Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-06-01

of the nation's great achievement. How
to harmonic the two in our present sit
uation seems to be the perplexing question
before those who are bcwaiing our later
achievements and because they honestly
believe these two influences are out of
harmony, because they fear that the val
idity Of principle may be sacrificed they
look to the future with those misEivings
which have been and are expressed 30
freely in our midst. That they are honest,
and that their opinions can be sustained
with many valid arguments | do not deny.
That we are in the midst of dangers that
we are making sacrifices the lustfca ton
of which demand great results is evident
to anyone but still / refuse to Join the
doubling column
Gathered with you to-day are some OF
the men who one year ago were in their
country's service not as the servants of
American greed but as expressed by the
people through their representatives. be-
cause the abhorrent conditions which
have existed for more than three years in
I the island of Cuba, have shocked the NOR
al sense of the people of the United States.
/ have been disgrace to Christian civiliz-
alton. eliminating 9s they have in the
destruction Of United States battleship,
with 300 of its officers and crew ''t* and
cannot longer be endured" You under
stand all the other conditions OF that SER
vice and 1t was generally conceded to be
as high n test of the morality of the peo-
! pie has ever been made The demand
that Spain withdraw from Cuba was ac-
cepted by all people as right. We have ex-
ulted in the vitality and growth of the in
federation OF moral wrong which still en-
lists in the American heart but are divided
over the final result in the retention of tho
Philippines.
l cannot agree with those who can see
no commercial advantage in our Pacific
possessions. | have already called your
attention to the immense trade that we
! have won in China ana Japan. No nation
but England carries on a trade there that
oAceeds ours or in fact that approaches It
la volume. These markets have been won
in open competition and are by all laws
of trade ours. In no other section of the
world are there such possibilities for the
future development of American trade rs
in the East That great section has simp-
ly been touched by the powerful impulse
of steam and the railroad The necessi-
ties of civilization have just begun to be
felt there but the next quarter of a cen
fury will see a great MULTIPLICATION OF
these demands With path across the
Pacific in our possession. and with the
Atlantic Joined to the Pacific in Nicara
qua the products of American industry and
enterprise should he without a successful
competitor in that land of promise. So
esteem 1T especially fortunate that We
, have another New Orleans to place at the
service of our Asiatic trade.
But 1t is not from a commercial but a
= moral and political standpoint that the
most strenuous opposition comes You are
so familiar with arguments on this point
= that l need not repeat them. So I viii
= simply present my justification Of the
course of the American government in the
east. The declaration of war against
Spain needs no defence Everybody con
7 cedes that 1t was right With war declar
ed what other course except that pursued
Q was open to us? Who believes he coulc
have improved Deweys performance o
I duty in the east? In arranging the proto
col and the treaty of peace America treat
; ed with the only authority it or any othe
i civilized people had ever recognized il
Q those islagds-the Spanish government
+ and paid a liberal sum for the transfer o
its authority to the American people
: Before that supremacy was transferred
d we were asked to recognize another sU
: preme power there and because it was no
. done the most serious criticism o
II the administration has been made
= on the island be treated wit
: simultaneously? The only proper cours
= for Aguinaldo and his followers was /
y wait until the United States had close
" its negotiations with Spain and then W
r would have been free to treat with Their
u as peers or loyal subjects but they wer
!, neither until that was accomplished. Blu
u while some mon, from a high sense 0
! duty, were lauding and extollng Fillpin
u virtues and demanding for them IN
. greatest privileges that civilization ca
% bestow they proved themselves entirel
unworthy of that gift by opeeng fire o.
the Americans In this crisis the Amer
70 can government took the only action tn
~ situation would allow and will continu
y that line of action until American supren
>, acy is recognized throughout the archpe
u ago. | see no other honorable alternativ
=, Because we are supreme we babe Spal
=. to lift its hand of oppression from tn
tropical islands of our southern sea an
> promised the Inhabitants thereof a stab
. and just form of government. forced con
. pliance to the demand and are giving
:. our wealth and manhood in the fulfil
- ment Of our promise; and as a snpren
!, power with a Dewey in their harbor,
u wise and just leader on their shores
commission OF our wisest and bravest I'VE
, in their midst studying their condition
:, and needs we have asked by proclamatio
~ the Fillpinos 10 follow the paths of peac
- learn the ways of Justice. pursue prof
=, able avocations develop their internal =,
- sources cultivate the manners of civiliz5
~ ton, acquire the advantages of educatio
~ and prepare themselves for the duties
20 citizenship, that they may take ran
- among the enlightened and progressN
10 peoples of the earth and enjoy the AZ
a. telligence can bring. The condition upo
- which these benefits are offered is III;
-. the same supremacy which has accon
- plished so much in the past for other PEI
- pies shall be recognized by them, but til
- condition Is accompanied 10y the prom
~. Use that they shall be allowed the mos
. ample liberty, a guaranty of civil right
-. freedom of religion and self govenmcl
.e so far as compatible with safety and ST,
~ bility.
" To some this condition reveals nothir
but danger and they can see no virtue
the promise. To give validity to tn;
W promise they sec the necessity of sacrifi,
~ and are not willing to meet its cost ar
80 suggest the withdrawal TO a single 20
- to be used in the interests of America
10 commerce. Can such a course be sati
factory from any standpoint? The will
se drawal OF the American people to a sing
VI port where our shipping would have
~ haven means an armed port with its gui
III pointed towards the Fflipinos well
r other peoples. To them 1t could only mea
is a place from which they are disbarrt
90 Continued on 4th page)
Il.