Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-02-17

suggestions, first. that they s"v
tossed into the arena OF conlei."o"
the strife of nations; or, secona, VIC
to the anarchy and chaos OF ho Pr
Electorate at all--were too shameiu' ~ oe
considered. The treaty gave rhem ~
the United States.
C.on,a we have requested less AM
done our duty? Could we. after tree-
ing the rflipinos from the domination
of Snain have left them without gov
ernment and without power to protect
life or property or to perform the An-
tarnational obligations essehtidA " al
indenpendent state? Could we nave Ieit
them in a state of anarchy ana Justilieu
ourselves in our own consciences or De-
fore the tribunal of mankind! Could
we have done that in the sight of; God
or man?
| Our concern was not for territory or
trade or empire. but for the people
whose interests and destiny. without
our willing it, had been put into our
hands. II was with this feeling that
from the first day to the last not one
word or line went from the Executive
in Washington to our military and na-
val commanders at Manila or to our
peace commissioners at Paris that did
not put as the sole purpose to be kept
in mind 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
Philippine Islands
| Did we need their consent to perform
a great act of humanity? We had it
in every aspiration Of their minds, in
every hope of their hearts. Was it nee
cssary to ask their consent to capture
Manila, the capital Of their islands?
Did we ask their consent to liberate
them from Spanish sovereignty or to
enter Manila bay and destroy 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
consent We were doing our duty by
them as God gave US the ligh. to see
our duty Great applause and ova-
| tiom with the consent of our own con-
| Every present obligation has been me-
/ and fulfilled IN the expulsion of Spa anish
| sovereignty from their islands and while
| the war that destroyed 1t was in progres !
We could not ask their views. Nor can
We now ask their consent. indeed. can
any one tell me in what form IL could be
marshaled and ascertained peace and or
der, so necessary to the reign of reason,
reign Of terror is not the kind of rule un-
| der which right action and delibera .,
judgment are possible. i; Is not gooi
| time for the liberat0r to submit important
ment to the liberated while they en-
gagged in shooting down their rescuers.
We have now ended the war with SPAN.
The treaty has been ratified by the vote
of more than two-thirds of the Senate at
the United States and by the judgment ~
nlne-tenths % its people. No nation wa
| ever more fortunate in war or more hon
| orabe in it's negotiations in peace. Spain
Is now eliminated from the problem. II
remains to ask what We shall now do,
| do not intrude upon the duties of Con
gress or seek TO anticipate or forestall i1s
action. ! only say that the treaty OF
| peace. honorably secured. having bee1
, ratified by the United States, and, as W.
| confidently expect. shortly to be ratified
| in Spain. Congress will have the power.
and. | am sure, the purpose to do what
in good morals is right and just and hui
| mane for these people in distant seas.
| 1t is sometimes hard TO determine wha
! is best to do. and the best thing To do X
| often the hardest. The prophet of evil
/ would do nothing, because he fiinches a
sacrifice and effort. and to do nothing Is
easiest and involves the least cost. on
those who have things to do there rests
| a responsibility which Is not on thos
who have no obligations as doers. If the
doubters were in a ma aiority. there would.
| IL is true, be no labor. no sacrifice. no
anxiety. and no burden raised or carried
no contribution from our ease and purse
and comfort to the welfare of others. or
even to the extension of our resources to
the welfare of ourselves. There would b.
ease, but. alas. there would be nothing;
done
| But grave problems come in the life Of
a nation. however much men may seek
asking. why We do not know. and it II
| not always given us to know; but tho
generation on which they are forced caa
| not avoid the responsibility of honestly
striving for their solution. We may no
know precisely how to solve them. bu
we can make an honest effort to that end
and if made in conscience, justice an.
| honor 1t will not be in vain.
| The future of the Philippine islands l.
now in the hands of the American people
Until the treaty was ratified or rejected
| the executive department of this govern !.
| ment could only preserve the peace ans
protect life and property. That treaty
now commits the free and enfranchised
F'ilipinos to the guiding hand and the lib
| crstlizing Influences the generous sym.
, pathies. the uplifting education not Of
their American masters, but Of thei' @
| today, what is best for them or for U.S..
| know no one at this hour who is WIS.,
enough or sufficiently informed TO deter.
mine what form of government will bes.
subserve their interests and our interests
/ their and our well-being.
| If we knew everything by intuition
| ana L sometimes tnluk ludt lhciS
| those who believe that If We do not. they
dove should not need information, bu
unfortunately, most of us are not In that
| happy state. This whole subject Is now
with Congress. and Congress is the voice
| the. conscience. and the Judgment OF the
| American people. Upon their judgment
and conscience can we not rely, OeiieVe
| in them. | trust them. ] know OF no bet-
| ter or safer human tribunal than thc
people.
Until Congress shall direct otherwise Il
will be the duty of the Executive TO pos
! sess and hold the Philippines, giving TO
| the people thereof peace and order anu
| beneficent government, aHording theNl
every opportunity to prosecute their law
| FIJI pursuits encouraging them in thrift
| and industry making them feel and know
| that we are their friends, not their enc
/ mics; that their good Is our aim. tha
their welfare is our welfare, but tha
| neither their aspirations nor ours can pc
realized until our authority is acknowl-
| edged and unQuestioned.
That the inhabitants of the PmllPpines
| will he benefited by this republic Is my
unshaken belief. That they will have o
| Ilindlier government under our guidance
and that they will be aided in every pos
| sible way to be a self-respectng ana seit-
| governing people Is as true as that the
|, american people love liberty and have az
| abiding faith in their own government
| and in their own institutions.
| No imperial designs lurk in the Ameri-
can mind. They are allen TO AMERICAN
sentiment. Thought and purpose Ouf
! priceless principles undergo no change
,,o,la,. trnnCal SIM 'InpE go with inc