The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-02-25
McKinley's Defense.

In a speech before the Home Market Club
at Boston last week President Mckinley took
occasion TO slate his estimate of public sentl-
ment on his high handed and unwarranted
course, and to defend his Administration IN
dealing with the former island possessions OF
Spain. Here is an extract from his speech
I'VE hear no complaint of the relations created ed
by the war between this government ana the IS
lands of Cuba and Porto Rico There are some,
however. who regard the Philippines as IN diner
ent relation;but, Whatever variety oil views mere
may he ON this phase of the question, there Is UNI
verSll agreement that the Philippines snail not De
turned back to Spain. No true American consents
Even if unwilling to accept them ourselves 1t
would have been weak evasion OIL lnai,iS uuty -
require Spain TO transfer them 10 some other
or powers and thus shirk our own responsibility
Even if we had had as we did not have, the power
to compel such a transfer, II could not nave oeeh
made without the most serious international COM
t.Smch 4 course could not be thought Of And yet
had we refused to accept the cession of the islands
we should have had no power over them. even Tor
their own good We could not discharge the re-
sponsbiities upon us until THESE lsAhds oeo'''ie
ours either by conquest or treaty.
There was but one alternative and that was
either Span or the United States IN the Phlhpplhes
The other suggestions, first, that they should De
tossed into the of contention for the Strlie OF
nations; or second be left TO the anarchy ana chaos
of no proteetorate at ALL were too shameful To oe
considered. ,-....., e,,,.
isThe treaty gave them to the United states
Could we have required less and done our duty
Conid we after freeing the Filipuos from the dom
nation of SPAIN have left them without govern
ment and without power TO protect NE OF pIoPes
or Ia nerforn the International obligations essen
tial to an independent statef Could we nave leit
them in a state of anarchy or Justihed ourselves III
our own conscieuces before the trlbunsl OF man
kind ? Could we have done that IN the slgh' oil
God and man. - 80
empire but for the people whose interests and des
tiur without our willing it, had been put III our
From the first day to the last not one word or
line went from the Executive in Washington TO our
military and naval commanders AT Manila OF 20 eur
peace commissioners at Paris that did not pui as
the sole purpose TO be kept in mind, first tier the
success of our and the maintenance OF cur own
honor the welfare and happiness ana the Tlghts Oh
the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands
The President, in his defense ignores
very important matter, and when that is taken
into consideration his whole fabric of duty,
humanity and moral obligation falls to earth
War was declared against Spain to make
that government give up sovereignty and con
troll in Cuba aud require her to draw away
her naval aud military forces, aud the declar-
alton of war contained a special denial of any
purpose Of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
No one disputes this.
necessary to take permanently Porto kieo.
and it was not necessary that Dewey tieei
should have STAYED an hour longer at Manila
than it was possible to get away after the
destruction of Montelo's fleet.
If this country needed any of the Spanish
West Indies islands it was Cuba, but We sol
EMMY declared our purpose was SIMPLY 20
end an nnbearable government there and 70
establish local self-government- And IN the
negotiations with Spain We did not demand
the cession Of Cuba, but demanded the ees
sion of Porto Rico and the selling OF the
Pbilippines In this Mr.. Mckinley was en-
,;rsly unauthorized, ard he knows better than
any one else how the ImperialiSts obtained
the ratification of the treaty. 1t was not done
as il should have been. The weak and ambi-
tous politicians we're lured By patronage;
others were deceived by promises Of a deela
ration Of policy in opposition to territorial
expansion, and others still were hrosghi 'nto
line for the treaty by the party lash.
Mr.. Mckinley knows that it is the purpose
of himself and his advisers to permanently
hold Cuba. and he viii not disavow IT. Aud
he knows it is she purpose of himself aud al
visers to permanently hold the Philippines
His talk of moral obligations IS only 70 de-
eeive. And unless he and bis advisers are
hurled from power by the votes Of the people
they will consummate their policy, already
inaueurated, of making this country a grsai
naval and military power, bully ~ me
world, and disgrace the Declaration OF hide
pendenee. annul the Constitution, ignore the
advice of Washington, wipe oat the Monroe
Doctrine and trample upon the policy and
principles ofthis government, maintained and
upheld for over a century.
Our declaration Of war concerned only al
fairs in Cuba. and to the Liberation Of the PEG
Die Of that island our operations shoald have
been confined. Every other step was unaa-
thorized and departure from the avowed
purpose Of this government Mckinney has
proceeded without warrant, and he has placed
the United States in the position OF acting a
lie TO the world in acquiring vast possessions
after declaring against any purpose Of terri
torial aggrandizement.