We appropriate the
Philippines TO ourselves?
The resolution which the Congress of the
United States passed when directing the
President to oxpel the Spaniards from
cuba expressly declares that this gov
eminent has 10 idea whatever Of annex
inc Cuba TO itself That made us declare
n the world that We were about 70 en-
rage in war to rescue an adjacent peo-
nle ground down under cruel tyranny
from the awful fate that had befallen
them. and that we were going to fight
that war for that purpose and for that
purpose only.
K IS true We said nothing of not an
ncxing the Philippine Islands, but our de-
ciaration I'm regard 10 Cuba was intend
cd TO be notice to the world that we were
going to fight a wholly unselnsh war be-
cause, as humane men. We could no
longer tolerate the spectacle which Spain
presented in Cuba. That was what we
intended 10 proclaim and that was what
the world understood US 10 mean. 1t is
true the world was incredulous and
believed that in our inncrmost thoughts
we entertained the resolve 20 appropriate
Cuba after a while when it could be done
with decent reference 90 our public
statements, but We believe that We risk
nothing in saying that tho overwhelming
majority OF the American people took
our declaration I'm perfectly serous part
and that they intended it should mean
that We were 20 fight for humanity's
sake alone and without one Interior
thought
Tbe Philippine Islands were, therefore
Just as completely embraced within the
equity and purpose Of our declaration as
81 they had been expressly named. We
cannot. therefore. now claim a right to
appropriate them to ourselves without re-
pudiating all that we said TO the world
when entering into the war, and without
wholly forfeiting our own self respect
which rs Of far more importance to us
than tho respect OF all the rest Of the
world.
Nor should we secure the respect OF the
world. We should inspire a great part of
Il with something in the nature Of fear.
but it would not be respect. We should
fan fro7a that high pinnacle upon which
we now stand which Will secure us the
absolute respect Of mankind If We will
only continue TO occupy the place we
now hold. and We should come 10 be
looked upon as a people who were to be
feared. but not loved or respected. We
should 'stand high" neither in our own
esti nation nor in that Of any one else.
Our duty in regard TO the Philippines
and Porto Rico is the same as It is in re-
gard 20 Cuba, and It is perfectly plain as
concerns her. When the spaniards are
driven out of Cuba we are either TO re-
cognize the present insurgent govern
ment or provide for the Cubans choosing
a government for themselves. We are
then 10 keep a body OF troops in Cuba
and exercise a sort OF superntendency
over the affairs Of the island until the
government which the Cubans establish
IS able to run Itself and protect life and
property and preserve order in the island,
whereupon we are 20 withdraw entirely
from the island ana declare 10 the world
that Cuba, a new nation. Is ready TO be
introduced into the family OF nations and
20 take her seat at the family board-a
new nation clothed with all the rights
and attributes Of sovereign Power We
are 20 do exactly the same thing in re-
spect both 20 Porto Rico anu the Philip
pine Islands. The return OF them TO the
barbarity and inhumani;y Of Spanish rule
IS no more 10 be thought OF than the
appropriation OF them TO ourselves. Their
case will require more careful manage
snent and viii be more difficult than the
case Of Cuba, because the population.
particularly that OF the Philippines. is
less civilized. But We ara not ia shrink