The Globe-republican., 1899-11-02

may nave arisen since the beginning
Of the late insurrection in Cuba and
prior to the conclusion of the treaty
Of peace.
On the 2sth of November the
Spanish commissioners accepted the
terms offered by the representatives
of the United States You will OBJ
serve that. in making this proposal. it
is distinctly said that it embodies the
concessions which. for the sake of
immediate peace, the American gov
ernment was willing to make. There
were doubtless other reasons actual
ing the commissioners in making this
proposal, though think the chief one
is embodied in the statement above
written
1T was not claimed that the Uaited
States had right to tia Philippines
as matter OF conquest. The United
States has never undertaken, SO far as
l know, to wrest from foreign coun-
try lands or possessions simply by
right of conquest Had we been dis
posed to do so. it must be remem-
bered that we were in possession only
of the city, bay and harbor of Manila
under the protocol of August Il, 1898,
providing that the United States
should occupy AMI hold the same
pending the conclusion of a treaty of
peace which should determine the
control, disposition and government
Of the Philippines
1.-The capture. after the signing of
the protocol, by General Merritt and
his forces. whatever its legal effect
may have been. included no more ter
ritory than we were entitled to hold
under the protocol.
In addition to the hope of accom-
plishing immediate peace, which,
need hardly say, was of great import
ance at that time. there was q strong
desire to treat Spain with a degree of
magnanimity consistent with our ma
tional honor and prestige. following
our national precedent in the treat
ment of Mexico for the cession of ter
ritory to us at the clos, of the Mex
lean war. BY the cession, for a con-
sideratiOn, we obtained an indisputa-
BILE title. which must be respected by
all other nations 1t must be remem-
bered. too, that the American COM
missioners had consistently refused
to assume any of the outstanding
debts or obligations which Spain had
undertaken to fasten upon the Phil
ippines. Notwithstanding our offer
to pay for pacific improvements. Spain
had not undertaken to substantiate
any claim upon that ground.
'Of course, speak only for myself,
and write these views without OPP
portunity to consult with my fellow
commissioners
In my judgment, the concession
referred to was effectual in bringing
about an acceptance Of our proposals
which resulted in the making OF the
treaty.
I'm this conclusion cordially agree
with the following remarks of S.na-
tor Gray, one of the commissioners,
made at the Ohio society dinner in
New York. February 25. 1899:
"'When, after four or five months
OF doubt and anxiety, it b,cam, ap-
parent that these negotiations must
either be broken off and your
return without Il
treaty at all, and that we would be
relegated to the necessity Of taking
not only the Philippines. but Cuba
and Porto Rico. by the ruthless hand
of conquest, or by some concessions.
that comported with the magnanimity
and greatness and character of this
gain them by the voluntary
cession OF a treaty of peace. And,
therefore, we believe that it was bet
ter for this country, strong in the
hour of its victories, great in the hour
Of its triumphs. that it should, to n
beaten and PROSTATE foe, exhibit that
of which l spoke. and
take from them by voluntary cession
and by purchase, so to speak, those
distant islands. rather than expose
ourselves to thu eyes of the world as
playing a roll of barbaric conquest,
and by military power tread the path
of medieval rapine and warfare
The advanced position which the
United States has always maintained
IN its international relations. it's op-
position to anything like harsh or
severe treatment of fallen foe. as
well as other cognent reasons, would
seem to justify the payment of the
SEQ, 600, 900 as an act dictated from
nigh sense of national honor as we'll
IS souni policy. uuder the circum-
stances of the case. Yours very truly,
civilian r DAY"
And thus the Philippine archipel-
ago which became Spain's 800 years
,go through the discovery of that
great Spaniard, Magellan. was trans.
TERED by solemn authority to the
United States. 1t is said now by soma,
who evidently have little information
n relation to these islands. thai the
of the islam Is should be
.urnei over to the natives. and that
ne Ulited States should retire from
his land which she secured from
Spain in a manner Endorsed by the
whole civilized world Even if we
we're to grant this conten ton of the
the question would |
Immediately arise as to which natives |
We should turn the government of
hese islands over to. There are in the |
Philippine islands to- day some thirty |
lifferent races OF people; divided into
'ver one hundred different tribes. and
,nly one of these tribesis in rebellion
against the authority of the United
states With the exception of the
natives of the island Of Luzon, which
IS merely one of the archipelago, the
a natives of the Philippine islands are
Wiling to accep. the authority of the