The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-10-13

Iuef uegOClaClOnS TO aVOlQ war, ana
President Mckinley replied:
'"The government of the United
States appreciates the humanitarian
and disinterested character of the
communication now made on behalf Of
the powers named, and for its part is
confident that equal appreciation will
be shown for it's own disinterested and
unselfish endeavors to fulfill duty to
humanity by ending situation the in
definite prolongation of which has be-
come insufferable."
These official declarations Of con-
gress and the president announced to
the world that Spain had forfeited her
sovereignty in Cuba by her abuse Of
power. The statement in the joint
resolution that "the people of the ISL
and of Cuba are free and independent
can mean nothing else. The resolution
Of congress did not free the Cubans-
it recognized the fact that the SOW
ereignty of Spain had ceased. She was
still in actual possession and control Of
Cuba more than the United States has
ever been of the Philippines, but her
oppression had terminated her legal
title.
Not only, therefore, did the United
States as nation stand bound by it's
whole history to befriend men strug-
Cling for freedom, but with the facts
of this particular case before it it had
declared that Spain had no title to Gu
ba, and that our ''duty to humanity
compelled us to insist upon her with
drawal. Any one dealing with this
country had a right to rely upon this
position, not taken by subordinates,
but asserted by the government itself
i'll accordance with all our national ira
ditions and with popular approval.
Can anyone say in what respect the
case of the Philippine islands differed
from that Of Cuba? If oppression fol-
lowed by unsuccessful instruction
and cruel attempts to suppress it ter
minated Spain's title in Cuba, why did
not the same results follow in the
Philippines? If the Cubans were
"free and Independent" why were not
the Filipinos equally so?
Certainly there was nothing in the
character Of the two peoples which
could make difference Upon this
point the testimony is abundant.
On June %, 1898, Admiral Dewey
te]egraphed the navy department. from
Manila: ''These people are far su6arx
ior III their intelligence and more capa-
bic OF self-government than the natives
of Cuba, and am familiar with both
races" On Aug. 90 he repeated this.
adding: Further intercourse. with
them has confirmed me in that opin-
ion."
General Lawton said to Chaplain
McQueen:
"Among the Filipinos there are
many cultured people who would orna-
ment society anywhere in the world.
Take them as a class, there
can as many of them read and write
as the inhabitants in many places in
America.
Cali these people need for self-gov-
eminent is the protection of our troops
till affairs have quieted, and then they
will. ! have no doubt, advance as rap
idly us the Japanese, perhaps more
rapidly. I am very well impressed
with the Filipinos."
In January, 1899, Mr.. John Barrett
wrote of Aguinaldo:
HE has organized government
which has practically been administer
ing the affairs of that great island
since the American occupation of Ma
Mia, and which is certainly better than
the. former administration; he has O.
formed cabinet and congress.
the members of which in appearance
and manners would compare favorably
with Japanese statesmen. He has
among advisers men of acknowledged
ability as international lawyers, while
his supporters include most of the
prominent and wealthy natives, all of
which prove possibilities of self-gov-
efnment Which we must consider
says Senator Hoar, after carefully
reading the evidence, including dis
patches from General Otis withheld
from public knowledge"
They established beyond reason
able doubt clearly that they were fit
for independence. They were
better fitted for government than
any country on the American CONT
nent south of us, from the Rio Grande
to Cape Horn. y They are
now as fit for self-government as was
Japan when she was welcomed into !,
the family Of nations.''
Ihls testimony, which might be null :
tlpiled, all comes from sources favor
able to the president and can hardly
~ i0S'etoAiCu. Liz rlllpllOS were at
least as fit for freedom as the Cubans
as tit as most men.
When, therefore, the United States,
asserting the doctrine that Spain by
misrule had lost her title to her colon
les, in the course of its .'unselfish en-
leavors to fulfill a duty to humanity
and destroyed the Spanish
fleet at Manila, had not every one the 4
right to suppose that she would give
The Filipinos their independence? Was
it possible for government to make
it's benevolent intention clearer than
had the United States?
Judge Weber of New Ulm is hold
Ing, court in the Office of Thomas Knee
land in the Oneida block, having been
appointed by Governor Lind to hear an
important land contest that originated
in Big Stone and Traverse counties.
1t is an action in ejectment brought
by Archbishop Ireland through his Sec
rotary, John P. O'Connor, against a
large number of homestead settlers in
the two counties named. Archbishop