New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-01
TREATY AND THE PHILIPPINES.
DUTY AND RIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES
TO EXERCISE SOVEREIGNTY OVER
THE ISLANDS.

THE ISLANDS.
Professor Moore, OF Columbia, secretary and
counsel to the American Peace Commission. IN
! The Independent" OF February =
! BY the protocol of August II, Spain agreed TO
relinquish all claim OF sovereignty over and title
! to Cuba, and to cede to the United states Porto
Rico and other Spanish islands in the West
/ Indies. we'll as the island ~ Guam. IN the
Ladrones and IL was provided that the treaty
! Of peace should determine the control dispose
ton and government OF the Philippines In the
! correspondence leading up TO the conclusion OF
| this convention, the Spanish Government de-
/ c1ared that it did not "a prior' renounce Its
sovereignty over the group. thus implying that
| II might DO so in the end.
! Such was the situation that confronted the
Peace Commissioners al Paris In the first pa
per presented by the Spanish Commissioners It
was declared that, since the signing OF the pro-
tocol the status quo in the Philippines had been
altered with daily increasing gravity 10 the
prejudice OF Spain by the Tagao rebels, who
: formed during the campaign, and still FORM an
auxiliary force 10 the regular American troops.
This declaration. while ii asserted the existence
of a relation between the American forces and
the insurgents which the Government OF the
United States had not sought TO establish, and
had. indeed, disclaimed practically admitted
that Spain was unable TO MAINTAIN heTselt IN
the group even as against the natives
What, then, was 10 be done with the ISLANDS.
To attempt to restore them to Spain, even X
there had been no question Of foreign compli-
cations TO consider would have been tragic
farce. This fact is so generally unders'oea
b
vocates. co.,
1t has been suggested that the United stats
should have pursued the same course as Was
taken with reference 70 Cuba, ana nave requrea
Spain instead OF ceding the islands, merely 20
relinquish all claims Of sovereignty over ana
title TO them. II is difficult to see now our posi-
/ ton would have been improved Dy such meas
ire The concession made by Spain would nave
been as great in the. one case as IN the otheE'
and would have called for a corresponding com.
pensaton. Moreover, one or the most uIllicul.
Frnr
Of the negotiations was that Of the simple re-
linduishment OF her sovereignty over Cuoa;
She preferred for the sake OF her subjects anu
their property, to cede the Island 10 the Ohteu
states and in fact strenuOusly insisted upon
doing so. The American Commissioners nov"
ever adhered to the resolution or Congress- Win
the necessary result that, while We have not ac'
quired the permanent sovereignty OF Cuoa we
are I'm actual and indefinite occupation OF tns
island. with all the responsibility Tor goou gov
eminent and for the protection OF NE ahd psop'
ertv that such exercise of the powers or SOW
eregnty entails In the Philippines our posI-
ton is strengthened by the circumstance ina.
we TO possess full sovereignty ana utLe -
that we may deal with the SITUATION Win W
utmost freedom. But IL has also been SugSes'eu
that we should have entered into some Arrange,
ment with other Powers for the government. oi
the islands under international agreement.
Does experience justify such an attempt ~
may be asserted that no such arrangements has
ever been made except on grounds or appalen'
necessity, for the purpose OF avoiding armed Gun
flcts between the interested Powers. we ha,e
ourselves for some years been concerned IN the
effort TO maintain trpartite government =.
Samoa. The islands are few In NUMBER, am
their affairs by no means intricate. and yet the!
are the OF frequent commotions' suen NJ 20
we are witnessing at the present moment, LIZ
great vice in international governments - 80
they perpetuate the jealousies In when th.!
originate, and tend to aggraVate rather thaI, mae,
remedy the local conditions that render SER
government impracticable. -. h.
In this relation a sharp distinction nus a.
1raN hptW international
the government OF countries Incapable OF cOn
Quoting n civilized administration, ana me, ~
agreements of naturalization with reference -
countries like Belgium and Switzerland c, Ds
GUM and Switzerland are highly civilized o.as
capable OF maintaining orderly and prospeiVo-
governments without foreign intervention
control The international agreements with E
spect TO them. therefore. are designed the'e,
10 secure their independence against lhe rs.y
croachments OF foreign covetousness
simply declare the policy OF hands on. ,sa
view Of these facts. II Is surprising 70 seq w
cases OF Belgium and Switzerland cited as 81.
amples OF what should be done In regard 10 ~
Philippines. They would be more 10 the pon n,.
there was evidence TO show that any native ~
eminent could unaided even Temporarily eS'a say
sh its authority over half the group, 20
nothing OF maintaining It's power ana aHo'D'"'
protection TO life and property. ,,-.
It may therefore be said that the pronls,,uss..
OF tho Treaty Of Peace concerning the Fnllppsaush
are the logical result Of the situation IN VIM,
the United States has been placed In respeea.
the islands The question Of their future 81.
eminent and its forms and limitations ma.
determined In due time upon full inVestlsa",n
and deberation II cannot be determine
the Treaty OF Peace. Indeed. as IL IS nor So
ously proposed either 10 give the ISLANDS 70" "a
70 Spain such n thing practicable % 4,
allow her n share In their future cohtrov. On
would TO be peculiarly inapproprlau.r
reopen the negotiations and prolOng the prsss.ng
condition Of things for the purpose or nio.aoS
her through an amendment 10 the trea'yyyruh
our present Views as 10 our future policy "a,
the treaty ratified and the state OF peace
tablished. we may work out our policy SS.nnsi
free hand That ii viii be Just and enlg IA
is an assumption that may fairly be maze so
policy Of the open door" declared in the n.e
tiations at Paris and secured by the uea.sh
Spain, is evidence OF the intelligence, ',hs
which our Government has appr0acheus mt
problems before IT, az well as of It's Will
intentions. In the same spirit II douptV'
endeavor to establish In the Islands the s,tls
liberal system OF self government con'p"
with order. T.. sc-
AS to the power OF the United states W its
quire territory ny treaty and 10 proNlae "a on
government. the right may be maih' ,.',s op-
clear constitutional grounds. Indeed s,inu.
position seems to have been made 10 ths porto
lation In the treaty for the cesslon vs., w In.
Rico and other Spanish islands In the "esaa,eTs
dies and OF Guam. The Consutution ,rnIon"
absolutely on the Government OK 'ne rmak-
said CHIEF Justice Marshall. the power u,,sntly
ing war and Of making treaties, eohsst souir.
the Government possesses the power Oh ,ssr"
ing territory either by conquest or py ,sr
- merican Insurance Company vs.. nno-
ha Constitution eluo -