The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-10
1RESIDENT MKINLEY'S
I LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.

among other things, to publish a
Proclamation declaring that we come not
~, u nahe war upon the people Of the
= nhIppines, nor upon any part or faction
an.ss tnen, but to protect them in their
rtoales, IN their employments, in their
psrsonai and religious rights. All per-
sons VINO. either by active aid or by
nTtgnest submission, co-operated with the
rect to this beneAcent purpose. will re-
t ted,, the reward OF its support and pro-
On July g. 1895, the Spanish feet. in at
tempting to escape from Santiago har-
DOT, was destroyed by the American fleet
inc, ~ on July IL. 1898. the Spanish garrison
~ tne city or Santiago surrendered to
the commander OF the American forces
The Paris Peace Commission.
,h ronioowing these brilliant victories. on
.,iauve OF Spain. hostiities were sus-
pchued ana protocol was signed with
tw view 20 arranging terms Of peace be-
ance thereof I appointed as Commission
srs the following distinguished citizens
20 CONDUCT the negotiations on the part
pay, Of Ohio: Hon. William p. FRYE. Of
MAINE: Hon Cushman X Davis. of Min
neapoiis; Hon. George Gray. OF Della
w ware' ana Hon. Whitelaw Reid, OF New
iork- IN addressing the peace commits
s slon before It's departure for Paris, /
IT is my wish that throughout the
negotiations entrusted to the Commission.
me purpose and spirit with which the
Ihlted states accepted the unweicome
necessity OF war should be kept constant
y n view. We took up arms only I'm
obedience to the dictates OF humanity
ana In the fulhhnent of high public and
moral obligations. We had no design OF
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and no ambition Of con-
quest Through the long course of re-
peated representatives which preceded
ana ana aimee 70 avert the struggle and in
inc maj arbitrament OF force this coun-
Try was impelled solely by the purpose
OF relieving Rrevfous wrongs and rernoy-
ing long-existing conditions which dis
, ,, the tranquility. which shocked the
mora sense OF mankind and which could
no longer be endured II IL my earnest
wish that the United States, in making
peace, should follow the same high rule
war. II should he as scrupulous and
magnanimous In the concluding settle
ment as u was Just and humane in its
our aim In the adjustment OF peace
should be directed TO lasting results and
70 the achievement Of the common good
than TO ambitious designs s.s
WITHOUT any original thought OF COM
piete or even partial acquisition the pres-
.,nce ana success OF our arms at Manila
cannot disregard The march of events
rules and overrules human action. Avow-
ing unreservediy the purpose which has
NJ
tous to adhere to II, we cannot be un-
mindful that, without any desire or de-
sign on our part, the war has brought
we must meet and discharge as becomes
n great nation on whose growth and
career, from the beginning. the Ruler OF
command and pledge OF civilization
Territory Was Not sought.
On October 2S, 1895, while the peace
commission was continuing It's negotia-
tons In Paris, the following additional
instruction was sent.
1T is Imperative upon us that as vic
tors we should be governed only by mo-
lives which WIN exalt our nation Terri
torial expansion should be our least con-
Germ; that we shall not shirk the moral
obligations OF our victory Ia OF the great
est, II Is Understood that SPANS author
lily Is permanently destroyed in every
part OF the Philippines. To leave any
part In her feeble control now would in
crease our difficulties and be opposed 10
the interests OF humanity 49, Nor can
we permit spain 10 transfer any of the
Islands 10 another power. Nor can we
invite another power or powers to toin
the United States In sovereignty over
them. We must either ho'e them or turn
them hnck to Spain,
Consequently grave as are the re-
sponslhilties and unforeseen Ms are the
the difficulties which before us the
president can see but one plain path OF
duty-the acceptance OF the archipelago
Greater difficulties and more serious
eompica administrative and inter-
national would follow any other course.
The president has given to the views OF
the commissioners the fullest considern-
tien ana In reaching the conclusion above
announced In the light OF the informa-
ton communicated to the president since
your departure, has been Influenced by
the single consideration Of duty and hu-
manity. The president is not unmindfui
q the distressed financial condition OF
Spain. and whatever consideration the
United States may show must come from
its sense OF generosity and benevolence
rather than from any real technical OBJ
legation"
Duty and Humanity.
Again on November 10. ! instructed the
commission
From the standpoint OF indemnity
both the archipelasoes puerto Rico and
the Philippinesl have insufficient 10 pay
our war expenses. but. aside from this
do We not owe an obligation TO the pco-
pie of the Philippines which will not
permit US TO return them to the sover-
eighty OF SPAIN Could We Justify our
selves In such a course or could we per-
mi, their barter to some other powerG
Willing or not we have the responsible
lily OF duty which we cannot escape. - .
The president cannot believe any divi.-
ion OF the archipelago can bring us any
Thug but embarrassment In the future
The trade and commercial side. "a well
az the Indemnity Tor the cost oI the war.
are questions We might yield They
misht b. waived or compromised hut
the questions % duty and humanity ap-
peal to the president so strongly that he
can find no appropriate answer hul the
one he has here marked out
Treaty of Peace.
The treaty OF peace was concluded on
December 10, ISIS. BY It's terms the
archipelago, known as the Philippine ts-
lands, was coded BY spain 20 the United
States. II was also provided that the
"civil rights ana political ststas OF the
native Inhabitants ~ tho territories here
BY cedcd 20 the United sates shan 10
determined by the congress Eleven
aaNs thereafter. uac*uhcr q. the follow
ing direction was given 70 the com.
ma nder' of our forces In the Philippines:
" The military commander 81
The Tinted States q cptolued Go make
known 10 the inhabitants Of the phuip-
pine Islands that tn succeeding 20 ne
sovereignty 81 Spain. In scvartnE the
former poit%icai relations % the lnhahl.
tants and IN establishing new Political
power. the authority u the United States
l. 70 be eSorted for the security % rer.
sons and property o. the people ~ the
islands ard Ter the confirmation of an
their previous rights and relations