The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-06
suoclnl pl.pntch to tho InteIl!renesr

Special DitphlCn 10 tlle lHAelHEeHNeA'
WASHINGTON, June g. Senator
Scott. OF West Virginia this afternoon
took part in the debate In the senate
ON the policy OF this government in
the insular possessions, particularly in
the Philippines. His speech was brief
but carefully prepared revision of the
conditions existing from the outset Of
American rule In the islands. He said
in part:
Mr.. Presldent-when We consider the
magnitude OF the question now under
consideration, the fact that. lndepend-
ent Of the 100000 OF people OF this
country, some 100000 OF other peoples,
now subject to our dominion and con-
troll, are Interested, We can readily ac-
count for the many conflicting views
presented. II, however, we Will but
realize that we are not confronted with
mere theoretical question Of govern
ment. but an actual existing state Of
AFFAIRS, and one which, whether desIr-
able or undesirable. pleasant or I'M
pleasant, We nra forced to meet there
should be no serious differences rs to
our duty in the premises. 1t VIII serve
no good purpose TO discuss whnt should
or ought to have been done. That be-
longs to the past. II is to the present
that we should address ourselves.
II will not be out Of place, however,
In reaching an intelligent conclusion
as to our present and future duty, to
reflect for u moment on the circum-
stances leading to our present rela-
lions with the Philippine Islands. why
are we confronted with the problem
ut all? Was It one Of our own seek
ing, or one leGitlmately thrust upon
uB2 Americans are familiar with the
facta leading up to and forcing this
country to declare war against the
Spanish government. Not only did
Spain violate its plnIncst duty to It's
own people. but right at our door 1t
CAUSED and permitted such cruel out
RACES to be committed us TO shock
the civilized world and make 1t our
manifest duty in the interest OF those
cruelty oppressed. to lntcrcede In their
behalf. No other nation could prop
erly have interviewed. and the Chris
tIan people OF every country. with
practical unantmtty, demanded that the
barbarity and cruelty then being prac-
tlced, should be brought to n speedy
end.
This shocking condition was Of long
Standing and our action cannot be said
to have been hastily taken. Every rea-
sonable means was exhausted before
resort to arms was had; appeals were
made, warnings given, postponements
had. looking to changed condition OF
nfialrs. but all to no purpose. After
cxhnustlng every effort to change these
conditions, matters apparently grew
worse. until our own battlaship, law
fully within Spanish hnrbor, was de-
stroyed and the lives Of hundreds OF
our brave scameH lost. That war nat
urally resulted in what might have
been expected. The business OF that
war is no more questioned chan that
It's success was complete and over
whelmlng. AS the result, our present
relations In reference to Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines arise.
Whatever limitations exist MS TO the
title and Sovereignty OF this govern
ment over Cuba arise solely from the
declared purposes embodied in the dec
laratlon Of war. In tho absence Of
such conditions no one could be found
to controvert the fact that the result
OF this war. short and decisive as It was
gave to this country undlsputed SOW
cretgnty over cuba.
Our Title Complete.
That we shall faithfully carry out our
pledges "a nation In that regard I
doubt not; but the fact that the condi-
ton exists as to the Island, on account
of which the conflict arose, bus empha-
sizes the fact that as to any other ter
rltory or property OF the vanquIshed
power, our title IL complete and our au-
thority Bupramc Porto Rico and the
philippines belong to us IA thu legitI-
mate result Of conquest, There is no
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