Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-02-22

Club in Boston. delivered a speech upon
his policy regarding the Philippines, out
lining his beliefs and intentions i'll clear
and unmistakable phrases, disclaiming the
idea of Imperialism and declaring that the
future of the Philippines was now in the
hands of the American people. The Pres
ident said
The years go quickly. 1t seems not SO
long. but it is in fact six years since 1t was
my honor TO be guest Of the Home Mar
ket Club. Much has happened in the inter
vening time Issues which we're then en-
gaging US have been settled or put aside for
larger ami more absorbing ones. Domestic
conditions have improved and are generally
satisfactory.
We have made progress In industry and
have realized the prosperity for which we
have been striving. We have had four long
years of adversely, which taught us some
lessons which will never be unlearned ana
which :. III be valuable in guiding our future
action.
We have not only been successful in our
financial and business affairs. but have been
successful in war with foreign power,
which added great glory TO American arms
and new chapter TO American history
a.ust Solve New Problems.
do not know why in the year 1899 this
republic has unexpectedly had placed before
1t mighty problems which 1t must face and
meet. They have. come and are here, and
they could not be kept away. Many who
were impatient for the conflict year ago,
apparently needless of Its larger results,
were the first 10 cry out against the rar-
reaching consequences of their own act:
Those of US who dreaded war most ana
whose every effort was directed to prevent
1t had fears of new and grave problems
| which might follow its inauguration: The
evolution of events which no man could con-
troll has brought these problems upon us.
| Certain it Is that they have not come
through any fault on our own part, but as a
high obligation, and we meet them with
| clear conscience aud unselfish purpose and
with good heart resolve to undertake their
solution.
War was declared in April, 1898. with
practical unanimity by the Congress, ana,
| once upon US, was sustained by ike unanim-
| ity among the people There had been
many who had tried to avert 1t, as, on the
other hand there we're many who would
| have precipitated it at an earlier date In
| it's prosecution and conclusion the great ma
| jority of our countrymen OF every sectioh
| believed they were fighting In just cause
| and at home or on sea or in the field they
| had part in the glorious triumphs. 1t was
| the war of the undivided nation.
Every great act In Its progress from
| Manila to Santiago from Guam to Porto
! Rico met universal and hearty commenda-
[ ton The protocol commanded the practl-
| cally unanimous approval of the American
people. 1t was welcomed by every lover OF
| peace beneath the flag.
| The Philippines, like Cuba and Porto Rico
| were intrusted to our hands by the war, and
| to that great trust. under the providence OF
| God and In the name of human progress
| and civilization, we are committed. 1t Is
| a trust we have not sought, 1t Is a trust from
which we will not finch. The. American
| people will hold up the hands OF thelr ser
| wants at home to whom they commit Its exc
| cution, while Dewey and Otis and the brave
4 men whom they command will have the sup
| port of the country In upholding our nag
| where 1t now floats, the symbol and as
| surance of liberty and justice.
| What nation was ever able TO write an
| accurate program of the war upon whlcn
| 1t was entering much less decree In ad-
| vance the scope of it's results? Congress can
| declare war, but a higher power DEGREES Its
| bounds and fixes Its relations and response
bilities. The President can direct the move
| ments of soldiers in the field and fleets upon
| the sea, but he cannot foresee the close OF
| such movements or prescribe their limits.
| He cannot anticipate or avoid the conse-
/ quences, but he must meet them. No ae-
| curate map of nations engaged In war can
| be traced until the war Is over, nor can the
| measure of responsibility be h1ed TIL the
last gun is fred and the verdict embodied
| In the stipulations of peace
Could Not Be Kept by Spain.
We hear no complaint OF the relation Gre
| ated by the war between this Government
| and the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico.
| There are some, however, who regard the
Philippines as In a different relation; but,
| whatever variety of views there may be
| on this phase of the question, there is uni
| yersal agreement that The Philippines shall
| not be turned back to Spain. No true Amer
lean can consent to that Even II unwilling
| to accept them ourselves, Vt would have been
| a weak evasion of manly duty TO require
| Spain to transfer them to some other power
OF powers and thus shirk our own respOn-
sibility. Even If we had as we did not
have. the power to compel such transfer, II
could not have been made without the
most serious international complications.
Such a course could not be thought of.
And yet, had we refused to accept the ces-
sion Of them we should nave had no power
over them, even for their own good. We
could not discharge the responsibilities upon
us until these islands became ours either by
conquest or treaty.
There was but one alternative and that
was either Spain or the United States in the
Philippines The other suggestions-frst,
that they should be tossed into the arena
for the strife of nations; or, second, be lost
TO the anarchy and chaos of no protectors te
at all-were too shameful to be considered
The treaty gave them to the United
States. Could we have required less and
done our duty? Gould we, after freeing the
FilipinOs from the domination of Spain
have left them without government and
without power to protect Tie md property
| or to perform the international obligations
| essential to an independent state? Could
| we have left them in a state of anarchy and
| justified ourselves in our own eonsciences OIL
before the tribunal of mankindf Could We
| have done that in the sight of God and man
| Our concern was not for territory or trade
or empire but for the people whose Interests
| and destiny, without our willing 1t, had beer
| put in our hands. 1t was with this feeling
that frem the nrst day to the last not one
word or line went from the Executive II
Washington to our military and naval com
!, | manders at Manila or to our peace commits
sIoners at Paris that did not put as the sole
purpose to be kept in mind first, after tnt
success of our arms ana the maintenance o.
our own honor, the welfare and happiness
| and the rights of the inhabitants of tho
Philippine Islands.
Did we need their consent to perform
great act for Humanity? We had it In every
aspiration of their minds, in every hope o.
| their hearts. Was 1t necessary to ask thei
| consent to capture Manila the capital O.
their islands? Did we ask their consent t.
liberate them from Spanish sovereignty o.
to enter Manila Bay and destroy the Span
ish sea power there? We did not ask these
we were obeylng higher moral obligation
| which rested on us and which did not re
ouire anybody's consent. We were doing ou
duty by them as God gave us the light to se'
| our duty, with the consent OF our own con
sciences and with the approval of civiliza
tlon.
Every present obligation has been met ant
fulfilled in the expulsion OF Spanish sover
eighty from their islands, and while the wa
that destroyed 1t was In progress we coul'
not ask their views Nor can We now asl
their consent. Indeed. can anyone tell me Il
what form Ii could be marshaled and ascer
tained until peace and order, so necessary Z
reign OF reason, shall be secured and estab
iished?
A reign Of terror Is not the kind of rul
under which right action and deiiberat
nSafh g u