The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-27
The Political Contest OF 1900.

The same resolutions declared that it was
not the intention of the United States to
enter upon war of annexation or con-
quest. The war was entered upon for
humane purposes to liberate Cubans from
the cruel and oppressive government of
Spain. War would not have been per-
mitted by the country for any other OBJ
Ject. The people would have revolted
against a war of conquest. Congress
would not have dared declare It, Mr. Nc
kinney would have vetoed its resolution.
Mr.. Mckinley fully understood the opin
ion Of the country when he said that an
neXation by force would, in the american
code of morals" be regarded as Grim
1nal aggression" AS time went on, and
war stirred the passions and stimulated
the imaginations of those engaged in 1t,
it became familiar talk among the poll
ticians that, in the end, we would retain
both Porto Rico and Cuba the latter in
spite of the express promise of congress,
made in the name Of the United States
that after the pacifcation of the island
1t was our determination ito leave the
government and control of the island TO
its people" Still nothing was said to eX~
cite the suspicious Of the people, and
especially was the president silent. There
was, however, a good deal of pointed
talk about duty and cur destiny"
In the summer of 1898 it was called eX-
pansion, and articles began to appear
in the newspapers and magazines on JEFF
ferson's Louisiana purchase. We were
told that the United States had been col
onizing during the whole history of the
government Nevertheless, the policy Of
the president was uncertain The proto-
col preceding the peace treaty was sign
ed on Aug. II, 1898, and on that day the
president profeSSed to be in doubt He
then said, as is well known to those who
talked with him, that he expected that
by the time congress met in December
opinion would be running so strongly
against the annexation of the Philip
pines that there would be no thought Of
taking the Islands. But very soon after
ward he went on a Western trip, and dur
ing that trip he appeared to change his
mind.
It was clear, however, to those who
had closely watched the course of events
that for several months the way had been
preparing for annexation, if il Should be
finally determined upon, so that II might
be accomplished without any apparent
breach of faith with Aguinaldo and the
Insurgents. Aguinaldo had been brought
from Hong Kong to Manila by Admiral
Dewey, who had also furnished him with
arms from the arsenal at CaVite That it
was then known that these insurgents ex-
pected to win their independence through
the aid of the Americans is now certain
the Schurman-Denby-W Orcester-Dewey
report to the contrary Notwithstanding
1t is not only known by Aguinaldo's proc,
lamations which were public, and Of which
our officers were cogniZant, but these
proclamatioLs are now verified by Gen.
Otis latest report. Our officers however
acting under instructions from Washing,
ton. finally refused to deal with Aguinaldo
as an ally, while, when the protocol was
signed, nearly all of the island of Luzon
outside of Manila was in the possession of
the insurgents. These facts are important
because they show that annexation was
contemplated at the time of the signing
of the protocol, and that those who had
it in mind were intent upon avoiding any
possible question as to the good faith Of
the government toward these insurgents
The protocol provided simply for our &C.
cupation of Manila, not yet captured,
pending the conclusion OF treaty Of
peace which shall determine the control,
disposition and government OF the Philip