The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-11-03
VIVA, rasAs HIVE We in the phnIpp,ao,


the American flag in Luzon and caus-
ing our armies to retreat from the
islands OF the Philippines 1t is as
sumed by some people that wo are in
these islands without any authority
of law; that we have neither legal nor
moral right to be there, and that the
continued presence OF our troops is a
crime in tho eyes of civilized human
ity There Is no more sacred title to
territory than that acquired by right
Of discovery. Civilized nations since
the beginning of recorded history
have recognized this right. Spain
had this right to the Philip
pines, and held it for three
hundred years. Her sovereignty
was never questioned. Badly as she
governed this archipelago, no rebel
lion ever started by the inhabitants
of any of these islands ever received
outside recognition from any human
government. The islands were SPANS,
absolute and unquestioned, and abe
governed them with the tyranny
characteristic of her treatment of all
her colonies. When the Spanish
American war opened, the United
States had an Asatic Acct at Hong
Kong. 1t was known that Spain had
fleet in the waters adjacent to
Manila. The day that Congress de.
clare d war the President ordered
Dewey, the commander of the Asiatic
fleet, to find the Spanish feet and
either capture or destroy it. lie
found the fleet in the bay of Manila,
and followed out the orders of the
President to the very letter No
American at that hour, no matter
what might have been his politics,
would have dared to suggest that
Admiral Dewey sail away from Manila
bay, in which he had just won so
signal victory. 1t was the opening
incident of the war with Spain, and
from the moment it was won the Phil
ippines became one of the Spanish
possessions which must be taken into
account in our final treaty with that
country. 1t became Immediately
possible that the Philippines would be
required of Spain as part of the in :
demnity due us as a victorious nation,
in making treaty with a country
over whom we had won victory. No
ono at that time questioned the right
OF Spain to dispose Of these islands to
the United States. Even w. ]. Bryan,
who is now questioning the right of
the American army to remain in Luz
zon, went to Washington in person
and used his influence with the Demo-
cratic senator's to get them to vote for
the ratification of the Paris treaty,
which gave the United States the en-
tire Philippine archipelago and justi-
fed the payment OF 100000, coo to
Spain.
The Spanish American pcac, COM
mission, which met at Paris was L.
gal body. 1t met under the eyes Of
the civilized world and transferred,
after due discussion, the islands of
the Philippines to the United States,
and the United States Immediately be-
came responsible for the restoration
of law and order in those islands. The
manner in which the peace commits
sion proceeded and its reasons for
what it did are best given by Judge
Day, president of the American Peace
Commissioners, in the following Ian :
guage:
Dear Sir:-In reply to your rec,nt
inquiry as to my understanding of the
on the part of the American commits
sioners in negotiating the treaty at
Paris to incorporate in the treaty an
article which should require the pay
ment by the United States to Spain
for the cession of the Philippines the
sum OF $50, 900, 900, beg to say think
the subject is made quite plain by
reference to the printed protocol of
the joint commission, which you will
find in Senate document No 62, Fifty
fifth Congress, third session, being
the printed volume published last
winter after the treaty was submit
ted TO the Senate of the United States.
You will discover that this subject
was first brought by the American
commissioners to the attention of the
Spanish commissioners in a proposal
for al article in the treaty in which
Spain should cede to the United States
the archipelago, known as the Philip
pine islands, which proposal conclud-
ed with the statement:
1.-The American commissioners beg
further to state that they are pre-
pared to insert in the treaty stipu-
lation for the assumption by the
United States of any existing indebt-
edness of Spain incurred for public
works and improvements of pacific
character in the Philippines. Senate
document SO, ~
1T Is unnecessary to review the
long discussion which cnsue1, or to
re-state the grounds upon which the
Spanish commissioners rejected this
and declined to cede the ISL
lnds to the United States. You will
fad the discussion fully developed in
The record if you see fit to read it.
On the 2lst of November following.
he American commissioners, in "a
Joint session of the commission, pre-
,ented a proposition which the Amer
can commissioners regarded as final,
n connection with which it was said:
1.-The proposal presented by the
American commissioners in behalf of
heir government for the cessicn of
he Philippines to the United States
having been rejected by the Spanish |
commissioners, and the counter pro-
,osal OF the latter for the withdrawal |
# the American forces from the ISL
Inds and the payment of an indemnity |
~ the United States to Spain having |
,een rejected by the American COM
desming it essential that
he present negotiations, which have
lraadv been GREATLY nrotractad |