The Redwood gazette., 1900-09-19
MKInLE s letter ACCEPTING The

~ ~ y =
On the 25th day Of April, 1898, Congress-
declared that = state Of war existed between
| Spain and the United States. On May /,
1898, Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish.
neet in Manila Bay. On May 10. 1898, Maj
Gen. Merritt, U. s. A., was placed in COM
mand of the military expedition to Manila
and directed among other things to immedi-
ately publish proclamation declaring that
we come not to make war upon the people
OF the philippines nor upon any part or fac
tion among them, but to protect them In
their homes, in their employments, and in
their personal and religious rights. All per-
sons who, either by active aid or by honest
submission, cooperate with the United
states In its efforts to give effect to this
beneficent purpose will receive the reward
OF Its support and protection"
| Some Fortunes of War.
| On July 3, 1898, the Spanish fleet In ut
! tempting to escape from Santiago harbor
| was destroyed by the American fleet and on
July II, 1898, the Spanish garrison in the
| city OF Santiago. surrendered to the COM
| mander of the American forces
Following these brilliant victories, on the
18th day of August, 1893, upon the initiative
OF Spain, hostilities were suspended and q
protocol was signed with a view to arrang-
| Ing terms of peace between the two govern
| merts. IN pursuance thereof appointed as
| commissioners the following distinguished
cltlzers to conduct the negotiations on the
| ra:: Of the United States: Hon. William r..
Day Of Ohio. Hon. William p. Frye Of
| Minnesota, Hon. George Gray of Delaware
| and Hon. Whitelaw Reid of New York.
Forced Into Conflict.
In addressing the peace commission before
! Its departure for Paris, / said:
| 1T is my wish that throughout the nego-
tiationssintrusted to the commission the pur-
| pose and spirit with which the United States
accepted the unwelcome necessity Of war
should be kept constantly in view. We
| took up arms only in obedience to the dc
| tates of humanity and the fulfillment OF high
public and moral obligations. We had no,
design of aggrandizement and no ambition
of conquest.
Through the long course of repeated rep
reservations which preceded and aimed to
avert the struggle and in the final arbtra-
ment Of force this country was impel!ed sole
ly by the purpose of relieving grievous
wrongs and removing long existing condJ,
tions which disturbed its tranquility. which
shocked the moral sense o. mankind aud
which could no longer be endured.
High Sense of Duty.
at is my earnest wish that the United
States in making peace should follow the
same high rule Of conduct which gnided it
in facing war. 1t should be as scrupulous
and maonanimOuS in the concluding fo-
ment as it was just and humane in its 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 civilization
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 overrulcs
human action. Avowing unreservediy the.
purpose which has animated all our efforts,
and still solicitous to adhere to it. we cali
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 its negotiations in Paris,
the following additional instruction was .
sent:
1T is imperative upon us that as victors :
we should be governed only by motives
which will exalt our nation. Territorial ex-
pansion should be our least concern; that
we shall not shirk the moral obligations OF.
| our victory is of the greatest. t
1T is undisputed that Spains authority is
permanently destroyed in every part of the
Philippines. To leave any part in her feeble
control now would increase our difficulties
and be opposed to the interests of human
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 responsi-
bilities and unforeseen as are the difficult
ties which are before US, the President can.
| ance of the archipelago. Greater difficulties
and more serious complications-adminis
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
municatad 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 not
| unmindful OF the distressed financial eondi-
| tion Of Spain, and whatever consideration
the United States may show must come
| from it's sense Of generosity and benevol-
ence rather than from any real or technical
obligation"
Could Not Abandon Them.
Again, on Nov. 13, instructed the COM
mission:
From the standpoint of indemnity, both
the archipelagoes porto Rico and the Phil
ippines) are insufficient to pay our war ex1
penses but aside from this do we not owe.