The times., 1899-05-26

Again. felow-citizens, the United States
| acquires no territory by conquest and
wages no war Of grand larceny for the
| criminal seizure of domain. When Spain
and her army and navy lay PROSTATE and
helpless before cur forces. powerless to re-
| sist any demand which we might have
made. we re-established peace and made
an amicable settlement of our differences;
! gave to Spain fair compensation in money
| for the transfer of sovereignty of the
| Philippines; at the earliest moment re-
! sumed peaceful relations with our de-
| feated enemy, and diplomatic intercourse
were again restored at once
| Before the war with Spain was over
and peace was declared, but after the IN
exampled victory in the destruction of the
! Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila by
the gallant Dewey, and the capture of the
| fort and city by our Army and Navy
| Aguinaldo usurped the control Of the in
surgent forces declared himself dictator Of
| the Philippine Islands and without excuse
| assaulted our Army and has since dis
| puted the authority of The United States
| in the islands, and has made it necessary
in defence of the honor and right of
| our nation to take possession of the archi-
pelago, peaceably if We can, forcibly it we
must.
I'VE became engaged in war with Spain
on account of Cuba. We pledged ourselves
to the world that we would hold Cuba until
We could give her an organized govern
ment. In other words, until We could give
Cuba a stable government The war went
on Porto Rico fell into our hands. ON
the memorable lst of May-Dewey Day
| that gallant, glorious hero and patriot
with his fleet of ships and brave officers
and men. destroyed the Spanish fleet.
| Finally, the Army and Navy captured lie
| fort and city and raised the Stars and
| Stripes They say that was glorious vic
| tory, but if Dewey had only come away
after destroying the Spanish feet. how
much better it would have been. If Dewey
had come away, the war would not have
! been ended with Spain in August, and pos
| siby not at this hour. Spain was struck
where she did not expect it, and while
Spain was fighting to retain Cuba her
power was broken when the United States
captured the Philippines. While Spain was
| trying to hold Cuba with a million and
| half of starving people in it, the United
! States took from her the Philippines and
Porto Rico with ten millions of people,
/ which resulted in the surrender of Cuba.
When the proper time arrives, in tEe
next Congress or the one to follow, Con
gress and the President VIII agree on such
policy as it may be deemed wisest and
best for the government of the Philip
pines by the establishment of such
| scheme of government as may be deeme
best adapted to their condition and to in
sure their greatest welfare. The United
States has always exercised its power in
providing such government for its new
ly acquired territories as it deemed best in
the interest OF good order and the welfare
OF the people OF the territory.
Our country is in no danger while the
fires of patriotism are kept alive upon the
l.. sfa lion,
to the welfare and perDetuity of our coun-
try will inspire an honest purpose to 90
right in all the duties of citizenship The
honor OF the nation is the first considera-
ton by its citizens and by its rulers. Its
status among the nations must always be
guarded. This is a country of law and
| liberty.
There need be no fear that the
justice of our people will ever permit any
policy of tyranny to be established any
| where under the shadow OF the American
] flag