Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-10
the moral obligations OF our victory 10
FOf the greatest. S.

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
sovereignty over them. We must either
hold or turnsthem back to Spain.
Consequently, grave as are the re-
sponsibilities and unforeseen as are the
difficulties which are before us, the
president can see but one plain path OF
duty, the acceptance OF the archipelago.
Greater difficulties and more serious
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and In
ternational-would follow any other
course.
The president has given to the views
Of the commissioners the fullest consid-
GRAFTON, and in reaching the conclusion
above announced, in the light Of infor-
nation communicated to the commits
son and to the president since your de-
parture. he has been Influenced by the
single consideration Of duty and hui
manity. The president is not unmind-
ful OF the distressed financial condition
OF Spain, and whatever consideration
the United States may show must come
from its sense Of generosity and benev-
olence rather than from any real or
technical obligation."<
Again. on Nov. 13. I instructed the
From the standpoint of indemnity.
both the archipelagoes Torto Rico and
the Philippines are insufficient to pay
our war expenses, but aside from this,
do we not owe an obligations to the peo-
pie OF the Philippines which will not
permit US to return them to the SOW
ereignty OF Spain? Could we Justify
ourselves in such a course, or could we
permit their barter to some other pow
er?
Willingly or not, we have the re-
sponsibility Of duty which we cannot
escape. The president cannot believe
any division OF the archipelago can
bring us anything but embarrassment
in the future. The trade and CONNER
cial side, az well as the indemnity for
the cost Of the war, are questions we
might yield. They might be waived or
compromised, but the questions of duty
and humanity appeal to the president
so strongly that he can find no appro-
pirate answer but the one he has here
marked out.
The treaty Of peace was concluded
on September 10. 1898. BY its terms the
archipelago, know as the Philippine
islands, was ceded by Spain to the
United States. It was also provided
that the civil rights and political stat
us OF the native Inhabitants Of the ter
ritory hereby ceded to the United
States shall be determined by con-
gress.
Eleven days thereafter, on Dec. q
the following directionlMas given to tho
commander Of our forces in the Philip.
pines:
The military commander OF the
United States is enjoined to make
known to the in1a bitants of the Phil
sippines Islands that, In succeeding tc
the sovereignty OF Spain, in severing
the former political relations, the
authority Of the United States is
to be exerted for the securing
of the persons and the property ol
the people Of the islands and for the
confirmation Of all their private rights
and relations. 1t will be the duty ol
the commander Of the forces of occu.
patton to announce and proclaim in the
most public manner that we come no.
sas invaders or conquerers, but al
friends. TO protect the natives in theil
homes, in their employments and ii
their personal and religious rights
Then follow the incidents connected
with the sending Of the Philippine com.
mission. In his instructions to the com
nissioners the president said:
1t is my desire that in all their re.
lations with the inhabitants of tn.
Islands the commissioners exercise dus
respect for all the ideals. customs AM
institutions OF the tribes which compos.
the population. emphasizing upon al
Occasions the just and beneicent inten
tions of the United States.
1T is also my wish and expectation
that the commissioners may be re
ceived in a manner due to the hon
ored and authorized Representatives o
the American republic, duly commits
stoned on account OF their knowledge
skill and integrity as bearers Of tn,
good will, the protection and the rici
blessings Of a liberating rather than ;
conquering nation
On the 9Th of February. 1s99 th,
treaty was ratified by the senate of th,
United States. and the congress imme
diately appropriated $20.000,000 to carr!
out It's provisions. The ratification:
We're exchanged by the United State.
and Spain on the l1th of April. 1899.
AS early as April. 1899, the Philippin,
commission, of which DR.. Schurmal
was president, endeavored TO brinl
about peace in the islands by repeatet
conf nferences with leading Tagalogs rep
resenting the so-called insurgent gov,
srnment, to the end that some genera
plan OF government might be offered
them which they would accept.
So great was the satisfaction OF TIL,
insurgent commissioners with the form
of government proposed by the Amerl
can commissioners that the latter sub
mitted the proposed scheme to me TO
approval. and my action thereon u
shown by the cable message following
May S. 1S99.-Schurman. Manila
Yours Of the 4th received. You are au
thorized to propose that. under the mil
itary power of the president, pending
action OF congress, governmentsof th,
Philippine islands shall consist OF ;
governor general appointed by the pres
|!dent, cabinet appointed by the govern
,r general, a general advisory council
elected by the people. the qualification
OF electors to be carefully considsret
and determined, and the governor gen
aral to have absolute veto. JudiciaT.
strong and independent. principa
Judges appointed by the president. TIL,
cabinet and judges to be. chosen from
natives or Americans, or both, havint