The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1899-11-03
STRANGE LAPSE OF MEMORY.
President Mckinley. Talk About
Acquiring Territory Through
Providence.


President Mckinley should have been
a little more careful in his rear plat
form speeches on his car tour about the
country. He made a serious break In
his talk at Cedar Falls, la.
After saying that since he was last
In Iowa we have added some territory.
meaning the Philippines, he continued;
II believe, my fellow citizens. t.at this
territory came to us In the providence
of God. We did not seek Il. 1t is ours.
with all the responsibilities that belong
to 1t; and as n great, strong, brave ma
ton we mean to meet them and we
mean TO carry out eur education and
our civilization there
IL being very early in the morning,
| possibly the president was not quite
awake, or surely he would have remem-
bered the letter written the other day
by Judge Day, in the interest Of his
friend the president for effect on the
Ohio election.
Judge Day made no pretense that the
Philippine territory came TO u.s." but
distinctly declared that we did seek
it," Our forces had not captured IL.
and AT no time held more than the bay
OF Manila and n small part OF the land
adjoining. While the peace negotia-
lions were in progress at Paris, with
Judge Day as chief agent OF the prcsi-
dent, no hint was given for some time
that we wanted all the Philippines, or
more than a small bit Of territory II We
desired any. The proposition. when at
last made. took the Spaniards by sur
prise, and they protested vigorously.
Then Judge Day made an offer OF
$50. 900 for the entire group and.
still protesting vigorously against be-
ing forced 10 sell. the Spanish commits
sioners finally consented to the deal.
Here Is the judges own language In his
campaign letter;
"Our proposal az Parts embodied the cor
ccssions which Tor the sake of immediate
peace the American government was Will
lnE 20 make There was doubtless other
reasons actuaiiug the commissioners IN
making the proposals
II was not claimed that the United
States had = rirht 10 the Philippine islands
~ a matter o. conquest. The United states
has never undertaken, so far as know, 90
wrest from a foreign country lands or pos.
sessions simply b. right % conquest Had
W been diaros,i 90 do 20. ~ must be re-
mvmbcrcd that We were 10 pHSH, Esiou only |
OF the city, hay and hHrDor OF Maui'a under
the proto,oi % August u. i,gS Tao cap.
iure, after ihe signing % the protocol. by
Gen. Merritt and his forces. whatever lts |
legal cuoci may have bo,a. Included no
more territory than We we're ,utitisd 10
hold under the protocol"
The offer was made partly for the
sake Of immediate peace. but there |
were doubtless other reasons actuating |
the commissioners in making the pro- |
posals. Very likely. Judge Day, a.
one Of the commissioner, and the rec |
ognized immediate confidential agent |
Of President Mckinley, knows all about |
those "oihcr reasons though he :aay !
not deem II advisable TO tell.
But here is the fact clearly stated in !
his letter. The territory did not come !
TO US in the providence Of God" without |
our seeking IL. On the contrary. IL was /
not in our keeping; We had not won IL: |
II was still the property OF Spain 20 |
hold. or sell. or TO give away. Prcsi- |
dent Mckinley desired u, and his com !
missioucrs made n bid for II. II will be |
remembered that at the time IL was !
distinctly declared that every step
taken by the commissioners at Paris |
was directed from Washington. and |
that the president was the whole I
thing" In the transaction. When the |
Spanish commissioners became indig- !
nnEt AT the proposition, they were told |
plainly that they must sell, and that /
they could not get raise of another /
dollar on the bid.
IL Is strange that President McKin- |
ley should have forgotten those circur.-
stances GHd Judge Days recent letter /
detailing them. when he told the people /
Of Cedar Falls that the Philippine /
Islands territory "came Co US In the 4
providence Of God" and without our
seeking 1t. Bu, II was very early in the
morning, and the president had not
cleared his mind with his morning cof-
Plain Dealer.