Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-19
Tho "purohnss" OF the Philippines.

The "Purchnse" OF the PhfiippineS'
The Baltimore Sun OF Saturday, in an
interesting editorial, accuses Judge
Day of giving away" the Mckinley
administration by his famous letter in
which he said that our only right to
the Philippines is the right acquired
by purchase. not by conquest. After
quoting from the letter this paragraph:
TT was not claimed that the United
States had a right TO tho Philippine
Islands Us matter OF conquest. The
United States has never undertaken,
SO far as | know, to wresG from a
foreign country lands or possessions
simply by right of conquest. Had we
been disposed to do so, it must be re-
membered that we were in possession
only of tho city. bay and harbor OF
Manila under tho protocol of August
18th, 1898. The capture, after the
signing of the protocol, by General
legal effect may have been, included
to hold under the PROTOCOL" the Sun
editorially says;
..Here, according to Judge Day, con-
firming what had already been init
mated months ago by Judge Gray of
Delaware, who was also one of the
Peace Commissioners the acquisition
Of the Philippines was not an i'm
mediate or necessary consequence of
the war, but it was distinctly an after
thought. 1t was, in fact, just trans
action in real estate--the purchase by
Mr.. Mckinley from Spain of tho
islands, with all the live stock upon
them, some 100000 to 10000, 900 of
human beings, Just as in antebellum
times he might have purchased a
Southern plantation, with all the
hands. horses and mules, men, women
and children. If Spain had declined
our offer, according to Judge Day, We
would have had no title whatever. We
acquired none by conquest or by war.
That the terms of the protocol pre-
pared by Judge Day himself and
! signed by Mckinley on the 18th OF
August, 1898, expressly negatives. II
Spain had refused to sell, we should
| simply have been compelled, in honor,
TO haul down our flag, pull up stakes
| and come home, or else have dc.
liberately embarked in new war Of
| unprovoked aggression and conquest
against Spain, which would probably
have arrayed the whole civilized world
against us. But Spain was glad tc
| have the money, and Mckinley sorelJ
coveted the islands, and SO the transfer
was agreed upon--a simple case Of
bargain and sale. Strictly speaking,
| we did not buy the islands, but merely
the Spanish title, very bad title, te
4 them.
what. in the light of this plair
statement from Judge Day, becomes O
all the rot. the fustian and bombas
which Mckinley is in the habit o
uttering on all occasions about thu
responsibility of caring for and govern
ing these distant islands, having Eeel
thrown upon us by destiny or thu
fortunes of war'-about their having
been bought by the blood and valor o
our soldiers, and the disgrace which
we should incur by hauling down on
flag? Bought! Yes, says Mckinley
friend and confidential agent and ad
wiser bought for $40, 200, 600, which
gave us the right TO keep our fla
there, which, by the protocol, we wer
only permitted to hoist tempuraril
over the city and bay of Manila and
limited strip of territory. What be
comes of Secretary Longs impuden
speech at the Dewey celebration a
Washington, crediting the gallan
Admiral and his victory on the lst G
May, 1898, with being the source q
our title, and of McKinley's hypo
critical pretence on the same occasio
. that in what we are doing in tn
Philippines we are only 'maintainin
, Dewey's victory?' According to Judg
Day, General Merritt's capture of tn
city of Manila on August 10Th, 1895
added nothing to our title to tenn
porary possession under the terms c
the protocol.
1T is we'll to understand what W
ara fighting for, and Judge Day ha
, made this SO plain that even . fool ca
understand. We are not fighting t
! fulfill duty or o mission impose
, upon us by circumstances and cor
! ditions not of our own seeking, but
the hand of Providence. Our soldier
are simply fighting and dying, and th
, nations money is being expended {
!. the ratio of untold millions-to max
, good McKinley's flyer in the real estaI
4 market, his speculation in SPANS
+ titles. They are not fighting for TIL
; tiag'-thaU is, for the starry banner I
| freedom and constitutional liberty
the flag of our country-but for II
+ auctioneer's red symbol under whic
! the islands with their inhabitant
we're knocked down to Mckinley at h
q bid of 500, 900, 900.
Now that Judge Days lips are III
Q sealed, let Judge Gray tell what
knows about the negotiations in Par
' and how the Philippines came to |
4 ours But whether his colleague
!. speak or not, the accuracy, both
!, fact and In law. of Judge Days stat
!, ment cannot be impugned In closir
/ his letter Judge Day says: OF cours
v speak only for myself, and | wri
! these views without opportunity
4 consult with my ellowcommissioner
I In my Judgment the concession +
s ferred to the $40, DOC, 000l vas etfectu
a in bringing about an acceptance of o,
q proposals, which resulted in the makil
|. Of the treaty. This is how VIC cor
q to be in the Philippines-trying
Q retaliation Mckinley's $40, 600, 900 j
Q vestment. y
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y JERRy'S LETTER OF ADPICE.