The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-11


May !. 1898, Admiral Dewey destroyed the
Spanish feet in Manila bay On Nay is.
1885, Major General Merritt. United States
army. was placed in command Of the mill
tary expedition 20 Manila, and directed.
among other things, 70 Immediately pub
lish proclamation declaring:
I'VE come not TO make war upon the
people of the Philippines nor upon any
party or faction among them. but to pro-
tect them in their homes. in their employ
ments and in their personal and religious
rights. All persons who. either by active
aid or by honest submission, cooperate
with the United States in its effort 10
give effect 10 this benefcent purpose will
receive the reward Of its support and pro-
lection
''On July 3. 1895 the Spanish feet, in ar
| tempting to escape from Santiago har-
| Dor, was destroyed by the American
feet and on July Il. 1898. the Spanish gar
rison in Santiago surrendered TO the COM
! mander Of the American forces
THE PROTOCOL.
1 FOLLOWING these brilliant victories, on
! the 18th OF August, 1898. upon the initia-
| tive of Spain, hostilities were suspended
and a protocol was signed with view
/ to arranging terms Of peace between the
two governments. In pursuance thereof I
appointed as commissioners the following
/ distinguished citizens to conduct the ne
gotiations on the part of the United
States: Hon. William R. Day of Ohio:
! William P Frye, of Maine; Cushman K
Davis. of Minnesota; Hon. George Gray,
of Delaware and Hon. whltelaw Reid, of
New York.
| COMMISSIONS INSTRUCTIONS.
"In addressing the peace commission be-
fore its departure for Paris. said:
1T is my wish that throughout the
negotiations entrusted to the commission
/ the purpose and spirit with which the
United States accepted the unwelcome ne
cessity of war should be kept constantly
/ in view. We took up arms only in obedi-
ence to the dictates OF humanity and in
the fulfllment of high public and moral
obligations. We had no design of ag-
grandizement and no ambition of con-
quest. Through the long course Of re-
peated representations which preceded
and aimed to avert the struggle, and in
the final arb!trament Of force. this coun-
!. try was impelled solely by the purpose
ing lond-existing conditions which dis
| turbed the tranquility and which shocked
the moral sense of mankind and which
could no longer be endured. II is my
earnest wish that the United States in
making peace should follow the same
nigh rule Of conduct which guided it in
facing war. It should be as scrupulous
and magnanimous in the concluding set
tlement as it was Just and humane IN its
original action.
"'Our aim In the adjustment of peace
should be directed to lasting results and
to the achievement Of the common good
under the demands Of civilization, rather
than to ambitious designs.
Without any original thought OF COM
plete or even partial acquisition, the
presence and success of our arms at Ma
Mia imposes upon US obligations which
we cannot disregard. The march OF
events rules and overrules human action.
Avowing unreservedly the purpose which
has animated al lour efforts, and still
solicitous to adhere to It, we cannot be
unmindful that, without any desire or de-
sign on our part, the war has brought US
new duties and responsibilities, which we
must meet and discharge as becomes a
great nation on whose growth and career
from the beginning the ruler of nations
has plainly written the high command
pledge of civilization.
BY MOTIVES WHICH EXALT.
"On October %, 1888, while the peace
commission was continuing its 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-
tives which will exalt our nation. Terri
torial expansion should be our least con-
Germ; that we shall not shirk the moral
obligations of our victory is OF the great
est. 1t is understoodU1 Seu U.fetaoin
est. It is undisputed that SPANS au-
thority 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 70
the interests Of humanity Nor ear
we invite another power or powers t.
join the United States in sovereignty
over them. We must either hold them OF
| turn them back to Spain.
Consequently, grave as the respon-
asfbiuties and unforeseen as are the dIfa-
; culties which are before Us, the president
can see but one plain path Of duty-the
| acceptance Of the archipelago Greater
difficulties and more serious complications
Z Administrative and iuterna tional-would
follow any other course. The president
has given to the views OF the commits
sioners the fullest consideration and In
! reaching the conclusion above announc-
, ed in the light of information communi-
Gated to the commission and 10 the
president since your departure, he has
Z been influenced by the single considera-
ton OF Uty and humanity. The presi-
, dent Is not unmindfu OF the distressed
! financial condition Of Spain, and what
/, ever consideration the United States may
show must come from its sense Of gen
, crosby and benevolence rather than any
real or technical obligation
Again, on November u, instructed
the commission:
. THE MAN ABOVE THE DOLLAR
!, From the standpoint Of indemnity
both the archipelagoes porto Rico ard
the Philippines are insufficient TO pay
OR war expenses. but aside from this,
90 we not owe an OBLIGATION 70 the
peorss % the Philippines which VII not
permit Us 70 return TIM % the sovereign
~ q spain Could we justify ourselves
> in such a course or could permit thar
barter 70 som other powsr9 willing o.
10. we have the responsibility % duty
which we car rot escape
The president can not believe any divi-
sion az the archipelago can bring rs
anything but enr5a r. ssmeut IN the -