The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-17

do not intrude upon the duties of Con
gress or seek TO anticipate or forestall
its action. / only say that the treaty
Of peace, honorably secured, having
been ratified by the uses as we conf
IDENTIFY expect, shortly to be ratified IN
Spain, Congress, who have the power
and | am sure the purpose, to do what
in good morals is right and jusc and
humane for these people N distant
seas.
The future Of the Philippine Islands
is now in the hands Of the American
people. Until the treaty was ratified
or rejected the executive department
of this Government could only preserv
the peace and protect life and prop
crty. That treaty now commits the
free and enfranchised Filpinos to the
guiding hand and the liberating infiu-
ences. the generous sympathies, the up
lifting education not of their Aneri-
can masters, but of their American
emancipators. No one can tell today
what is best for them or for us. |
know no one at this hour who is wise
enough or sufficiently informed to de-
termine what form of government Will
best subserve their interests and our
interest. their and our we'll being. Ii
we knew everything by intuition--and
| sometimes think there are those who
believe that if we do not they dove
should not need information: but nm
fortunately most of us are not in that
happy state. The whole subject is now
with Congress and Congress is III
voice. the conscience, and the Judgment
OF the American people. Upon their
Judgment and conscience can we not
rely! / believe in them, | trust them
| know of no better or safer or humane
tribunal than the people.
Until Congress shall direct otherwis
Il will no the duty Of the executive to
nossess and hold the Philippines, Civ
ing TO the people thereof peace and or
der and benefcient government. afford
inc them opportunity TO prosecute thei
lowful pursuits. encoura ging them in
thrift and in industry. making them
fool and know that we are their friends,
NOT their enemies, that their good Is our
aim: their welfare is our welfare. bus
thai neither their aspirations nor ours
can be realized until our authority u
acknowledged and unquestioned.
nines will be benefited by this repub
lie is my mistaken belief; that inc!
will have a kindlier government hiiqer
orr guidance and that they VIII
aided in every possible way TO be sc!
respecting and self-governing people 4
as true as that the American people
love liberty and have an abiding fahn
il their own Government and in their
-
own institutions.
No imperial designs lurk in the Am
erican mind They are alien TO Aneri'
can sentiment, thought and purpose
Our priceless principles undergo ne
change under a tropical sun. They
with the fat:
Why read We not changeless truth.
The free can conquer but to save!
IL we can benefit these remote PEG
pies who will object?
IL in the years in the future they ar
established in government under law
and liberty. who will regret our peril
and sacrifices? Who will not rejoi'
in our heroism and humanity? Away
perils and always after them safety
always darkness and clouds, but al
ways shining through them the ligl
and sunshine; always cost and sacri
fee, but always after them the fruitioii
of liberty and education and civisiza
ton.
have no light or knowledge not com
mon to my countrymen. | do not proph-
esy. The present is all absorbing 10 N
but | cannot bound my vision by the
blood-stained trenches around Manila
where every red drop, whether from
the veins of an American soldier or
misguided Filipino, is anguish to IN.
heart; but by the broad range of flu
ture years when that group of islands
under the impulse of the year Just
passed snail have become the gems and
glories OF those tropical seas, n Iand
of plenty and of increasing poss. lili-
ties, people redeemed from savage
Incidence and habits. devoted 10 the
arts Of peace, III touch with the com
merce and trade of all nations, enjny-
ing the blessings OF freedom, Of ciyll
and religious liberty, Of education and
of homes, and whose children and ciiil-
dren's children shall for ages hence
bless the Anne rican republic because
emancipated and redeemed their father
land and set them in the pathway of the
worlds best civilization.