The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-09-20
PRESIDENT Mk|MEY'S letter ACCEPTING The

On the 25th day of April, 1898, Congress
declared that a state Of war existed between
Spain and the United States. On May 1,
1898, Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish
feet in Manila Bay. On May 10. 1893, Maj.
Gen. Merritt, U. s. A., was placed in com.
mandi of the military expedition to, Manila
and directed among other things to immedi.
ately publish a proclamation declaring that
we come not to make war upon the people
Of the Philippines nor upon any part or fac.
ton among them, but to protect them In
their homes, in their employments, and in
their personal and religious rights. AL per-
sons who, either by active aid or by honest
submission, cooperate with the United
States in its efforts to give effect to this
benefcent purpose viii receive the reward
Of Its support and protection"
Some Fortunes of War.
On July 8, 1898, the Spanish feet In at
tempting to escape from Santiago harbor
was destroyed by the American fleet, and on
July II, 1898, the Spanish garrison In the
city OF Santiago surrendered to the COM
mander of the American forces.
Following these brilliant victories, on the
18th day of August, 1893, upon the initiative
OF Spain, hostilities were suspended, and q
protocol was signed with q view to arrang.
Ing terms of peace between the two govern
ments. In pursuance thereof I appointed as
commissioners the following distinguished
others to conduct the negotiations on the
Fart of the United States: Hon. William r.
Day of Ohio. Hon. William P. Frye of
Minnesota, Hon. George Gray OF Delaware
and Hon. Whitelaw Reid Of New York.
Forced Int Conflict.
In addressing the peace commission before
Its departure for Paris, l said:
ut is my wish that throughout the nego-
tiations intrusted to the commission the pur-
pose and spirit with which the United States
accepted the unwelcome. necessity OF war
should be kept constantly In view. We
took up arms only in obedience to the die
tates of humanity and the fulfllment OF high
public and moral obligations. We had no
design Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and no. ambition
of conquest.
Through the long course Of repeated rep
reservations which preceded and aimed to
avert the struggle and in the final arbitra-
ment Of force this country was impelled sole
~ by the purpose of relieving grievous
wrongs and removing long existing condi-
lions which disturbed its tranquility. which
shocked the moral sense OF. mankind and
which could no longer be endured.
High Sense of Duty.
1T Is my earnest wish that the United
States In making peace should follow the
same, high rule of conduct which guided it
In facing war. 1t should be as scrupulous
and magnanimous In the concluding settle
ment as it was just and humane In it's orig
L Inol antinn e. = d 4 n,r n ;r, To- thx, ~; ,,,S
ment of peace should be- directed to lasting
results and to the achievement Of rhe com
mon good under the demands of civilization
rather than to ambitious designs.
without any original thought Of complete
or even partial acquisition. the presence and
success of our arms at Manila impose upon
us obligations which we cannot disregard.
The march Of events rules and overrulcs
human action. Avowing unreservedly the
purpose which has animated all our efforts,
and still solicitous to adhere to it. we cam
not be unmindful that without any desire
or design 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 and
pledge of civilization"
Shirked No Responsibility.
On Oct. %, 1890. while the peace commits
sion was continuing its negotiations in Paris,
the following additional instruction was
sent: l
1T Is imperative upon us that as victors
we, should be governed only by motives
which will exalt our nation. Territorial ex-
pansion should be our least concern; that
we shall NOT -chirkn tho nro llob hi, +I,, no
our victory is of the greatest.
1T Is undisputed that Spain's authority is
permanently destroyed in every part of the
Philippines. To leave any part in her feeble
control now would Increase our difficulties
and be opposed to the interests Of human.
ity. 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 SOW
ereignty ever them. We must either hold
them or turn them back to Spain.
Only One Honorable Course.
consequently, grave as are the RESPONSE
bilitles and unforeseen as are the difficult
ties which are before us. the President can
see but one plain path of duty, the accept
ance of the archipelago. Greater. difficulties
and more serious OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
1--we anu lOllOW any
other course.
1.-THE President has given to the Views of
the commissioners the fullest consideration.
and In reaching the conclusion above an
nounced, in the light OF Information COM
munlcated to the commission aud to the
President since your departure, he has been
Influenced by the single consideration Of
duty and humanity. The President Is not
vi nDaind f1l nf tho dfstrpruod fnopoioI 4 oopdg &c.
tion of Spain. and whatever consideration
the United States mayeAshow must como
from Its sense OF generosity and beneyol-
ence rather than from any real or technical
/ obligation
Could Not Abandon Them.
Again, on Nov. Is. I Instructed the com.
mission:
From the standpoint Of indemnity. both
the archipelagoes tPorto Rico and the Phil
lpplnes) are insufficient to pay our war eS-
pcnses, but aside from this, do we not owe
an obligation to the people of the Philip
pines which will not permit us to return
them to the sovereignty Of SpaIn7 Could we
justify ourselves In such a course, or could
we permit their barter to some other power?
Willingly or not, we have the RESPONSE
billty of duty which we cannot escape.
The President cannot believe any
division of the archipelago can bring us any
thing but embarrassment in the future. The
trade and commercial side, as well as tho
Indemnity for the cost Of the war, are ques-
lions 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 appropriate an
swer but the one he has here marked OUT
Tern,s of fl,e Traa+y
The treaty of peace was concluded on Dec.