The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-10
PRESIDENT ANNEYS LETTER Of Acceptance


eeen ordered to be held on the 18th of
September under fair elction law al
ready tried in the municipal elections. to
choose members of a constitutional con-
Nenton, and the convention by the same
order is to assemble on the first Monday
of November to frame constitution
upon which an independent government
Tor the island will rest All this is a long
step in the fulffllment of our sacred
guarantees to the people of Cuba.
PORTO RICO.
We hold Porto Rico by the same title
as the Philippines. The treaty of peace
which ceded US the one conveyed to us
the other. Congress has given to this
island government in which the in
habltants participate elect their own
legislature, enact their own local laws,
provide their own system of taxation,
and in these respects have the same
power and privileges enjoyed by other
territories belonging to the United
States, and a much larger measure OF
self-government than was given to the
inhabitants of Louisiana under Jefferson.
A district court of the United States
for Porto Rico has been established and
local courts have been inaugurated, all
of which are in operation. The generous
treatment of the Porto RicanS accordS
with the most liberal thought Of our
own country, and encourages the best
aspirations of the people of the island.
While they do not have instant free
commercial intercourse with the United
States, congress complied with my rec
concentration by removing, on the 1st
day of May last, SO per cent of the du-
ties and providing for the removal of
the remaining Is per cent on the 1St
of March, 1902 or earlier If the legiSla-
ture of Porto Rico shall provide local
revenues for the expenses OF conducting
the government. During this intermedi-
ate period Porto Rican products coming
into the United States pay a tariff of
Is per cent of the rates under the Ding
ley act, and our goods going to Porto
Rico pay a like rate. The duties thus
paid and collected both in Porto Rico
and the United States are paid to the
government of Porto Rico, and no part
thereof is taken by the national govern
ment. All of the duties from Nov. l,
1898, to June so, 1900 aggregating the
sum Of 81, 250, 1921, paid at the custom
houses In the United States upon Porto
Rican products, under the laws existing
prior to the above mentioned act of con-
gress, have gone into the treasury CT
Porto Rico to relieve the destitute and
for schools and other public purposes. In
addition to this we have expended for
relief, education and Improvement of
roads the sum of $1513,0 S4.95. The Unit
ed States military force IN the island has
been reduced from n,GOO to ], 800, and ma
tive Porto Ricans constitute for the most
part the local constabulary.
Under the new law and the Inaugural
ton of civil government, there has been
a gratifying revival Of business. The
manufactures of Porto Rico are de-
Veloping; her imports are increasing; her
tariff is yielding increased returns; her
fields are being cultivated; free schools
are being established. NotWithst landing
the many embarraSSments incident to
change Of national conditions she is
rapidly showing the good effects of her
new relations to this nation.
PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
For the sake of full and intelligent
understanding of the Philippine Ques-
ton, and to give to the people authentic
information CT the acts and aims of the
administration, l present a some length
the events of Importance leading up to
the present situation The purposes OF
the executive are best revealed and can
best be judged by what he has done and
is doing. 1t will be seen tnaI the power
of the government has been used for the
liberty, the peace and the prosperity OF
the Philippine peoples and that force
has been employed only against force
which stood in the way of the realization
of these ends.
On the 25th day of April, 1898, congress
declared that state of war existed be-
tween Spain and the United States. On
May !, 1885, Admiral Dewey destroyed
the Spanish fleet in Manila bay. On May
49, 1898, Maj. Gen. Merritt u. S. A, was
placed in command of the military ex-
petition to Manila, and directed among
other things to Immediately publish a
proclamation declaring that we come not
to make war upon the people of the
Philippines nor, upon any part Or Iac-
ton among them, but to protect them in
their homes, in their enployments, and
in their; personal and religious rights.
All persons WHO, either by active aid or
by honest submission, cooperate with
the United StateSe In It's efforts to give
effect to this beneflcient purpose, will
receive the reward Of its support and
protection"
On July 8, 1893, the Spanish feet in st
tempting to escape from Santiago har-
Dor, was destroyed by the American
fleet, and on July II, 1898, the Spanish
garrison in the city of Santiago surren-
dered to the commander OF the American
forces.
Following these brilliant victories, on
the 18th day of August, 1898, upon the
Initiative of Spain, hostilities We're sus-
pended, and a protocol was signed with
a view to arranging terms of peace be-
tween the two governments. In pur-
suance thereof | appointed as commits
soners the following distinguished citi-
part of the United States: Hon. William
r. Day, of Ohio; Hon. William T. Frye,
of Maine; Hon. Cushman K. Davis, OF
Minnesota; Hon. George Gray, OF DeIa-
ware and Hon. WhitelaW Reid, of New
York. In addressing the peace commits
sion before its departure for Paris, /
said
HIS FORMER UTTERANCES.
at is my wish that throughout ,he
negotiations intrusted to the commission
the purpose and spirit with which the
United States accepted the unwelcone
necessity of war should be kept con-
SIanlly IN view. w z LOOK up dElllS only
in obedience to the dictates of humanity
and in the fulfllment of high public and
moral obligations. We had no design
of ACKNOWLEDGMENT and no ambition of
conquest. Through the long course of re-
peated representations which preceded
and aimed to avert the struggle, and in
the final arbiUrament of force this cOun-
try was impelled solely by the purpose
CT relieving grieVouS wrongs and re-
moving long existing conditions which
disturbed its tranquility, which shock
ed the moral sense OF mankind and
which could no longer be endured.
at is my earnest wish that the United
States In making peace should follow the
same high rule of conduct which guided
1t in facing war. 1t should be as Scru-
pulous and magnanimous in the conclud-
Ing settlement as it was just and humane
in its original action.
Our aims 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 pres
ence and success Of our arms in Manila
imposes upon us obligations which we
cannot disregard. The march of events
rules and overrules human action. Avow-
ing uureserVedly the purpose which has
animated all our effort, and still solfcitous
to adhere to it, We cannot be unmindfu
that without any desire or design on oul
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 be-
ginning the Ruler of Nations has plainly
written the high command and pledge OF
civilization"
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS.
On Oct. g. 1888, while the peace com.
mission was continuing its negotiations In
Paris, the following additional instruc.
ton was sent:
at is imperative upon us that as vic.
tors we should be governed only by mo-
tives, which will eTait our nation Terri
FERN: that we shall not Shirk the mora