The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-07
THEY OPPOSE IT.
Twenty -Four Prominent We" Ok"
petition Against the treaty.

NEW YORK, Feb. "a petition anu
address 20 the United states Senate slsn-
ed by twenty-four prominent men ". 'o
country. was made public last nisn''
The petitioners request that the peaCo
treaty be not ratified until proVi7iD" -
inserted that the United States shaI nv
annex the Philippine Islands or ~, w.
Rico. or permit their inhabitants ~
come citizens or compel them 70
come subjects OF the United states WIN
out their Tree consent and the lul'"0i
express authority Of Congress.
The signers are:
charles Francis Adams, Boston.
Felix Adler 49,
George S. Boutwell,. eK-secretary Of the
Treasury.
Treasury.
Andrew Carnegie
Grover Cleveland ex-President OF the
United states.
Theodore L. Cuyler
Charles W. Eliot, president Of harNa'u
University.
Samuel Gompers. president OF the Anl'
ric0n Federation of Labor
John Il. Henderson. eN-United states.
Senator from Missouri
William ,. Hornblower.
William J. Palmer. president Oh the hlO
Grande Western railway.
Wheeler H. Peckham.
Sherman s. Rogers. Buffalo
Carl Schurz ex-Secretary OF the IN
terror
Edward NJ Sheppard.
Edwin Burritt Smith, Chicago.
MOOriield Story, Boston.
william G. Sumner Yale University
Rev Henry Van Dyke
Herman Won Hoist, University OF chi
cago.
William L. Wilson. x-Postmaster-Gen-
eral and now president o. the Nashlhs-
ton and Lee University, Virginia.
Theodore s. Woolsey, OF Yale Univer-
sity.
Henry G. Potter. Protestant Episcopal
Bishop of New York.
In the petition IL is stated.
I'VE submit that the treaty unless
modified. will introduce changes OF far
reaching character into both tho foreign
and domestic policy of this republic. Tie
late war was undertaken with our dis
tlnct assurance that we did not look TOE
ward foreign conquest or the acquisition
OF territory.
'.fne puolic sentiment Of our country
Is not ready 10 endure the concession or
American citizenship 10 the Filipinos and
Porto Ricans But the effort Will for q
time az least. no doubt be 20 hold their
| islands under revenue tarin, navigation
and other laws very different from those
| in the United States. The PHILIPPINES and
Porto Rico would, at least at the outset
be separate dependencies under an extra
territorial and extra constitution sover-
dignity not provided for In the constitution
| OF the United states and grossly incou-
sistent with its entire spirit and intent
That this sovereignty IN the case ui
the Philippines is extra territorial Is the
more apparent from the fact that the
constitution was established for the
United States OF America and not for
the United States OF America and Asia.
According 70 the principles upon
which our republic was founded. We are
in duty bound TO recognize the rights Of
the Inhabitants Of the Philippines and of
Porto Rico 10 independence and seif-g0v-
eminent precisely as We have recognized
that right in the case OF the inhabitants
OF Cuba. IT, as President Mckinley de-
clared. .forcible annexation cannot be
thought Of IN the case Of Cuba because
IL would. by our code OF morals. be Grim
inal aggression the fOrCibe annexation
Of the Philippines will be- no less criminal
aggression. according TO the same code OF
morals.
THE FilipHos have a more settled
government ara n control Of their Islands
more extensive than the Cubans when We
took up arms i'm their behalf. But We
declared as 10 Cuba that IL IS and Of
a right ought 70 be free and independent
why ought we not then frankly and
generously 90 say Of the Philippines
that they are and Of right ought 90 be
free and Independent "