The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-02

| ton. We are committed. II IL a trust
we have not sought, IL lie a trust from
which We will not finch. The Amer
lican people will hold up the hands OF
lthei servants al home TO whom they
commit its execution while Dewey and
fOtis and the brave men whom they
command viii have the support Of the
country in upholdi~g our flag where II
EnOw floats, the ~ uol and assurance
1 Of liberty and justice
/ What nation was ever able To write
an accurate program Of the war upon
which IL was entering, much less de-
cree in advance the scope of its re-
suits? Congress can declare war. but
higher power DEGREES its bounds and
| fixes its relations and responsibilities.
The president can direct the move
ments Of soldiers on 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 consequences. but he must
meet them.
NO COMPLAINT OF CUBA.
we hear the complaint of the rela-
lions created by the war between this
government and the islands of Cuba
and Porto Rico. There are some. how
ever. who regard the Philippines as in
a different relations; but whatever va
riety of views there may be on this
phase of the question there is univer-
sal agreement that the Philippines shall
not be turned back to Spain. No true
American can consent to that. Even II
unwilling to accept them ourselves, II
would have been weak evasion or
manly duty to require Spain I" trans
fer them to some other power or powers
and thus shirk our own responsibility. |
The other suggestions showed first, |
that they should be tossed into the |
arena for the strife of nations, or, sec |
ond be lost to the anarchy and chaos |
of no protectorate at all, we're too |
shameful to be considered. The treaty |
gave them to the United States. Could |
we have required less and done our
duty? Could we have left them in a
state of anarchy and justified ourselves
in our own consciences, or before the
tribunal of mankind? Could we have
done that in the sight of God and
man?
NO CONCERN FOR EMPIRE.
Our concern was not for territory or
trade or empire, but for the people
whose interests and destiny without
our willing II had been put in our
hands. 1t was with this feeling mat
from the first day To the last not one
word went from the executive in Wash
ington to our military commanders at
Manila or to our peace commissioners
at Paris that did not put as the sole
purpose to be kept in mind first after
the success OF our arms and the main
tenance of our own honor, the welfare
and happiness and the rights of the
jnha bltants of the Philippine islands.
Did we need their consent to per-
form a great act for humanity? We
had it in every aspiration of their
minds. in every hope of their hearts.
WHERE CONSENT COMES.
Was 1t necessary to ask their con
sent to capture Manila the capital of
their islands? Did we ask their consent
TO liberate them from Spanish soVer-
eighty or to enter Manila hay and de
stroy the Spanish sea power there?
We did not ask these; we We're
obeying "A higher moral obligation
which rested upon us and which did
not require anybody's consert. W.
were doing our duty by them with the
Of our own conscienCes ana
with the approval Of civilization.
Every present obligation has been
met and fulhlled in the expulsion Of
Spanish sovereignty from then islands
and while the war tfat destroyed II
was in progress We could rot ask their
views.
Nor can we new ask their consent
Indeed. can anyone tell me IA what
form il could be marshaiied ard asCer.
tained until peace and order so nee.
essary to reign OF reason shall be
secured? A reign Of terro. is not the
kind OF rule under which the right
action and deliberate judgment are
possible 1t is not a good time for the
}iberator TO submit Important questions
Concernig liberty ard government To
the liberated while they are engaged
y shnnfinp down thG.r
We have now anded the war with
Spain. The treaty has been ratified by
more than two-thlrds OF the senate OF
the United States and by the judgment
OF nine-tenths Il IT'S people. No nation
was ever more fortunate in war ~
more honorable in negotiations for
peace. Spain is now eliminated from
the problem.
LEAVE 1T TO CONGRESS.
1T remains to ask what we shall do
now. l do not intrude on the duties of
congress OF seek to anticipate or fore
stall its action. | only say that the
treaty of peace, honorably secured,
having been ratified by the United
States. and as we confidently expect, Of
shortly to be ratified by Spain. con
gress will have the power and l am
sure the purpose. to do what in good
morals is right and humane for these
people in distant seas.
The future of the Philippine islands
IS now in the hands of the American
people. Until the treaty was ratified
Jr rejected the executive department of
this government could only preserve
the peace and protect life and proper
ty.
That treaty now commits the free
and enfranchised Filipinos to the guild
ing hand and the liberaliZing influences
the generous sympathies, the uplifting
not of their American mas.
ters, hut of their American emancipa-
tors.
The whole subject is now with con
eress and congress is the voice, the (.
and the Judgment of the
American people. Upon their judgment
and conscience can we not rely? l be
ieve in them. | trust them. | know 8
IF no better or safer human tribunal |
than the people.
DUTY OF EXECUTIVE.
Until congress shall direct other
wise 1t will be the duty of the ex- I
scutive to possess and hold the Phil I
ppines, giving to the people thereof
,eace and beneficent government, af
ording them every opportunity to
prosecute their lawful pursuits, encour-
Iging them in thrift and industry, MAX
ng them feel and know We are their u
riends, not their enemies; that their a
rood Is our aim; that their welfare is =,
'ur welfare. but that neither their as u
,irations nor ours can be realized until |!
ur authority is acknowledged and un- n
Questioned. =
mo imperial designs Turk in the
american mind. They are alien to U
american sentiment, thought and pur- h
lose. Our priceless principles undergo @
10 change under tropical sun. They =
70 with the fiat:
Why read we not the changeless truth =
he free can conquer but to save?'
IF we can benefit these remote peo- b
lie, who will object. If in the remote \
ears they are established in govern
nent, under love and liberty who viii | y