Morris tribune., 1900-09-22
MKINLEY'S letter ACCEPTING The

On the 18th day Of April, 1898, Congress-
declared that state of war existed betweeH
/ Spain and the United States. On May -
1898, Admiral Dewey destroyed the SPANISH
feet In Manila Bay. On May 10, 1898. Ma59
Gen. Merritt, o. S. A., was placed In conn
mand of the military expedition to Manila
and directed among other things to lmmedia
ately publish proclamation declaring that
we come not to make war upon the people
4 OF the Philippines nor upon any part or fa&
tion among them, but to protect them "a
I their homes, in their employments, and "a
their personal and religious rights. Allspers
sons who, either by active aid or by honest
submission, cooperate with the United
States in its efforts to give effect to this
benefcent purpose will receive the reward
OF its support and protection"
Some Fortunes of War.
On July 3, 1898, the Spanish fleet In atd
tempting to escape from Santiago harbor
was destroyed by the American feet, and on
July II, 1898, the Spanish garrison in the
city Of Santiago surrendered to the coma
mander of the American forces.
Following these brilliant victories, on the
18th day Of August 1898, upon the initiative
of Spain, hostilfties were suspended, and q
protocol was signed with view to arrangd
ing terms of peace between the two govern.
ments. In pursuance thereof appointed as
commissioners the following distinguished
cit5zep5 to conduct the negotiations on the
Fart of the United States: Hon. William r.
Day of Ohio. Hon. William P. Frye oil
Minnesota, Hon. George Gray Of Delaware
and Hon. Whitelaw Reid of New York.
Forced Into Conflict. f.
In addressing the peace commission beforeE
its departure for Paris, / said:
1T is my wish that throughout tine nego-
tiations intrusted to the commission the pur-I
pose and spirit with which the United Statess
accepted the unwelcome necessity Of war;
should be kept constantly in view. WEI
took up arms only in obedience to the die
tates of humanity and the fulilment Of high
public and moral obligations. We had mol
design of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and no ambition
of conquest.
Through the long course Of repeated rep
reservations which preceded and aimed tol
avert the struggle and in the final arbitra-
ment of force this country was impeled sole
ly by the purpose of relieving grievousI
wrongs and removing long existing condi-
lions which disturbed it's tranquility which
shocked the moral sense of mankind and
which could MO, longer be endured.
High Sense Of Dnty.
cit is my earnest wish that the United
States in making peace should follow theI
same high rule Of conduct which guided It
in facing war. 1t should be as scrnpuIousI
and magnanimous in the concluding settle
ment as it was just and humane in it's orig
inal action. = Our aim in the adjust
ment of peace should be directed to lasting
results and to the achievement Of the COM
mon good under the demands of civiliZationI
rather than to ambitious designs.
without any original thought Of complete
or even partial acquisition, the presence and
success of our arms at Manila impose upon
us obligations which we cannot Disregard
The march of events rules and oVerrulea
human action. AVowing unreserVedly the
purpose which has animated all our efforts,
and still solicitous to adhere to 1t. we cane
not be unmindful that without any desire
or design on our part the war has brought
us new duties and responsibilities which we
must meet and discharge as becomes great
nation on whose growth and career, from
the beginning, the Ruler Of Nations has
plainly written the high command and
pledge of civilization
Shirked No Responsibility.
On Oct. %, 1890, while the peace commits
sion was continuing it's negotiations In Paris
the following additional instruction was
sent:
1T is imperative upon us that as victorSI
we should be governed only by motives
which will, exaIt our nation. Territorial ex-
panslon should be our least concern; that
we shall not shirk the moral Obligations OF
our victory is of the greatest,
1T is undisputed that SPANS authority Isl
permanently destroyed in every part of the
Philippines. To leave any part in her feeble
control now would increase our difficulties
aud be opposed to the interests Of humans
ity. Nor can we permit Spain to
transfer any OF the islands to another
power. Nor can we invite another power
or powers to join the United States in SOW
ereignty ever them. We must either hold
them or turn them back to Spain.
Only One Honorable Course.
Consequently, grave as are the RESPONSE
bilities and unforeseen as are the dificuJ-
ties which are before US, the President can
see but one plain path of duty, the accept
and more serious complications administers
tive and international-would follow any
other course.
THE President has given to the views Of
the commissioners the fullest consideration,
and in reaching the conclusion above an
nounced, in the light Of information COM
munieated to the commission and to the
President since your departure he has been
Influenced by the single consideration Of
duty and humanity. The President is mott
unmindfuI of the distressed financial condi-
ton of Spain. and whatever consideration
the United States may show must come
from its sense Of generosity and benevol-
ence rather than from any real or technical
obligation
Could Not Abandon Them.
Again, on Nov. 49, instructed the COM
mission:
From the standpoint Of indemnity, both
the archipelagoes porto Rico and the Phil
ippines) are insufficient to pay our war ex-
penses, but aside from this, do we not owel
an obligation to the people of the Philip
pines which will not permit us to returnl