The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-20

yesterday. the 18th Of June, municipal cleo
tons were held all through the island, as
the first and preliminary step towards the
establishment OF a national government
and the adoption OF a constitution.
THE FRAUDS IN CUBA.
And In this connection IL is fitting 10 say
that the populations and frauds committed
In Cuba by subordinate officials have made
every American blush with shame. and un-
til the last OF the guilty men IS arrested
and convicted and sentenced that shame
will know no abatement. IL II no more 10
be charged to the party than would a theft
by a trusted employe be charged against
the character OF the merchant who en-
ployed him.. The party that shields and pro-
tects dishonest officials ~forfeits public con-
hdence. not the party that exposes and pun
ishes them. The Republican party has been
rarely the victim OF misplaced confidence I'm
its officials. In this instance the appoint
ments were made with the greatest care,
many OF them from the classified service.
Whenever fraud has been discovered the
guilty have been pursued uusparingly and
with the greatest publicity. So has IL been
with these thieving ~postoffice officials. 50
has IL been always. In the vast aggregate
OF business transacted by the government
the dishonest man is rare. and his detec-
ton certain. The great humiliation Is that
the thefts were from the people OF an
island towards whom we sustain a hdu-
ciary relation. and whose confidence we
ask. That this government makes good
the loss Is not enough. and perhaps the les
son has not been I'm vain II II snail serve to
stimulate US TO even greater care In deal
Ing with these people for whom we have
poured out our blood and treasure, and
whom We hope some day 10 welcome on
terms OF closest friendship as citizens OF a
sister republic.
We are dealing with Cuba in a spirit not
only of fairness, but of generosity and OF
absolute unselhshness, and whenever the
inhabitants OF that island evince and de-
clare their ability TO take over its gov
nme and control. that day they shall
receive IL; and until then we shall continue
to administer its affairs under a rule salu-
tary and satisfactory TO all good citizens In
Cuba and creditable TO the administration
at Washington under whose orders the
government is conducted.
AMERICANS PEACEABLE.
Had there been no wal with Spain this
Republic, inclined by principle and instinct
and tradition to peaceful ways, would have
continued the development of our national
resources and character within its existing
borders. content I'm the future. as through
out the century just ending, with that path
of national duty. We are not a wariike or
a quarrelsome people. We have never COW
eted the possessions of foreign principali-
ties. and land lust is unknown among u.s.
4 we WOulQ uSQl 10 the Qcdln 10 DfoltCl IuIL
which is rightfully ours; to avenge a wrong
sought to be perpetrated upon ur. and TO
guard this hemisphere from any attempt
by foreign powers TO further extend their
rule over its soil. This has been our creed.
and We have looked forward with hope and
with confidence TO the time when these
uon nisna Static Static , iyins su between ssa r sas two 70
the earth, not by right OF the sword. but
because the character and high intelligence
of our people and the marvellous resources
A NJ nrrE naNnfR nrnar1A annhfn sc Ia rA4a
peaceful rivalry of mme TO dominate
eventually the markets OF the world. To
that end we had, for more than a hundred
years, held ourselves aloof from foreign
complications, and sought TO make our
selves strong from within with no thought
Of colonial conquest
The future of nations, however, like the
future Of man. is hid from mortal vision.
and, no more than man may a nation
choose its own duties. When this war
ended and we faced our victory in its COM
pleteness, we found eight millions OF people
living upon uncounted islands delivered In
to our hands. Abandonment of them would
be confession that while the oppression
by Spain OF a million and a half OF Cubans
demanded our armed interference, greater
barbarity and cruelty to millions OF Fill
ipinos, less able TO protect themselves. was
a subject Of no concern TO US. No civ
ilized nation in the world. no Christian
nation. could have turned these people
back TO Spain. Our commissioners. when
Philippines, voiced the and
wishes of the American people: and this
Nation has assumed with open eyes and
with full realization OF the difficulties
which may be encountered. the grave re-
sponsibilities imposed upon us by the treaty
of Paris.
PHILIPPINES TO BE RETAINED.
We are told that the islands are rich
in all the products Of the tropics. in min
eral wealth, and in the possibilities of their
future development. So much the bet
ter. But IL they were as barren as the
Libyan desert we would nave taken them
just the same. We haven't been there
long. but long enough to reach two con-
illusions: One is that the first thing we
intend doing is TO suppress the Tagal
der throughout the archipelago. That 10
the first thing we shall do. And the last.
the very last thing we intend doing. Is 10
| consider. even for a moment, the question
| of giving up or OF abandoning these islands
We are actually owners of the Philip
pines by an undisputed and indubItable
title. We are there as the necessary and
logical outcome Of our victory over Spain.
| There are upwards Of a thousand islands
sprinkled upon that Southern sea, peopled
by more than eighty tribes or differing
race and language, and having absolutely
nothing in common with each other. Most
Of these tribes welcome our coming and
are grateful for our protection The Tagal
tribe, hostile not only TO US. but &c most
OF the native tribes, are In Instruction
| against our authority. They have neither
a government nor the capacity TO conduct
one. and are waging a predatory guerrilla
warfare which would be turned against
the other native tribes IL we let them
alone. What would the Democracy have
us do? Give them up 10 rapine and blood
shed, and leave the islands as fiotsam and
jetsam on the face of the waters? There
are parallels in our own history. We
purchased Florida from Spain I'm ISL. when
II had four thousand white settlers. for
five millions Of dollars. and other VAL
liable considerations. The Seminoles, ma
tives of the soil, brave. resolute. having
far greater intelligence and character than
the Tagais, disputed our possession. We
sent Andrew Jackson down 10 fight them.
and il took us twenty-one years 10 sub
due them and send what was left OF them
things had lived then. they would, I sup
to Osceola, the Aguinaldo of the Seminolest
Would you, after the war with Mexico and
the Gedsden purchase. have given the great
area south and west of the Arkansas 10
the red Apaches? Not so did our fathers
construe their duty, and as they buit. so
shall we, their sons.
TRAITORS AT HOME
The insurrection against our legitimate
authority. which. for the time. impedes our
efforts 20 establish a government for the
Filipinos. involves us I'm a sacrifice OF lives
and of treasure. The difficulties we en-
counter I'm the island OF Luzon are many.
but the chief inspiration and encourage