Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-03-01
No Imperial Designs.

Administration regarding the Philip
pines. In part he said:
1.-The Philippines, like Cuba and
Porto Rico, were intrusted to our
hands by the war, aud to the great
trust, under The providence of God
and IN the name of human progress
aud civilization, We are committed.
"lt is trust We have not sought:
1t is trust from which we will not
finch. The American people will
hold up the hands of their servants
at home to whom they commit its
execution, while Dewey and Otis and
the brave men whom they command
will have the support of the country
in upholding our flag where it now
floats, the symbol and assurance of
liberty and justice.
eve hear no complaint of the re
lahons created by the war between
this government and the islands of
Cuba and Porto Rico. There are
some, however. who regard the Phil
lpplnes as in a different relation; but
whatever variety of views there NAV
be on this phase of the question,
there is universal agreement that the
Philippines shall not be turned back
to Spain. No true American con-
seuts to that.
Even if unwilling to accept them
ourselves, it would have been weak
evasion of manly duty to require
Spain to transfer them to some other
power or powers, and thus shirk our
own responsibility. Even ST we had.
as we did not have, the power to com
pei such transfer. it could not have
been made without the most serious
international complications.
"Such course could not be thought
of, and yet had we refused to accept
the cessiOn of them we should have
had no power over them, even for
their own good. We could not dis
charge the responsibilities upon us
until these islands became ours Ell
Their by conquest or treaty. There
was but one alternative, and that was
either Spain or the United States in
the Philippines.
"The other suggestions-tirst, that
they should be tossed into the arena
of contention for the strife of nations;
or, second, be left to the anarchy and
chaos of no prOtectorate at all-were
too shameful to be considered.
"Our concern was not for terrific
ry, or trade, or empire, out for the
people whose interests and DESTINY.
without our willing it, had been put
in our hands. 1t was with this feel
ing that from The first day to the last
not one word or line went from the
Executive in Washington to our mil
itary and naval commanders at Ma
Mia or to the Peace Commissioners
at Paris that did not put as the sole
purpose to be kept in mind first after
the success of our arms and the
maintenance of our own honor the
welfare and happiness Bnd the rights
of the inhabitants of the Philippine
Islands.
"a reign of terror is not the kind
of rule under which right action and
deliberate Judgment are possible.
at is not a good time for the lib
orator to submit important questions
concerning liberty and government
to the liberated while they are en-
gagged in shooting down their rescu-
ers.
"The future of the Philippine Is
lands Is now In the hands of the
American people. Until the treaty
was ratified or rejected the Executive
Department of this Government
could only preserve the peace and
protect life and property. That
treaty now commits the free aud en-
franchiSed Filipinos to the guiding
hand and the liberalizing influences,
the generous sympathies, the upIift-
ing education, not of their American
masters, but of their American eman-
cipators. No one can tell today what
is best for them or for us. | know
no one at this hour who is wise
enough or sufficiently informed to
determine what form of government
will best subserve their interests and
our interests, their and our well be
ing.
"Ihe whole sn Inject ia nom NTH