The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-26
SCHURMAN AND LONG
SPEECHES BY TWO DISTINGUISHED,
PATRIOTIC AMERICANS.
Both Defend the Administrations Pol
ley Towards the Philippines
boutwell, Scores Mckinley.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 25.-The Union
League celebrated the thirty-sixth anniver-
sary of its founding by a banquet at the
clubhouse tonight. John d. Long, secre-
tary of the navy, and Jacob Gould Schur-
man, president of Cornell University, and
president of the Philippine commission,
were the guests Of honor and principal
speakers.
Professor Schurman, in his address, said
the American flag had been planted in the
Philippines and was there to stay. Continu-
ing, he said: when the President of the
United States, greatly to my surprise, gave
me the honor of asking me to go to the
Philippines as the head of this commission,
1 said, Mr.. President. 1 am not the man
to go. / do not believe in the acquisition
Of the Philippine islands. ! have spoken
against 1T and written against it, But the
President explained to ne that he himself
and his government had not desired orig
inally to take the Philippine islands, and
the protocol had left him free to leave the
islands elsewhere, but as time went on and
events developed it became perfectly OBJ
vious to him that, unwillingly, he was
obliged to take them.
This is the condition which confronts us,
whether We want it or not 1 believe in the
freedom Of the human will. Men may init
ate events within certain limits. but there is
a larger power than a human will that
takes charge OF events as soon as they have
been launched on the sea of action, and
then they are beyond human control. We
willed the war with Spain and were free to
have it otherwise, but, having willed the
war, we were not free 10 avoid the circum-
stances which that series Of actions in
volved, and what has the government of
the United States been doing? We find our
selves, greatly to our surprise, confronted
with one who apparently had been willing
to cooperate with US in the destruction of
the Spanish power in the Philippines as
claiming to be the head not only of the
army, but of an Independent government.
He demanded of US that We leave the
Islands under his autocratic charge so that
he and his Tagal supporters might do in the
name, forsooth, of liberty and independence
what seemed good TO them. In other words,
toa dis s;SoS;eVo Of 1 tbe des Mnfe 20 OF n s.go 0m5 d 1fger
Filipinos, but We said, in the name Of our
Nation and in the name OF God and right
liberty and will eventually bring prosperity
to Cuba, so also shall we bring order and
peace and in their train good government
TO all the inhabitants of the Philippine
Hon. John D. Long, secretary of the navy.
on being introduced, described the great
popular demonstration which he had wit
Vice President Hobart. when the late neigh
bors of the distinguished statesman had evt-
denced their sorrow and respect for his
memory. He said. Let US congratulate
ourselves upon the condition in which the
country now is under the present admins
tration of affairs. the admirable condition
Of its industries and its business. Tell me
what there is you would have otherwise
than 1t is, what principle of government you
would have enforced that is not to-day in
force, what line of development you would
seek that is net the line on which your
government is now proceeding.
with regard to the Philippine question.
it occurs to ask whether or not, some thirty
years from now, somebody may not rise In
this hall and say: I remember that In lss9
there were excellent people who said the
despotisms OF the old world were as nothing
compared with the tyranny OF William Nc
kinley.' All. my friend thirty years from
now not only will our people be rejoicing In
the humanity and the generous spirit which
has animated this administration in its at
titude towards the Philippines in giving
them the blessings of good government. but
the next generation OF the inhabitants OF
these islands will recall the establishment
among them Of the schools. the institutions
OF liberty, and will thank God that under
the shelter of the broad shield OF the United
states they find realization OF their dream
of a larger liberty in becoming American
citizens. If Imperialism means the suD1uSa-
ton of a people or the deprivation OF their
rights, then there Is not an imperiallst IN
the length and breadth Of our land: but II
imperialism means the extension OF the
American institution among those people
who have come under the shield OF the
United states, then We are all imperiaiists.
Il believe that If there ever was a time In
the history OF our country, which has been
adorned by the lives and services OF the
men whose pictures hang upon your walls.
whose territory IL q progress OF q nunore'