The Republican journal., 1899-08-24


question of whether to take the archipelago
or turn tail and run. The American people
would not let us run. Keeping merely one
island or coaling station would be running
away. OF what good would a coalingstation
be in those with Spain all around us
Could we leave the Fillipinos, who had been
our allies, to the mercies of their old enc
mics? Spain shot her prisoners of war by
the hundred. Could we give up oar allies
and leave them again to fight that hard
hearted nation? He who would justify such
an act as craven and coward.
Senator Frye reviewed briefly the history
of Aguinaldo-his return from exile, his
raising OF an army of natives and taking the
field in con junction with the American
forces. When Manila surrendered Aguinal-
do and his followers wanted to loot the city
Gen. Merritt stopped him. This was con-
trary to their ideas of warfare, and from al
lies they turned to enemies. For the sake
of good government we took all the archi-
pelago-we refused to take one island alone.
We can give them good government. The
Philippine archipelago would undoubtedly
be of commercial advantage to US. Our
country has unequaled resources of geo.
graphical location, climate, and everything
| that tends to make up great and prosper
Gus nation. We have made good use of
| these advantages. and the child on the west
side of the Atlantic has overtaken her
mother. Humboldt prophesied that the
trade of the Pacific would some day exceed
that of the Atlantic. The Philippines under
American direction would help greatly to-
wards that end. Those islands possess
great advantages for ALL but let France and
Russia try to divide them and they will find
England, Japan and the United States unit
ed against them.
What is the trouble in the Philippines
Had the treaty of peace with Spain been
promptly ratified there would have been no
trouble in Manila. When it was thought
that peace would not be ratified, Aguinado
thought that he must again fight Spain, and
he prepared for that event. When the
treaty was finally ratified Aguinaldo was
prepared to fight Spain, but while at first
his pretense of friendship for America was
undoubtedly sincere, the love of power, and
having he means at command to carry on a
|
| United States. Had the treaty been ratified
in ten days we should have had no war in
Luzon. You may place the responsibility
| where you like. The Philippine archipelago o
is a magnificent country. Even under Span
ish misrule the balance of trade in ner favor
was twenty-four million dollars per year.
We will give them good government, with
the means of trade When the time comes,
we will give them free government, and
until that time comes, neither Spain nor any
other power shall compel us to surrender an
| inch Of the archipelago. You may call this
the talk of an expansionist. Were not the
fathers expansionsts? They enlarged our
borders at many different times. There was
a great cry against expansion then; but
it did not frighten the American people. We
heard of the wild men Of Missouri and of the
danger of annexing their territory. Flor
ida, Texas, New Mexico and California
were added in turn; and later Alaska was
made part of our country. When these
additions were made the cry was raised tn at
the Union and the constitution We're in dan
ger. We may take Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines if we choose, and the Union
will still be preserved.
There Is also moral aspect of the case.
God rules in the affairs Of nations, as he
does in the affairs of men, and uses them
| fer his own purposes The North was will
ing to compromise, to buy the slaves to do
anything, Tie South refused. When war
came the early disasters to the Northern
cause encouraged the South and hardened
their hearts. God opened the door, pushed
US in and then closed it. We now see the
hand of God in the Rebellion. The same is
working in Manila 1t viii cost life and
money, but everything that IS of value has
its cost. Like St. Christopher whose bur-
den grew from small babe to a giant until
he recognized it as the Christ-child, We are
bearing a burden; but if we look up as did
the saint of Old our burden will, like his
become light.
The applause was frequent during the de-
livery of this patriotic address, and its close
was marked by long continued demonstra-
tions of approval.
At the close of Senator Fryes remarks
Mr. Ogier stated that we have with us one
whom we all delight to honor-he who COM
manded the batteship Maine when she was
destroyed in Havana harbor; he who is in
command of the Texas, which now lies off
our shores, and he who is to command the
new Maine, when that noble ship shall go
into commission-Capt. Sigsbee.
Great applause followed this announce
ment and it was some time before the cap
tain could be heard 1t is trif1e severe, he
said, to call upon naval officer to follow a
professional orator upon the platform. Their
forte is not in oratory. but in times of peace,
it may be termed junk The Texas
and the other ships in these waters are on a
junketing cruise. The officers have opened
their ships to the people and the people
have in turn open their homes and their
hearts to the officers and men of the navy.
, Capt Sigsbee spoke very feelingly of the
courtesies shown him and those on board his
ship from the highest to the lowest in rank.
He felt delighted that his ship was named
after this grand old State he referred feel
ngly to the loss of that vessel with the lives
| of so many of her brave men, and related a
few Incidents of his connection with her or