Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-17

. ,ra,sfer 4, could not have been MADE
without the most serious iihern9,iona.s
compicatious. Such course couiu ~,
no thought Of and get had We reiursu
10 accept the cessson Of them We sno1'v s',
have had no power over them, even 'y e
their own good We could not discnaJSc
,bo respnsibilities upon us until thes'
islands became ours, either Dy conaueS'
or treaty There was but one aitet ~,
tive. and that wae either spain or un
Tinted states I'm the Philippines. Otner-
wiae they would be tossed into the arena
OF contention, for the strife OF nations;;
oy second be left to the anarchy anu
chaos of no protectorate at ALA con-
dition too shameful TO be considered.
CEsSfON OF THE ISLANDS.
The treaty gave. them to the united ed
States Could we have required less anu
done our duty? Could We. after freeing
the FiIipinos from the domination vi
Spain. have left them without govern
ment. and without power To protect nlo
and property. or to perform ,ne an
national obligations essential 10 an III
dependent state? Could we have lett tnelh
I'm a state OF anarchy and Justihsu our
selves I'm our own conscience or pelo'r ana
tribunal of mankind tSuid W. ,,9
done that I'm the sight of God ana MIN
Orrp CONCERN NOT FOR EMPIRE.
"Our concern was not for territory or
trade or empire but for the people. WHO'S
interests and destiny, without our Wiiiins
IT, had been put into our nanuS' ~
was because OF this feeling, from Wy
first day TO the last that not one woru
went from the Executive at Washington
10 our military and naval commanders q.
Manila. or to our peace commissioners
at Paris. that did not put as the soie
purpose 70 be kept I'm mind iirst. after
the success of our arms and the mainte-
nance Of our own honor the welfare anu
happiness and the rights of the lnhaol-
tants of the philippine Islands Did We
need their consent TO perform great act
| for humanity? We had 1t in every as
piration OF their minds, In every nope
| of their hearts. Was 1t necessary 70
ask their consent 10 capture Manila tne
| capital of their islands? Did We ask their
| consent to liberate them from Spanish
| sovereignty or to enter Manila bay ana
| destroy the Spanish sea-power there?
| we did not ask this; we were obeylng =
higher moral obligation, which rested on
| US. and which did not require anypooy
| consent.
| OUR DUTY BY THEM.
eve were doing our duty by them with
| the consent of our own conscience, ana
| with the approval OF CIVILIZATION. EVsrS
| present obligation has been met anu iul~
| Allied i'm the expulsion of Spanish soVer-
| eientv from their islands. and whiie the
| war that destroyed II was In progress
we could not ask their views, nor can
| we ask their consent. Indeed can any ~
| one tell me in what form IL could be
vanrshailad umu and ascertained. until peace
! and order SO necessary 10 the relgu a 9a
reason. shall be secured and estaDilsne1 .
| A reign OF tecror Is not the klnu Vl @ ru.s
| under which right action and delperate
| Judgment are possible. IL Is not Bood tinle
| FOR the liberator TO submit importah'
questions concerning liberty and govern
| ment to the liberated while they are en-
| gagged in shooting down their rescuers:
| 1--WE have now ended the war with
Spain. The treaty has been ratihed Dy
| more than two thirds OF the Senate or the
| United States and by the judgment ol
| nine tenths of It's people NO natloh was
| ever more fortunate in war or more pfos-
| perous i'm peace. / do not seek 10 an
| ficipate or forestal the action of Con-
| gress | can only say that the treaty OF
| reace having been ratified by the tnitsu
| States as we confidently expect IL 10 DE
| ratified I'm Spain Congress will have the
| power. and ! am sure the purpose, 10 do
| what I'm good morals Is right and ana
| tusi and humane for these people In DIS
| tant seas.
THEIR FUTURE IN OUR HANDS.
"The future OF the Philippine Islands
| Is now i'm the hands of the American
| people Until the treaty was ratihed OF
| rejected the Executive Department OF
this government could only preserve ms
| peace ana protect IRE ana properly,
enfranchsed Filipinos "a the guiding
| hand <and the liberating influence, the
generous sympathes. the upllfung eouch,
tion. not of their American masters pul
of their American emahcipators' ~, ~,
one can tell what is best for them or foi
| US I know no one at this hour VINO Is
| wise enough or sufficiently informed |.
determine what form of government WI
best subserve their interests anu oui m
interests their and our veil being. III We
karsy fflptery tnius Dyr idtuitioii anu !
sometimes think there are some wn'
think we dove should not need infor'
nation. but. unfortunately, most OF u'
are not In that happy state.
| WHOLE SUBJECT WITH CONGhhSS
"rhe whole subject is now with Con
| gress and Congress Is the voice, me
conscience. and the Judgment 9f ths
American people. Upon their Judgment
and conscience can we not relyI De
liave I'm them: | trust them; ] Know OF
| no betfer or safer or more humane tri'
bunal than the people. Cnui Congress
| shall direct otherwise, II VIII be. ths duty
| of the Executive To hold the Pnilppnes
giving to the people thereof peace ano
order and benefcent government; anord'
ing them opportunity 10 prosecute theii
lawful pursuits encouraging them u
thrift and industry. making them rec
and know that We are their friehus-hO
their enemies: that their good Is oui
aim their welfare is our welfare bu'
that neither their aspiration no ours car
be realized until our authority ~ dc'
knowledged and unquestioned. o,.n,-
| "That the hdDit2ntS OF lne Inlup'
| pines will be benefited by this republic Is
nv mistaken belief: that they VIII have
| kindlier government under our guid
| ance, and that they will be aided ~
| every possible way to be a self-respect-
ing and self-gOverning people, Is as true
as that the American people love liberty
and have an abiding faith I'm their own
| government and I'm their own institutions
NO IMPERIAL DESIGN.
"No imperial designs lurk IN the
| American mind They are alien 10
American sentiment. thought and pur-
| nose. our priceless principles undergo
no change under a tropical sun. They
go with the fiat
why read ye not the changeless truth!
The free can conquer but TO save.
"If we can benefit these remote peoples,
who will object? If. in the years or the
future. they are established I'm govern
| ment under law and liberty, who Will
regret our perils and sacrifices VINO
| will not rejoice I'm our heroism and hu-
manity? Always perils, and always al
ter them safety; always darkness and
clouds but always shining through them
the light and sunshine always cost ana
| sacrifice. but always after them the frui-
tion Of liberty and education and CIVIL
| Zation. .x.
PHILIPPINE FUTURE.
81 have no light or knowledge MOI
common 10 my countrymen. do rot
prophesy The present Is all-aDsorDlhs
CONCLUDED on PAGE SIM