Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-17
PURSUE FlRNI POLICY.
President Mckinley Outlines Govern
ment's Attitude In Philippines

ment's Attitude In Philippines.
Sioux Falls, S. d., Oct 16.-AfcKinley,
in his speech here Saturday, said in
part:
when the war with Spain was com
menced-commenced in the interest OF
humanity, commenced to relieve the
which they had suffered for long years
nobody at that moment had n thought
either of Porto Rico or the Philippines.
We went to war with Spain in the in
terests of humanity and civilization,
and to give justice to the oppressed
people in Cuba.
when war was declared we put our
ships in front of the 'harbor of Ha-
vana and of Santiago. We sent Dew
ey's ships from Hong Kong to Manila,
directing him to destroy or capture the
Spanish fleet in those waters, and he
did it,
"rhe responsibility for peace and
good order and protection of life and
property came to the American people
from that hour. When the treaty of
peace was subsequently made by which
Spain ceded to lis the entire archipela-
go, which treaty was ratified by more
than two-thirds of the senate of the
United States, from that hour it be-
came the territory of the United States
such an any territory within our old
domain. When it became our territory
there was but one authority and but
one sovereignty that could be Tecog-
nized and that was the United States.
1t became our duty to establish our au-
thority when a portion of one tribe,
representing the smallest fraction OF
the entire population of the islands re-
sisted the American authority. The
very men we had emancipated from
slavery and oppression We're the first
to make assault upon the army of the
United States. And when they assault
ed our flag in the hands of the soldiers
of the United States, they assaulted
the sovereignty and power of the gov
eminent. When that is assaulted there
is never any division among the Amer
lean people.
Il received the other day Il letter
from a most distinguished officer now
engaged in active duty in the Philip
pines. 1t is a letter dated Manila, Au-
gust 30, and | want to read one or two
extracts from it.
81 am confident that if we would
withdraw our army now, Aguinaldo
could not hold himself in power with
out carrying on warfare against the
other tribes, and this would cause 4
constant warfare and turmoil for years.
OF course there will be looting of cities
and Selling and destruction of property
r. nj
crty holders would apply to some
strong government to restore order.
For us to withdraw the army now
would be criminal and for such action
we would be arraigned and denounced
by the civilized nations of earth.
81 believe when it is fully under
stood that our supremacyis to be main
tanned in these islands, there will be
an influx of population from the Unit
ed States and other countries. There
is no question as to the richness of the
soil and the abundance and richness of
gold, copper and coal mines. 1t is
true heretofore that they have not paid
but it is because they have not been
properly managed.
"'An idea seems to be prevalent in
the United States that this is an I'M
healthy country. that white men cam
not live here. This is great mistake.
There is also an impression thar to re-
tain these islands will be Il burden to
our country. That these views are err
rors should be impressed upon the
American people
you may ask, my fellow citizens,
lwho is the author of this letter. am
swer you that it is from II gallant sol
der. great cavalry leader of the Con-
| feaerate army, one OF the heroes of
Santiago in the recent war, and for
eighteen years member of congress
| from the state of Alabama-the gal
liant and intrepid Joe Wheeler. We in
tend to put down that rebellion any
where against the sovereignty of the
United States. The flag there is not a
symbol of expansion. not as Il flag OF