The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-21

| and Porto Rico. There are some, how
| ever, who regard the Philippines in a
| different relation, but whatever yarie-
- of views there may be on this phase
ST the question, there is universal
| agreement that the Philippines shall
| not be turned back TO Spain. No true
American consents to that. Even II un-
| willing TO accept them ourselves, it
| would have been a weak evasion OF
| Spain to transfer them to some other
power or powers n thus shirk our
own responsibility. Even if We had
| had, as we did not have, the power TO
| compel such a transfer, It could no.
| nave been made without the most Sc
| rious international complications.
Such a 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 alterna-
tive and that was either Spain or. the
United States in the Philippines. The
other su~ggestion-first that they should
be tossed into the arena Of contention
for the strife of nations; or second, 10
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 we ave
required less and done our duty? Gould
we, after freeing the Philippines from
the domination of Spain lave left them
/ without government and without pow
ca % protect life and property Or 10
l perform the International obligations
essential to an Independent state? Could
we ave left them in a state of anarchy
and justified ourselves in our own con-
science or before the tribunal of man.
kind? Could We have done that in the
sight of God and a
Our concern was not for territory or
trade or empire, but for the people
whose interests and destiny, without
hands. 1t was this feeling. From the
first day to the last one not one word
or line went from the executive in
Washington to our military and naval
commanders at Manila or to our peace
commissioners at Paris that did not put
as the sole purpose to be kept III min
first, after the success of our arms and
the maintenance of our own honor,
the welfare and happiness and the
rights of the Inhabitants of the Phil
( ippine islands. Did we need their on
sent to perform 2 great act for humani-
ty? We had u in every aspiration of
their minds, IN every hope Of their
hearts. Was it necessary to ask their
consent to capture Manila, the capital
of their islands? Did We ask their con-
sent to liberate them from Spanish
sovereignty or to enter Manila bay n
destroy the Spanish sea power there?
We did not ask these; we were obey
ing a higher moral obligation which
rested on us and which did not require
anybody's consent. We were doing our
duty by them with the consent of our
own conscience and with the approval
of civilization. Every present obliga-
ton has been met and fulfilled in the
expulsion of the Spanish sovereignty
from their islands and while the war
that destroyed it was in progress We
could not ask their views. Nor can we
ask their consent.
Indeed, can any one tell me in what
form it could be marshaled and ascer-
tanned until peace and order, so neceS-
sary to the reign of reason, shall be Sc
cured and established? A reign Of ter
ror is not the kin of rule under which
right action and deliberate judgment
are possible. 1t is not a good time for
the liberator to submit important Ques-
tons concerning liberty and govern
ment to those to be liberated while
they are engaged in shooting down their
r~escuers?
w have now ended the war with
Spain. The treaty has been ratified by
more than two-thirds of the senate of
the United States and in the judgment
of nine-tenths of it's people. No nation
was ever more fortunate in war or
more honorable in peace. 1t remains to
ask what We shall do now. I do not
intrude upon the duties Of ngres or
seek to anticipate or forestall it's ac-
ton. l only say that the treaty Of
peace honorably secured, having been
. ratified by us as We confidently expect
shortly to be ratified in Spain, congress
will have the power and 1 am sure the
purpose to do what in good morals is
right and just n humane for these
people in distant seas.
1.-The future of the Philippines is now
in the hands of the American people.
Until the treaty was ratified or rejected
Il h 90 49, ~ I~-~ 3 49, .&--
eminent could only preserve the peace
and protect life n property. That
treaty now commits the free and en-
franchised Philippines to the guiding
hand and the liberating influences, the
generous Sympathies, the uplifting edu-
cation, not of their American masters,
but of their American emancipators
No one can tell today what is best for
them or for Us. l know no one at this
hour who is wise enough or sufficiently
informed to determine what form of
government will best subserve their in
E~tereSts n our interests, their and our
we'll being. If we knew everything by
intuition and / sometimes think there
are those who believe that while we do
not they dove should not need infor-
nation; but, unfortunately, most of us
are not in that happy state. The whole
subject is now with ongresS and con-
gress is the voice, the conscience and
the judgment OF >he American people.
Upon their judgment n conscience
can we not rely?' believe in them, /
trust them. l know of no better or
safer or more humane tribunal than
the people. Until congress shall direct
otherwise it will be the duty OF the ex-
ecutive to possess and hold the Philip
pines, giving TO the people thereof peace
and order and beneficent government,
affording them opportunity to prose-
cute their lawful pursuits, encouraging
them in thrift and industry. making
them feel and know that we are their
friends, not their enemies; that their
good is our aim, their welfare our well
fare, but that neither their aspirations
nor ours can be realized until our au-
thority is acknowledged and unQues-
toned.
THAT the inhabitants of the Philip
pines will be benefited by this republic
and nv mistaken belief that fbay- uy;ll