The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-02-25

naval commanders at Manila, 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 own honor. the welfare
and happiness and the rights OF the inhab-
itants Of the Philippine Islands.
Consent Not Needed.
Ibid we need their consent to perform a
great act for humanity? We had II in
every aspiration OF their minds. in every
hope OF their hearts Was II necessary to
espa Of ther IS pd we ask
their consent TO liberate them from Spanish
sovereignty or TO enter Manila bay and
destroy the Spanish sea power thereI We
did not ask these: we were obeying a high
er moral obligation which rested on us, and
We were a dong oE e setS y Wth the
consent OF our own consciences and with
the approval OF civilization. Every present
expulsion of Spanish sovereignty from
their islands, and while the war that de-
stroyed II was In progress we could not ask
their views. Nor can we now ask their con-
sent. Indeed, can anyone tell me in what
form 1t could be marshalled and ascer-
tanned. until peace and order. so necessary
TO reign OF reason, shall be secured and es-
tablished? A reign of terror Is not the kind
of rule under which right action and delib-
good time for the iiberator to submit i'm
portant questions concerning liberty and
government TO the liberated while they are
engaged In shooting down their rescuers?
eve have now ended the war with Spain.
The treaty has been ratified by more than
two-thirds of the senate of the United
states and by the judgment of nine-tenths
OF its people. No nation was ever more for
tunate in war or more honorable in nego-
tiations in peace. Spain is now eliminated
we shall do now. do not intrude upon the
duties OF congress, or seek to anticipate or
forestaIl its action. / only say that the
been ratified by the United States and. as
we confidently expect. shortly to be ratified
In spain, congress will have the power,
good morals Is right and just and humane
for these peoples in distant seas.
Difficult of Solution.
ut is some times hard to determine what
Is best to do. and the best thing TO do is
eyi WINES IN me hardest The prophet
at sacrifice and effort. and to do nothing
Is easiest and involves the least cost. on
responsibility which is not on those who
have no obligations as doors. If the doubt
ers were in the majority. there would. II is
true, be no labor. no sacrifice. no anxiety
ana no burden raised or carried; no contri-
button from our ease and purse and COM
fort to the welfare of others, or even to the
extension OF our resources TO the welfare OF
ourselves. There would be ease, but, alas!
thcre would be nothing done. But grave
problems come in the life of a nation, how
ever much men may seek to avoid them.
They come without our seeking, why we do
not know, and II is not always given us to
know; but the generation on which they are
forced cannot avoid the responsibility of
honestly striving for their solution. We
may not know precisely how TO solve them,
end. and If made in conscience, justice and
honor, 1t Will not be in vain.
The People Must Decide.
THE future of the Philippine islands is
now in the hands of the American people.
Until the treaty was ratified or rejected
executive r n
ment could only preserve the peace and
protect life and property. That treaty now
pinos to the guiding hand and the LIBERAL
izing influences, the generous sympathies,
the uplifting education, not of their Ameri-
can masters. but of their American eman-
cipators. No one can tell to-day what is
best for them or for us. i know no one at
this hour who is wise enough or sufficiently
informed to determine what form of gov
eminent will best subserve their interests
and our interests. their and our well being.
/ sometimes think there are those who be-
lieve that II we do not they dove should
not need information; but, unfortunately,
whole subject is now with congress and
congress is the voice, the conscience and
the judgment of the American people.
Upon their Judgment and conscience can
we not rely? ! believe in them, I trust
them. / know of no better or safer human
shall direct otherwise II will be the duty of
the executive to possess and hold the Phil
ippines giving to the people thereof peace
and beneficent government, affording them
every opportunity to prosecute their lawful
pursuits, encouraging them in thrift and
industry, making them feel and know we
their good is our aim that their welfare Is
our welfare, but that neither their aspira-
lions nor ours can be realized until our 6u-
thority is acknowledged and unquestioned.
No Imperial Designs.
THAT the inhabitants of the Philippines
will be benefited by this republic is my un-
shaken belief; that they will have kindlier
tSey VIII be- aided in every way possibe to Be
self-respecting and self-governing people is
as true as that the American people love lib
government and their own Institutions. No
imperial designs Turk In the American mind.
They are allen to American sentiment.
Piles undergo no change under a tropical
sun, They go with the fiat:
why read we not the changeless truth,
The free can conquer but to saver
"If we can benefit these remote peoples
who will object? II in the years Of the fu-
under law and liberty. who will regret our
perils and sacrifices; who Will not rejoice
in our heroism and humanity? Always
ways darkness and clouds, but always shin
ing through them the light and the sun
after them the fruition OF liberty, educa-
ton and civilization.
VIII Bless Our Republic.
1T have no light or knowledge not COM
mon TO my countrymen. do not prophesy.
The present Is all-absorbing to me, but
cannot bound my vision by the blood
stained trenches around Manila, where
every red drop. whether from the veins OF
an American soldier or misguided Fill
Pine is anguish to my heart; but by the
broad range of future years, when that
group of Islands under the impulse of the
year Just past, shall have become the gems
and glories of those tropical seas, a land of
plenty and of increasing possibilities peo-
pie redeemed from savage Incidence and
habits, devoted to the arts of peace, in
touch with the commerce and trade of all
nations, enjoying the blessings of freedom
of civil and religious liberty, of education
md of homes, and whose children and chill
dren's children shall for ages hence bless
the American republic because II emanci-
pated and redeemed their fatherland and
set them in the pathway of the worlds best
civilization"
Addresses were also delivered by
Postmaster-General Smith and Sec
rotary Long. Secretary Long received
an ovation second only to that of the
president. He was cheered to the
echo, and even President Mckinley rose
and waved his napkin in salute with the
audience. Some one in the balcony
called for three cheers for "Dewey's
friend"