Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-17

interests and destiny, without our willing
| il, had been put in our hands. il was with
/ this feeling that from the first day to the
last not word or line went from the
executive in Washington to our military
and naval commanders at Manila, or to cur
| peace commissioners at Paris that did not
| put as the sole purpose TO be kept in mind.
1 first, after the success Of our arms and the
| maintenance of.our own honor. the welfare
and happiness land the rights of the inhah-
| itants of the Philippine Islands,
| Did we need their consent to perform
| great act for humanity? We had il ia every
inspiration of their minds. in every hope of
/ their hearts Was it Necessary to ask their
consent to capture Manila, the capital of
| their Islands? Did we ask their consent 10
liierate them from Spanish sovereignty, or
| to enter Manila bay and destroy the Span
ish sea power there? We did not ask these;
we were obeying a higher moral obligation,
which rested on us and which did not re
quire anybody's consent.
I'VE wera doing our duty by them with
the consent of our own conscience and With
| the approval of civilization. Every present
obligation has been met and fulfilled IN she
expulsion of Spanish sovereignty from their
islands, and while the war that destroyed it
was in progress, we could not ask their
views Nor can we now ask their consent
Peace Must Come First.
Indeed, can any one tell me in what
form it could be marshaled and ascer-
to reign OF reason, shall be secured and
established? a reign of terror is not the
kind of rule under which right action and
deliberate judgment are possible. 1t is not
good time for the liberator to submit i'm
pGrtant questions concerning liberty and
government to the liberated while they are
engaged in shooting down their rescuers.
I'VE have now ended the war with Spain.
The treaty has been ratified by more thar
two-thirds of the Senate of the United
States, and by the judgment of nine-tenths
OF Its people. No ma CiOn was ever more
fortunate in war or mora honorable in ne
sotiations in peace. Spain is now elimi-
mated from the problem. 1t remains to ask
what shall do now
Il do not intrude lIpon the duties Of Con-
gress, or seek to anticipate or foTestall its
action 1 only say that the treaty of peace,
hcnoFabiy Secured, having been ratified by
the United States. and, confidently
expect shortly to be ratified IN Spain, Con-
SreSS will have the power and, / am sure.
the purpose, to do what in good morals is
right and just and humane for these peo-
pies in distant seas.
1t is sometimes hard to determine what
is best to do, and the best thing to co is
oftentimes the hardest. The prophet of
evil would do nothing, because he finches
at sacrifice and effort, and to do nothing is
easiest and involves the least cost. On
these who have things to do there rests a
responsibility which is not on those who
have no obligations as doer.
If the Douhters Had sway
III the douhters were in majority there
would. 1t is true. be no labor no sacrifice.
no anxiety and no burden raised OF carried
no contribution from our ease and nurse
and comfort to the welfare OF others or
even to the extension Of our resources to
the welfare of ourselves. There would he
ease, but. alas, there would be nothing done.
But grave problems come in the life of
a nation, however much men may seek to
avoid them. They come without our seek
ing; why. do not know and it is not
always given to us to know: but the gener-
alton on which they are forced cannot avoid
the responsibility of honestly striving for
their solution. We may not know precisely
how to solve them bur we can make an
honest effort to that end and if made in
conscience, justice and honor. ii will not
be in vain.
The future of the Philippine Islands is
now in the hands of the American people
lnul the treaty ratified or rejected
the executive department of this govern
ment could only preserve the peace and
protect lie and properly. That treaty
now commits the free and enfranchised FIJI
iDinos TO the guiding hand and the liber-
2fiZing influences, the generous Sympathias
the uplifting education. not of their Amer
lean masters, but Of their American eman-
cipatorS.
NO one can tell today what is best for
them or for US know no at this hour
who is wise enough or sufficiently Informed
to determine what form of government will
best subserve their interests and our inter
ests, their and our weIl-being.
Question Left to Congress.
IF We knew everything by intuition
and sometimes / think there are those who
believe that if We do not they dove
should not need information: but unfortu-
nately most of us not in that happy
state. The whole subject is now with Con-
gress, and Congress is the voice the con-
Sri nd th.a Undo Of f.,,
people. Upon their judgment and con-
science can We not rely? l believe in them
| trust them. | know of no better or safer
human tribunal than the people.
Until Congress shall direct otherwise ii
will be the duty of the executive to possess
and hold the Philippines, giving to the
people thereof peace and order and benefi-
cent government. affording them every OPP
portunity to prosecute their lawful pursuits
encouraging them in thrift and industry.
making them feel and know that we are
their friends not their enemies: that their
good is our aim; that their welfare is our
welfare but that neither their aspirations
nor ours can be realized until our authority
IS acknowledged and unquestioned
That the Inhabitants of the Philippines
will be benefited by this republic is my UNI
shaken belief, that they will have kind
Her government under our guidance and
that they will be aided in every possible
way to be self-respecting and self-govern-
ing people is as true as that the American
people love liberty and have an abiding
faith in their own government and in their
own institutions
No Thought of imperialism.
mo imperial designs Iurk in the Ameri-
can mind. They are alien to American SEN
timent, thought and purpose Our priceless
principles undergo no change under a trop-
ical sun. They go with the fiat:
why read We not the changeless truth
The free can conquer but to Save?'
eff VI
who will object? If in the years of the fu-
ture they are established in government I'M
der law and liberty. who will regret our
perils and sacrifices? Who will not rejoice
IN our heroism and humanity? Always
perils, and always after them safety; al
ways darkness and clouds, but always Shin
ing through them the light and the sun