The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-17

part in its glorious trIumphs. II was
the war OF an undivided nation. Every
act i'm It's progress, from Manila TO San
tiago from Guam 10 Porto Rico. met
universal and hearty commendation.
The protocol commanded the practically
unanimous approval of the American
people. 1t was welcomed by every
lover OF peace beneath the flag.
The Philippines. like Cuba and Porto
Rico, were intrusted TO our hands by
the war. and 10 that great trust, under
the providence Of God and in the name
of human progress and civilization, we
are committed. 1t is "A trust we have
not sought. it is "a trust from which we
viii not finch. The American people
will hold up the hands OF their servants
at home TO whom they commit IT'S cX-
ecution. while Dewey and Otis and the
brave men whom they command will
have the support OF the country i'm up
holding our flag where IL now floats. the
symbol and assurance OF liberty and
justice.
What nation was ever able 10 write
an accurate program OF the war upon
which it was entering, much less de-
cree i'm advance the scope OF it's re-
suits? Congress can declare war but a
higher power DEGREES its bounds and
fixes its relations and responsibilities
The president can direct the movements
of soldiers on the field and fleets upon
the sen. b,it he cannot foresee the close
OF such movements or prescribe their
limits. tie can not anticipate or avoid
the consequences. but he must meet
them. No accurate map of nations en-
gagged i'm war can be traced until the
war is over. nor can the measure OF re-
sponsibility be fixed till the last gun is
fred and the verdict embodied in the
stipulations of peace.
We hear no complaint OF the relations
created by the war between this govern
ment and the islands of Cuba and Porto
Rico. There are some, however who re-
gard the Philippines as i'm different re-
lation; but whatever variety OF views
there may be on this phase OF the ques-
tion. there is universal agreement that
the Philippines shall not be turned back
To Spain. No true American consents TO
that Even If unwilling to accept them
ourselves. IL would have been weak
evasion OF manly duty TO require Spain
q
powers. and thus shirk our own present
responsibility. Even If we had had.
AZ we did not have, the power to COM
pei such a transfer IL could not have
been made without the most serious in
ternational complications. Such
course could not be thought of. And yet
had we refused to accept the cession OF
them We should have had no power
over them, even for their own good. We
could not discharge the responsibilities
upon us until these islands became ours
either by conquest or treaty There
was but one alternative. and that was
either Spain or the United States In the
Philippines. The other suggestions
first. that they should be tossed into the.
arena of contention for the strife of ma
tions, or, second, be left To the anarchy
and chaos OF no protectorate at all
were too shameful to be considered.
The treaty gave them 10 the United
States Could've have required less and
done our duty? Could we. after freeine
the Filipinos from the domination on
Spain. have left them without govern.
ment and without power to protect life
or property or TO perform the interna-
tional obligations essential TO an inde-
pendent state? Could we have left them
in state OF anarchy and justified our
selves I'm our own consc.cnces or beforo
tne triounal or mankind? Could we nave
done that in the sight OF God or man?
our concern was not for territory or
trade or empire, but for the people whose
and destiny, without our willing
IL. had been put in our hands. 1t was
with :his feeling that from the first day
TO the last not one word or line went
from the executive In Washington TO our
military and naval commanders at Ma
Mia or TO our peace commissioners at
Paris that did not put as the sole pur-
pose To be kept il mind first after the
success OF our arms and the maintenance
bf our own honor. the welfare and happi-
ness and the rights OF the inhabitants OF
the Philippine islands. Did we need their
TO perform great act for hu-
manity? We had 1t in every aspiration
OF their minds, in every hope OF their
hearts. Was lt necessary 10 ask their |
consent TO capture Manila, tho capital OF |
their islands? Did we ask their consent
10 liberate them from Spanish SOW
ereigniy or TO enter Manila bay and de-
stroy the Spanish sea power there? We
did not ask these; we were obeying a
higher moral obligation which rested on !
us and, which did not require anybody's |
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