The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-17

not come through any fault on our own
part but as a high obligation, and we meet
them with clear conscience and unselash
purpose and with good heart to resolve 10
undertake their solution.
War of an Undivided Nation
War was declared in April, 1898, with
practical unanimity by the congress. and
once upon US was sustained with like unan-
Unity among the people. There had been
many VINO had tried to avert 1t, as on the
other hand, there were many who would
have precipitated it at an earlier date In
It's prosecution and conclusion, the great
majority of our countrymen of every sec
tion believed they were fighting in lust
cause, and at home or on sea or in the field
they mad part In its glorious triumphs 1t
was the war of an undivided nation Every
great act in its progress, from Manila to
santiago, from Guam to Porto Rico, met
UNIVERSAL and hearty commentator. The
protocol commanded practically the unani-
nous approval of the American people. 1t
was welcomed by every lover of peace be-
meath the flag
The Philippines, like Cuba and Puerto
RICO, were entrusted to our hands by the
war, and to that great trust, under the
providence of God and in the name of hu-
man progress and civilization, we are COM
mltted. 1t Is trust 20 have not sought;
It Is trust from which we will not finch
Ihe American people will hold up the
hands OF their servants at home, to whom
tney commit Its execution, while Dewey
and Otis and tho brave men whom they
command will have the support of the coun-
try In upholding our flag where 1t now
floats, the symbol and assurance of liberty
and Justice. What nation was ever able to
write an accurate program of the war upon
Wnlch 1t was entering, much less decree In
advance the scope of its results7 Congress
can declare war, but a higher power de-
cides its bounds and fixes it's relations and
responsibilities. The president can direct
the movements of soldiers on the field and
fleets on the sea, but he cannot foresee the
close of such movements or prescribe their
limits. He cannot anticipate or avoid the
consequences, but he must meet them: No
accurate map of nations engaged in war
can be traced until the war is over nor can
the measure of responsibility be fixed until
tho last gun Is fired and the verdict en-
bodied in the stipulations of peace.
1--WE hear complaint of the re-
lations created by the war between this
government and the islands of Cuba and
Porto Rico. There are some however, who
regard the Phlippies, as in a different rela-
ton; but whatever variety of views there
may be on this phase of the question, there
is universal agreement that the Philippines
shall not be turned back to Spain. No true
American consents to that. Even If un-
willing to accept them ourselves, it would
have been a weak evasion of manly duty TO
require Spain to transfer them to some
other power or powers and thus shirk our
own responsibility. Even If we had, as we
did not have, the power to compel such a
transfer, 1t could not have been made with
out the most serious international compn-
cations. Such course could not be
thought of. And yet, had we refused to
accept the eession of them. we should have
had no power over them, even for their own
good. We could not discharge the respon-
cihi1itfpg 1lS upffl these islands he
came ours either by conquest or treaty.
Discusses the Philippines
'There was but one alternative and that
was neither Spain nor the United States in
the Philippines. The other suggestions
First. that they should be tossed into the
arena of contention by nations; and s' I'd.
be left to the anarchy and chaos of no pro-
tectorate at all, were too shameful to be
cons 'dered. The treaty gave them to the
United States. Could we have required less
and done our duty? Could we, after free
ing the Filiplnos from the domination of
Spain have left them without government
and without power to protect life and prop
erty or to nerforro +he international obli-
- f-Hae ,-sGf.f.- IN independent state?
G.ula 4ra ra lem in a state of an
#4,h- lr- .stIfa7 ourselves In our own
.# ar T. fu. the tribunal of Man
trs taaII So We done that in the
#e'.t - c. ..?
t'i1HH Hu. not Tor territory OT
#54fe - s4rifa h for the people whose
- 80 =ttuy without our willing
ri .s# H.#H .H q ur hands. 1t was with
I#t- H=-.u. ...l 70 4 the first day to the
ASH .41- H.H one ID or line went from
f|5t avtrn. I've az w Il shington to our mill
H.-,- a-t =e4.. comm anders at Manila or
- our oeae. lanin7 ;ioners at Paris that
5I4 uaI cut is f8-- lie purpose to be kept
III mind, first, after the success OF our arms
and the maintenance of our own honor, the
welfare and happiness and the rights of the
inhabitants of the Philippine Islands. DID
we not obtain their consent to perform
great work for humanity? We had 1t in
every aspiration of their minds; in the hope
of their hearts. Was 1t necessary to ask
their consent to capture Manila, the capl-
tai of their islands? Did we ask their con-
sent to liberate them from Spanish SOW
ereignty, or to enter Manila bay and desti oy
the Spanish sea power there?
1--WE did not ask these; we were obeying
a higher moral obligation which rested on
us and which did not require anybody's con-