The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1899-01-31
The Policy Of Expansion is Just and
Proper.

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senate the Treaty of Peace framed
at Paris by the Spanish-American
Peace Commission. AS soon as
this treaty is ratified by the SEN
ate all diplomatic relation between
the United States and Spain,
which were ended early last spring
will be restored, and the Spanish
American war will be at an end.
During this war the American
army and navy captured the
Philippines, a colony of Spain
composed Of several hundred
islands, and situated southeast
of Asia. By the terms of the
treaty of peace the United States
is to possess those islands, and
for that reason it is opposed by
some of the members of the
senate, and also by a considerable
portion of the people of our
country.
Let us examine for moment
the condition of affairs in those
islands; their inhabitants; their
resources; the Spanish form of
government; their relation to the
United States; and see whether
or not the course which our
government is pursuing is the
best suited to secure for their un-
fortunate inhabitants, their future
safety and happiness. They have
been under the control of Spain
ever since Magellan discovered
them, early in the sixteenth
century. Luzon is the largest
and most important island, and
contains the city of Manila,
which is also the capital of the
entire group. The population is
estimated at from ten to twelve
millions of people, most Of whom
are members Of the Malay race.
They are ignorant and degraded,
and have no knowledge of the art
of self government. The re-
mainder of the population is made
up of merchants from foreign
countries, who are located in the
principal cities and carry on
trade with the natives. The
climate of the islands is warm and
the soil fertile, making this an
excellent country for the grow
ing of all tropical products. But
Notwithstanding these facts, the
principal part of it is still I'M
developed.
The history of the Spanish
reign in the Philippines, like the
government of Spain over all it's
colonies, is one of misrule and
oppression. Sometime before the
Spanish American conflict began.
the Filipinos revolted against
their mother country, but they
| were soon subdued by her, and
their leader, Aguinaldo, was
obliged to go into exile. But the
rebels, although they had been
dispersed by the Spanish army,
made new plans to shake OF the
yoke of their oppressor, and when
| the United States declared war
| against Spain, they were once
| more ready to take the field. One
of the first acts Of our govern
ment, after the beginning of
hostilities, was to send Com
| modore Dewey to the Philippines
to destroy Spanish feet which
Law in the harbor of Manila. |
need not speak about the result
of this expedition, because all the
world has heard Of the great
American victory, but | will
mention briefly, the operations of
the rebels. Their exiled leader
returned about this time, and
with his rebel army succeeded in
| capturing several Spanish strong
holds, and shutting up the Span
ish army in the principal cities.
They have since captured other
position, among them the city of
Iloilo which is now the seat of the
rebel government. Soon after
Dewey's victory, the United
States sent an army to the
Philippines, which is now IN
possession Of the city of Manila
and the adjacent country, while
the fleet controls the harbor.
During the struggle, several of
the European powers wished to
get possession of the islands and
many of them sent warships to