The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-11

inaugurated, all of which are in opera
ton. The generous treatment of the
Porto Ricans accords with the most lib
eral thought of our own country and en-
courages the best aspirations Of the peo-
pie of the island. While they do-not have
instant free commercial intercourse with
the United States, Congress complied with
my recommendation by removing, on the
first day of May last, So per cent. OF the
duties and providing for the remoYal OF
the remaining IS per cent. on the ISL OF
March. 1902, or earlier if the legislature
of Porto Rico shall provide local revenues
for the expenses of conducting the govern
ment. During this intermediate peFloo
Porto Rican products coming into the
United States pay tariff OF 10 per cent.
of the rates under the Dingley act, ana
our goods going to Porto Rico pay IKE
rate The duties thus paid and collecte~
both in Porto Rico and the United states
are paid to the Government OF Porto RICO
and no part thereof is taken by the Ma
tional Government. All of the duties lrola
November |, 1898 to June 30, 1900, aggre-
eating the sum of So $50, 1921 paid al the
custom houses in the United States upoA
Porto Rican products, under the laws eX-
listing prior to the above mentioned act OF
Congress. have gone into the Treasury o.
Porto Rico to relieve the destitute, ana
for schools and other public purposes Ia
addition to this we have expended for re-
lief, education and improvement of roads
the sum of 81, 513 ,08495. The United
States military force in the island has
| been reduced from 1900 to 1900, and
native Porto Ricans constitute for the
most part the local constabulary.
Under the new law and the Inaugural
| tion of civil government there has been
gratifying revival of business. The man
ufactures of Porto Rico are developing
| her imports are increasing; her tarnl
| is Welding increased returns; her nelds
| are being cultivated free schools are De-
| ing established. notwithstanding the
many embarrassments incident 10
change of national conditions she is rap
| idly showing the good effects of her new
| relations to this nation.
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
For the sake of full and intelligent
understanding of the Philippine question,
and to give to the people authentic infor-
nation of the acts and aims of the Ad-
| ministration, l present at some length
the events of Importance leading up to
| the present situation. The purposes of
| the Executive are best revealed and can
| best be judged by what he has done and
| is doing. 1t will be seen that the power
| of the Government has been used for
| the liberty, the peace and the prosper
ity of the Philippine peoples, and that
| force has been employed only against
| force which stood in the way Of the real
ization of these ends.
On the 25th day of April, 1898, Con-
gress declared that a state Of war ex-
listed between Spain and the United
States. On May /, 1898, Admiral Dewey
| DESTROYED the Spanish fleet in Manila
Bay On May 10, 1898, Major General
Merritt, U. S. A., was placed in COM
| mand of the military expedition to Ma
Mia. and directed among other things to
| Immediately publish a proclamation de-
| claring that we come not to make war
upon the people of the PHILIPPINES nor
upon any part or faction among them,
/ but to protect them in their homes, in
| their employments, and in their personal
and religious rights. All persons who,
| either by active aid or by honest sub
mission, cooperate with the United
/ States in it's efforts to give effect to this
beneficent purpose, will receive the re-
ward of it's support and protection"
On July 8, 1898, the Spanish fleet in
| attempting to escape from Santiago har-
Dor, was destroyed by the American fleet
and on July II, 1898. the Spanish garri-
son in the city of Santiago surrendered
10 the Commander of the American
forces.
THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
Following these brilliant victories, or
the 18th day of August, 1898, upon the
| initiative of Spain, hostilities were sus-
pended, and protocol was signed with
view to arranging terms of peace be-
tween the two governments. In pursu
ance thereof l appointed as commission
| ers the following distinguished citizens
| to conduct the negotiations on the par
of the United States; Hon. William r
Day, of Ohio; Hon. William p. Frye, o
| Maine; Hon. Cushman K Davis, of Min
| nesota: Hon. George Gray, of Delaware
| and Hon. Whitelaw Reid, of New York
| In addressing the peace commission be
fore it's departure for Paris, l said:
at is my wish that throughout the ne
gotiations entrusted to the Commission
the purpose and spirit with which thu
| United States accepted the unwelcomt
| necessity of war should be kept con
stantly in view. We took up arms onl.
| in obedience to the dictates of humanit
and in the fulfillment of high public AM
moral obligations. We had no design o
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and no ambition of con
quest Through the long course of re
peated representations which preceded
and aimed to avert the struggle and il
the final arbitrament of force this coun
try was impellod solely by the purpos
of relieving grievous wrongs and re
moving long existing conditions which dis
turbed it's tranquility, which shocked tn
moral sense of mankind and which coul
no longer be endured.
ut is my earnest wish that the Uni
ted States in making peace should fol
low the same high rule of conduct whicl
guided it in facing war. It should be a
scrupulous and magnanimous in the con
GLIDING settlement as it was just and hu
name in it's original action.
"Our aim in the adjustment Q
peace should be directed to lasting re
suits and to the achievement of the com
mon good under the demands of civil
1ation, rather than to ambitious de
| signs.
Without any original thought of com
plete or even partial acquisition, tn
presence and success of our arms at Ma
l --L.I.r Lane n IN