The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-17

consent. We were doing our duty by
them as God gave us the light 10 see our
duty. with the consent of our own con-
sciences and with the approval OF civil
ization. Every present obligation has
been met and fulfilled in the expulsion
OF Spanish sovereignty from their ISL
ands. and while the war that destroyed
IL was In progress we could not ask their
views. Nor can we now ask their con-
sent. Indeed. can anyone tell me In what
form II could be marshaled and ascer-
tained until peace and order, so neces-
sary 10 the reign OF reason. shall be Sc
cured and established? A reign Of terror
is not.the kind OF rule under which right
action and deliberate judgment are pos
sible. IT is not a good time for the liberia
tor 10 submit important questions con-
cerning liberty and government to the
liberated while they are engaged In
shooting down their rescuers.
We have now ended the war with Spain.
The treaty has been ratified by the votes
OF more than two-thirds Of the senate OF
the United States and by the judgment
OF nlne-tenths OF its people. No nation
was ever more fortunate I'm war or more
honorable I'm it's negotiations i'm peace.
Spain is now eliminated from the prob
lem. II remains TO ask what we shall
now do. do not intrude upon the duties
OF congress or seek TO anticipate or fore
stall its action. l only say that the treaty
OF peace. honorably secured. having been
ratified by the United States, and, as we
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
name for these peoples In distant seas.
1t is sometimes hard 10 determine what
Is best to do. and the best thing 10 do
is oftentimes the hardest. The prophet
of evil would do nothing because he
fiinches at sacrifice and effort and TO do
nothing is easiest and involves the least
cost. on those who have things 10 do
there rests a responsibility which is not
on those who have no obligations as
doers. III the doubters were in a ma
jority. 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 10 the
welfare of others. or even to the exten-
sion OF our resources 10 the welfare of
ourselves. There would be 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
seeking. why we do not know, and il is
not always given us to know; but the
generation on which they are forced can
rot avoid the responsibility of honestly
striving fer their solution. We may not
know precisely how TO solve them. but
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 I'm the hands OF the American
people. Until the treaty was ratified or
rejected the executive department of
this government could not preserve the
peace and protect life and property
That treaty now commits the free and
snfranchised Filipinos to the guiding
hand and the liberating influences. the
generous sympathies, the uplifting edu-
cation. not of the American masters.
but of their American mancipators.
No one can tell today what is best for
them or for us. ] know no one at this
hour who is wise enough or sufficiently
informed to determine what form of
government will best suhserve their
interests and our interests, their and our
well-being.
II we knew everything by intuition
and | sometimes think that there are
those who believe that II we do not. they
dove should not need information:
but 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? ] believe In them, trust them.
know OF no better or safer human
tribunal than the people
Until congress shall direct otherwise.
Il Will be the duty OF the executive TO
possess and hold the Philippines. giving
10 the people thereof peace and order
and benencent government, affording
them every opportunity TO prosecute
their lawful pursuits, encoura ging 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 acknowl-
edged and unquestioned.
No imperial designs lurk in the Amerl-
can mind. They are alien to American
sentiment t"or~ht and purpose. Our