The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-27

surrounded by conflicting interests; we
would have been in an incengruous po-
sition difficult to reconcile The uues-
ton then became one of two PROPOSE
tions--either we must leave and go
away altogether, or take the whole
group and place it under the protection
of the stars and stripes. If we left
there was no doubt but that the group
would have passed sooner or later from
the hands of one despotism. into. those
of another. The islands would have
been derelicts upon the bosom of the
Pacific ocean, and some day would have
had to be taken care of. That was the
situation that presented itself to the
peace commission. Even those who, like
Senator Gray of Delaware, had gone
over there opposed to the acquisition of
the islands. We're gradually forced by
the logic of events into the belief that
there was nothing to do but to take
them all, give them the protection of
the American flag and all the liberty
and self-government they are capable
of exercising. We had had an obIiga-
ton thrust upon us. not of our choos-
ing, but there for us to make the most
of
There was another question. Some
have said: Why didn't the peace COM
mission provide some such arrange
ment as was made in the Cuban reso-
lutions% The answer is that the peace
commission was not treating with the
natives of the Philippines. The Span
ish government couldn't have been eX-
pected to accept any proposition that
would turn the property and lives of its
people in those islands over to their
enemies.
why not promise them something in
the nature of self government? That
in effect, is what has been promised
But we are great nation, rightful1y
in possession of territory conquered
and there has not arisen yet condition
that would have justified us in passing
a special resolution to crafty a man
of the stripe of Aguinaldo who was
capable of entering into the conspiracy
he did to assassinate every resident Of
Manila not a native. We are at least,
then, the rightfu holders of the islands;
we had acquired them by processes rec
ognized as right by international law:
it was then the duty Of the president Of
the United States to enforce the au.
thority of the United States and COM
pei the recognition of that authority
and the respect of the people of other
nations for our flag.
Il am fully in sympathy with the
view held in this country-and also
largely by the volunteers in the Phil
ippines-that the trouble was originated
in the agitation in this country by the
sympathizers with Aguinaldo and his
followers. My own opinion is that If
the treaty had been ratified at once
much if not ALL of the blood that has
been shed would have been saved The
duty of the hour is to stand by our own
country and our own flag, back up the
president in the enforcement of the law
and the suppression of rebellion. AS for
the future, that rests wholly with the
congress of the United States. | am
personally in favor-and the American
people are in favor of it--of humane,
liberal policy, and that policy will be
enforced and the people of the islands
will have all the self-government and
all the liberty they are capable of using
with safety, and that as soon as order
has been restored