The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-27

most potent voice for the preservation OF
tne open door TO China Who can estimate
the value in the future OF such a command
ing position to our foreign commerce?
are We TO fold our hands and allow this
harvest TO be gathered by our rivals? We
nave treated with China, guaranteeing TO
US commercial rights and privileges equal
10 those of the most favored nations. Are
we TO sit silently by and see our treaty
aLSnlS invaded, the doors closed against US?
Inc nations OF the earth are to-day near
nelgnoors. They all heard the thunder or
DeWeys guns and recognized this Repub-
nc, Tor the first time, as one of the great
powers or the world. Are we alone of these
all 10 ignore the ~stupendous fact?
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THEM?
What shall we do with the Philippine
islands? Restore them to Spain? Not one
even of Mr.. Carnegie's Reform Leaguers,
by whom, according TO the press. the name
of President Mckinley was Kissed and that
or Aguinaldo cheered at a recent meeting
in Boston, proposes this. Shall We forth
with surrender the sovereignty TO a native
government? There isn't an intelligent man
In the world who has familiariZed himself
with the conditions: there isn't an officer
of the United States, with experience there,
from Admiral Dewey down; there isn't an
investigator of the islands and their peo-
pies; there isn't a writer who instructs US
from personal observation who doea not de-
clare their unftnesS for government. There
"oS IOl d WllUtSS DclOTe the All COLL
mission who did not unhesitatingly assert il.
How could any one expect them 10 be
Mt? What model has been given them TO
copy? What experience TO follow? They
have enjoyed the opportunity only to study
the most despotic government the world
ever saw. Turn the sovereignty over to
and their condition will be worse than ever
under Spanish dominion. Or. what is more
likely, the nations of Europe to protect
their subjects, or in p~retense TO do so, would
seize the islands and very likely fight each
other over the spoils. Should we follow the
advice of the statesmen who have likened
Aguinaldo to George Washington, Patrick
Henry and Lafayette, and yield the con-
troll to him? Even he has dropped all pre-
tense Of devotion to our Declaration of
Of government, and looks only to the ex-
erclse of despotic power. His crown, If he
were permitted to assume it, would be an
uneasy one, for every island would furnish
a chieftain claimant.
We might sell the islands and reimburse
might sail away and leave them to chaos.
shifting from our broad shoulders all re-
sponsibility to God and man; but would
God and man hold us harmless?
What shall we do with the Philippines?
In my judgment there will be no uncertain
sound in the answer of our people. They
have been acquired honestly, and in their
requirement we have dealt generously with
Spain. We will hold them as our own for
the good of the people who inhabit them
and for the immense advantage, COM
mercially. they promise 10 us. We will give
them a good government. relief from bur-
densome taxation, ample security in all
their civil and religious rights. We will
build highways. construct railroads. erect
schoolhouses and churches. We will allow
them TO participate in government so far
and so fast as we find them capable. We
VIII give employment to labor and good
wages TO the laborer. We will arouse in
them ar ambition to become good citizens,
competent to manage their own local az
fairs and interests. We will make il pos
sible for them, some time in the future, to
form a stable republican government, ca
pable of making treaties, enforcing their
rights under them, and observing their OBJ
legations. Then. We alone being the judges
of their competency, will surrender TO them
the sovereignty, reserving to ourselves
the naval and coaling stations neces-
sary for our and its protection.
In the meantime we will not restore a
rod to Spain, or sell a rod TO any nation
of the earth, nor will We permit our SUI
preme authority to be diminished or queS-
toned by any power within or without the
islands. Such ~utterances as these may SUBJ
ject me to the charge of being an expan-
sionist. / plead guilty to the Indictment"