Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-22

until the last gun is fred and the ver-
dict embodied in the stipulations of
peace.
We hear no complaint of the rela-
tions created by the war between this
government and the islands of Cuba
and Porto Rico. There are some,
however, who regard the Philippines
as in different relation; but, what
ever variety of views there may be on
this phase of the question, there is un-
Iiversal agreement that the Philippines
shall not be turned back to Spain. No
true American consents to that. Even
if unwilling to accept them ourselves,
it would have been 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 had, as we did not
buve, the power to compel such a
transfer, it could not have been made
without the most serious international
complications.
Such a course could not be thought
of. And yet had we refused to accept
the cession of them we should have
had no power over them, even for their
own good. We could not discharge
the responsibilities upon US until these
islands became ours, either by con-
quest or treaty. There was but one
alternative, and that was either Spain
or the United States in the Philippines.
The other suggestion-6rst, that they
should be tossed into the arena of con-
tention for the strife Of nations; or,
second, be left to the anarchy and
chaos of no protectorate at all, were
too shameful to be considered. The
treaty gave them to the United States.
Could we have required less and done
our duty? Could we, after freeing the
Filipinos from the dominion of Spain,
have left them without government
and without power to protect life and
property or to perform the information
al obligations essential to an independ-
ent state? Could we have left them
in state of anarchy and justified our
selves in our own consciences or before
the tribunal of mankind? Gould we
have done that in the sight of God and
man?
Our concern was not for territory
or trade or empire; but for the people
whose interests and destiny without
our willing it has been put in our
hands. 1t was with this feeling that
from the first day to the last not one
word or line went from the executive
| in Washington to our military, or to our
peace commissioners at Paris that
did not put as the sole purpose to be
kept in mind, first after the success Of
our arms and the maintenance of our
honor, the welfare and happiness and
the rights of the inhabitants of the
Philippine islands. Did we need their
consent to perform great act for hu-
manityp We had it in every aspira-
ton of their minds, in every hope of
their hearts. Was it necessary to ask
their consent to capture Manila, the
capital of their islands, Did we ask
their consent to liberate them from
Spanish sovereignty or to enter Ma
nila bay and destroy the Spanish sea
power there2 We did not ask these.
We were obeying higher moral OBJ
legation which rested on US and which
did not require anybody's consent.
We were doing our duty by them
with the consent of our own con.
sciences and with the approval of
civilization. Every present obligation
has been met and fulfilled in the
expulsion of the Spanish sovereignty
from their islands, and while the
war that destroyed it was in.progress
we could not ask their views. Nor
can we ask their consent.
Indeed, can anyone tell me in what
form it could be marshalled and ascer-
tanned until peace and order, 80 neces-
sary to reign of reason, shall be Sc
cured and established? A reign of
terror is not the kind of rule under
which right action and deliberate
Judgment are possible. 1t is not a
good time for the liberator to submit
important"questions concerning liberty
and government to the liberated while
they are engaged in shooting down
their rescuers?
We have now ended the war with
Spain. The treaty has been ratified
| oy more than two-thirds of the senate
| of the United States and by the judg-
ment of nine-tenths of its people. No
nation was ever more fortunate in war
or more honorable in negotiations in
peace. Spain is now eliminated from
the problem. 1t remains to ask what
we shall do now. l do not intrude
upon the duties of congress or seek to
anticipate or forestall its action. /
only say that the treaty of peace, hon
orably secured, having been ratified
by the United States, and as we conf
IDENTIFY expect shortly to be ratified in
Spain, congress will have the power,
and I am sure the purpose to do what
in good morals is right and just and
humane for those peoples in distant
seas.
The future of the Philippine islands
is now in the hands of the American
people. Until the treaty was ratified
or rejected the executive department
of this government could only preserve
the peace and protect life and property.
That treaty now commits the free and
enfranchised Filipinos to the guiding
hand and the liberating influence, the
generous sympathies, the uplifting ed
ucation not Of their American masters !;
but of their American emancipators.
No ono ran tell today what is best for