The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-15

profess to be leaders in the higher civllza-
ton, conquest of territory was not one of
uile OBJECTS or the war, and seiennly de-
cared in joint resolution that our only object
In demanding relinqushment of Spanish
sovereignty in Cuba was not to hold it our
selves, except that in order that we might
pacify 1t and fit it for self-government by
Its own people.
MAN PROPOSES.
But IN this. as in all else, man proposes
and God disposes.'' and it is one of The
thlnss that make thoughtful men desire to
avoid war where it can be avoided, for no
one can tell what its consequences may be-
ardehtly desired that we might escape the
necessity of taking the Philippines and escape
the burden that their possession would en-
tall upon ua. and l knew that the president.
OF the United States felt to the same end
But 1t soon became apparent that without
our seeking, unexpected, conditions had been
created, and out Of these conditions undoubt
cd duties had sprung, which could not he
avoided by the United States. 1t has been
argued that duty is sometimes pleasant. but
mas dangers attending upon it. But, neverthe-
less, brave man and brave nation will
not shrink from 1t on that account On TIE
othef hand, II American sentiment did not
justify the return of these islands to Spain.
no more could it Justify leaving them dere-
ict in the Indian ocean, the first occunant
OF European rapacity. The powers of Europe
would accuiesce in our taking them in their
helpless condition Of anarchy and disorder
without seizing the opportunity of aggran-
dizement themselves and so it wae, thought
best by the president and his advisers to
take the cession of the sovereignty from
Spain and hold 1t in trust, to be administered
in conformity with those high ideals and lib
erty-loving traditions which animate and
g.orlfy the history Of our country DUTY can.
not therefore be avoided because it NAV
pring pain or danger, nor can responsibility
always be avoided because of it's burdens.
ISSUE WAS FORCED.
That l sought In Paris, by all honorable
means to escape this responsibility does not
matter now. 1t came to a point at last that
we must either leave the islands to Spain
take them as we did, or break off relations
and come home without treaty. The last
action would have meant active warfare
which had been suspended by the protocol
We would have had no reinquishment of the
sovereignty of the Philippines or Porto Rico
but only of Cuba.
1t is true that under the protocol of Aug
Il, Spain had agreed to relnquish sovereignty
over Porto Rico and Cuba but without
treaty Of peace that would not have stood
What then would have been the aIternativeq
undoubtedly we would have had to have
the Philippines and the greater and lesser
Antilles. What was far better was that we
should take them by the voluntary consum-
nation OF treaty of peace.
Now We have them it does not follow that
we are committed to a colonial policy and
the abandonment Of that liberty and freedom,
which must always remain American ideals
while our free institutions last No country.
least OF all this can afford to trample on it's
hotn
sum1ng for moment the right to speak for
the president, l think can assure YOU. with
full knowledge of what l speak, that he an
preclates the difficulties and dangers of the
situation, and that he is committed to no
policy tended to discourage, much less strike
down, the aspirations of liberty loving peonle
all over the world
PRESIDENT DEFENDED.
belong to different political party. b,,t
l should be false to my sense of Justice and
to that pride which l feel as an American
II did net declare by confidence In the
patriotism and purity Of purpose OF William
Mchlhiey. he Is no usurper Of power, no
stranger to American institutions, but one
OF the American people called to his high Of
fee by their suffrages and it would be
strange, indeed, If he did not share to the
fullest extent In the love of our constitution
and the principles that underlie it, What
less than this can be truthfully said of an
American president? 1t will be the begin
ming of the end Of our great career as a ma
ton. But the solution of the problems which
confront US Is not with the president When
the treaty is ratified no policy can be ratified
without the sanction OF congress- And tho
whole American people will determine
through their representatives, what reIa-
tions we shall sustain towards the Phihp-