The San Francisco call., 1899-10-13
MR.. DAYS EXPL AVIATION.


- the American Peace Commission which nego-
~ tiated with Spain the Paris treaty has written
letter published yesterday, explaining the character
OF our title to the Philippines
In this he declares that we have no title by con-
quest He saws: 1T must be remembered that we
were in possession only OF the city bay and harbor
OF Manila under the protocol OF August II, 109S pro-
vdg that the United States should occupy and hold
the same pending the conclusion OF the treaty OF
peace"
Gradually from the most authoritative sources the
clouds and mists which have obscured our Philippine
situation are being cleared away. We were in
possession only OF Manila city, bay and harbor Who
held possession OF the rest OF the islands? Every
Spanish soldier in Luzon Panay, Cebu and Negros
was prisoner OF war held by the Filipino army and
government. That government, organized by
proclamation which our Consul Wildman officially
reports that he prepared for Agunaldo, was engaged
in administration and, Widman reports, was exer-
cisng civil authority with dignity and justice
On December 81, 1898, President Mckinley
through the Secretary of War, transmitted to General
Otis at Manila an order and proclamation in these
terms: The destruction of the Spanish fleet in the
harbor OF Manila by the United States naval squad
ron, commanded by Rear Admiral Dewey followed
by the reduction of the city and surrender of the
the Philippine Islands and the suspension of Spanish
sovereignty therein With the signature of the treaty
of peace at Paris on the 10th inst and the result
Of the victories OF American arms, the future con-
troll disposition and government OF the Philippine
Islands are ceded to the United States In fulhrnent
Of the right OF sovereignty thus acquired and the re-
sponsibe obligations of government thus assured,
the actual occupation and administration OF the en-
tire group of the Philippine Islands becomes mme-
dately necessary and the military government here
tofore maintained by the United States in the city,
harbor and bay of Manila is be extended with all
possible dispatch the whole OF the ceded territory
All persons who, either by active aid or by
honest submission, cooperate with the Government
OF the United States to give effect these benecent
purposes will receive the reward OF its support and
protection. All others will be brought within the
lawful rule we have assumed, with frmness if need
be- but without severity far may be possible.
In President McKineys address to the returned
Pennsylvania Volunteers two months ago he said:
Until the treaty ratified had no authority
beyond Manila city, bay and harbor. We then had
no other title to defend no authority beyond that to
maintain. Spain was still in possession OF the re-
mainder OF the archipelago. Spain had sued for
peace. The truce and treaty not concluded.
Now as the treaty was not ratified until February
6, 1900, under the Presidents own declaration,
whence did he derive authority for his order OF
patton of December 2I, 1893?
At Pittsburg he said: Until the treaty rati-
fed February g. 1900 we had no authority beyond
Manila city, bay and harbor We then had other
title to defend, no authority beyond that to main
tain" But on the 2Ist Of the preceding December
he had ordered Otis to Immediately extend the
military government of the United States to the
whole" OF the Philippine Islands!
In the same order he informed Otis that we had
completed their conquest while at Pittsburg he
declared that when that order was issued had no
title nor authority over the islands beyond the city,
bay and harbor. for Spain still in possession Of
the rest OF the archipelago
Now Judge Day says we had no title by conquest,
though the President asserted such title last Decem
Der. We beg to remind the President that his ad-
minstration represents in large sense the country,
and in an important sense the party which elected
him. Therefore the discrepancy between his Decem-
Der proclamation and his Pittsburg speech becomes
OF overshadowng Importance H. as he said at Pitts
burg Spain still in possession of the rest OF the
archipelago" until February 6, 1900 his December,
1893 order for its immediate military occupation by
the United States was Presidential declaration OF
war; violation OF the protocol of August I2 1893,
and an exercise OF authority that he did not possess.
II Spain were in possession until February g. as he
declared at Pittsburg the armed conflict OF February
d upon territory to which I'VE had title to de-
fend no authority to maintain was not an act of
bellion against us in defiance of title and au-
thority which was not ours.
We are unable to reach any other conclusion and
what the Republican party needs and the country will
require is explanation of the order of December
2I, ISoS in the light thrown upon it by the Presi-
dents speech and Judge Days letter
THE NEED OF THE state LIBRARY.