The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-12-13
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
History OF Their Purchase, the Insur-
rection and McKinley's Recommon-
datiOne

History OF Their Purchase. the Insur-
rection and McKinley's Recommon.
dations.
On the 10th OF December, 1898, the
treaty OF peace between the United
States and Spain was signed. 1t pro.
vided among other things that Spain
should deed to the United States the
archipelago known as the Philippine
Islands, that the United States should
pay to Spain tho sum of twenty mil
lions OF dollars, and that the civil right
and political status OF the native In
habltants OF tho territories thus ceded
to the United should be determined by
the Congress. The treaty was ratified
by the Senate On the 9th OF February,
1899, and by the government OF Spain
on the 18th OF March following. The
ratlhcatiohs we're exchanged on the
llth OF April, and the treaty publicly
proclaimed. On the I'd of March the
Congress voted the sum contemplated
by tho treaty and the amount was paid
over to tho Spanish government on
the lat OF May. In this manner the
philippines came to the United States.
The Islands were coded by the govern
ment OF Spain, which had been in un-
disputed possession OF them for centu-
rles. They were accepted not merely
by our authorized agents In Paris un-
der the direction of the executive, but
by the constitutional and we'll consider
ed action OF the representatives OF the
people In both houses Of Congress.
had every reason to believe and still
believe that this transfer of soyereipntv
was In accordance with tho wishes and
aspirations OF the great masses of the
Philippine people.
From the earliest moment, no oppor-
tunity was lost Of assuring the people
OF the Islands Of our ardent desire for
their welfare and Of the intention of
this government to do everything DOS
sible to advance their interests. In
my order OF the 10th OF May, 1893, the
commander OF the military expedition
dispatched to the Philippines was in
| structed to declare that we came not
to make war upon the people Of that
country, NOR upon any party or fac
tion among them, but to protect them
in their homes, In their employments
and In their personal and religious
rights u; that there should be no doubt
as to the paramount authority there
on the 18th OF August it was directed
that there must be no Joint occups.
tion with the insurgents that the
United States must preserve the peace
and protect persons and property with
the territory occupied by their military
and naval forces; that the insurgents
and all others must recognize the mill
tary occupation and authority OF the
United States" As early as Decem.
ber Nth, before the cession and In anti
cipat'on OF that event, the commander
In Manila was urged to restore peac,
and tranquility and undertake the es
tablishment OF beneficent govern
ment which should afford the fulles
security to life and property.
On the 21st of December, after tn,
treaty wss signed, the commander o
the forces OF occupation was instructed
ITO announce and proclaim In the mos
public manner that we came, not q
/ invaders and conquerors, but as friendl
to protect the natives In their home,
, In their employments and In their pei
: sonal and religious rights"
3 On the same day, whilo orderin
General Otis to SEQ that the peac
I should be preserved in Iloilo, he wa
0 admonished that 1t Is most i'm portar
that there should be no conflict wit
i the insurgents. On the let day
January, 1899, urgent orders were rel
/, Grated that the kindly Intentions
). this government should be in ever
s possible way communicated to the II
i Burgents. On the 21st OF January,
l announced my intention OF dispatchin
y TO Manila O coramiss,Ua vi composed
o three gentlemen of tho highest cha
s acter and distinction, th oroughly a
. quatnted with tho Orient, who In ass
., citation with Admiral Dewey, and M
y jor General Otis, were instructed (
n "facilitate the mOst humane and q