Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1900-01-26

election, and now I am charged. be-
cause tried to get the facts by a
proper resolution, with trying to put
the administration in hole.
Now let US see. 1t is asserted by the
imperialists that this situation was
brought upon us by an act of God;
that these islands are in our hands by
the act Of Providence. The president
alludes to this fact in his message, and
in speeches he has stated that God has
placed duty upon us, or similar lam
guage. Many Of those who advocate
this policy, not of expansion but of inn
perialisln-the government Of colonies
against their will and by conquest-de-
clare that we are doing Gods service.
Now Mr.. President, if this informa'
ton which is asked for by this last
resolution discloses the fact that the
president of the United States imme-
diately upon the signing of the protocol
which led finally to the treaty of peace
instructed our commissioners to take
nothing less than the island of .Luzon.
and if afterwards he instructed them to
take the whole group, the only way l
can see that Gods hand is in this work
is it that we must have made Mr.. Nc
Kinley his prophet. He must have ap-
peared in a vision to the president.
Of course, if this is true, the disclosure
of these instructions and this informa-
tion would put the administration in
q hole. ..... .....
What are the facts which led up to
the treaty with Spain? I find in the
report of the Secretary of the Navy for
1898, on page 1872, volume 2, the follow
ing telegram:
Washington, Aug. 13, 1898.
Dewey (care American consul). Hong
kong:t
The President desires to receive
from you any important information
you may have of the Philippines; the
desirability of the several islands; the
character of their population; coal and
other mineral deposits; their harbor
and commercial advantages, and in a
naval and commercial sense which
would be the most advantageous. If
you have other information which may
90 of value to the government in their
negotiatiins, the president may desire
your presence here. If he should re-
guest you to come, take the quickest
route of travel Allen"
Here, then, is telegram the day
Manila fell and the day after the proto'
col Yves signed, sent by Mr. Allen, the
first assistant secretary of the navy, to
Mr.. Dewey, to know which island OF
whether all the islands were worth
grabbing or not. Dewey answered as
follows: .,'
= manila, August 20, 1898.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
Referring to the departments tele
gram of August 13, important islands
are: Colon, Luzon, Pnnay, Cebu, Ne
gros, Leyte. Others, owing to the ma
ture of the inhabitants, have a small
amount of civilization, want of cult
walton. They may be neglected, espe.
cially isles of the southern group are
where the sultan of Sulu reigned,
where they have polygamy and sla,
very. Dewey said, "They may be ne.
elected, especially the isles of The
southern group"
''Luzon is in all respects the most
desirable to retain. Contains most i'm.
portant commercial ports. Manila is
farthest north. Produces all of the
good tobacco. Friendly natives, Civ.
ilization somewhat advanced. Not yet
developed. Possible rich minerals.
Population. s25, 900. Sudic Bay best
harbor for calling purphses and mill.
tary Water deep; landlocked: easily
defended. Strategically, command OF
bay and city of Manila, with arsenal
at Cavite, most valuable. .'
"Panay, Cebu, Negros thickly popu'
lated, most civilized, and we'll cult
waited. Iloilo second commercial port
center of sugar trade; a good harbo,
strategically; in view of the situation
good for defense Cebu third CONNER
cial porl; a good harbor, very desira:
bic. No coal Of good quality can be
procured in Philippine Islands. Some
has been mined on Cebu, English com
pany. trust it 1nay not be necessary
to order me to Washington. Should
regret very much to leave here while
matter remains in present critical con
dition. Dewey"
Now Mr.. President, it appears tina,
Immediately upon signing the protocol
the president attempted to ascertain
the value of these islands, whether they
had coal and mineral, etc. their re-
sources. Was it an aspiration tina,
led the president to make this inquiry
Certainly if God has anything to dc
with this transaction The inspiration
must have come to the persbn VIII, had
the power and did direct that we should
take nothing less than the island OF
Luzon