The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-06

and opened up for surplus farm and fac
tory products in Europe and in Asia. The
outlook for the education of the young
farmer through agricultural college and
experiment station, with opportunity given
TO specialize in the department of agri-
culture is very promising. The people of
Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Philippine
Islands should be helped, by the estab-
lishment of experiment stations, to a
more scientific knowledge of the produc-
tion of coffee, india rubber and other pro-
ducts for which there is demand in the
United States.
AS TO THE PHILIPPINES.
On the 10th of December 1898. the
treaty of peace between the United States
and Spain was signed It provided
among other things that Spain should
cede to the United States the archipelago
known as the Philippine islands, that
the United States should pay to Spain
the sum of twenty millions of dollars
and that the civil rights and political
status of the native inhabitants of the
territories thus ceded to the United States
should be determined by the congress.
The treaty was ratified by the Senate on
the 9Th of February, 1899, and by the
government of Spain on the 18th of
March following. The notifications were
exchanged on the 18th of April and the
treaty publicly proclaimed. On the I'd of
March the congress voted the sum con-
templated by the treaty, and the amount
on the LIST of May. In this manner the
Philippines came to the United States.
The islands were coded by the govern
ment of Spain, which had been in I'M
disputed possession of them for cen
turtles. They were accepted not merely
by our authorized commissioners in
Paris, under the direction of the execu-
tive but by the constitutional and we'll
considered action of the representatives
of the people of the United States in
both houses of congress. ! had every
LII Ta-As holt hat
this transfer of sovereignty was in ac-
cordance with the wishes and the aspira-
lions of the great mass of the Filipino
people.
OUR MISSION PEACE, NOT WAR.
From the earliest moment no oppor-
tunity was lost of assuring the people of
the islands of our ardent desire for their
welfare and of the intention of this gov
eminent to do everything possible to ad-
vance their interests. In my order of the
18th of May, 1898. the commander of the
military expedition dispatched to the
Philippines was instructed to declare that
we came not to make war upon the peo-
pie of that country, nor upon any party
or faction among them, but to protect
them in their homes, in their employ
ments and in their personal and religious
rights" That there should be no doubt
as to the paramount authority there, on
the nth of August it was directed that
there must be no Joint occupation with
the insurgents that the United States
must preserve the peace ana protect per-
sons and property within the territory oc-
cupied by their military and naval forces;
that the insurgents and all others must
recognize the military occupation and
authority of the United States. AS early
as Dec. 4, before the cession, and in an
ticipation of that event. the commander
in Manila was urged TO restore peace and
tranquility and to undertake the estab-
lishment of beneficent government,
which should afford the fullest security
for life and property.
SENDING OF THE PEACE COMMITS
SION.
On the 21st of December after the
treaty was signed, the commander of the
forces of occupation was instructed Ito
announce and proclaim in the most pub
lie manner that we come, not as invad-
ers and conquerors, but as friends to
protect the natives in their homes, in
their employments and in their personal
and religious rights. On the same day.
while ordering Gen. Otis to see that the
peace should be preserved in Iloilo, he
was admonished that; 1T is most i'm
portant that there should be no conflict
with the insurgents" On the first day
of January, 1899 urgent orders were re-
iterated that the kindly intentions of this
government should be in every possible
way communicated to the insurgents.
On the 21st of January / announced my
intention of dispatching to Manila a
commission composed of three gentlemen
of the highest character and distinction,
thoroughly acquainted with the Orient,
who in association with Admiral Dewey
and Maj Gen. Otis, were instructed ito
facilitate the most humane and effective
extension of authority throughout the
islands, and to secure with the least pos
sible delay the benefits of a wise and
generous protection of life and property
TO the inhabitants" These gentlemen
were DR.. Jacob Gould Schurman, presi-
dent of Cornell University; Hon. Charles
DENLY. many years minister to China,
and Prof. Dean c. Worcester of the Uni
yersity of Michigan, who had made a
most careful study of life in the Philip
pines. While the treaty of peace was
under consideration in the Senate, these
commissioners set out on their mission
of good Will and liberation. Their char
acter was a sufficient guaranty of the
benefcent purpose with which they went
even If they had not borne the positive
instructions of this government, which
made their errand pre-eminently one of
peace and friendship.
WAR PRECIPITATED BY AMBITIOUS
LEADERS.
But before their arrival at Manila the
sinister ambition of a few leaders of the
Filipinos had created a situation full of
embarrassments for us and most grievous
in its consequences to themselves The
clear and impartial preliminary report of
a-l