North Park union., 1900-10-05

pine arCulpeld&O. II tne frcSlOe0G
was there for conquest his statement
is quite correct, but il he was there,
for any other purpose, it is wholly
false and misleading. Did the Presi-
dent fear that the pitiful remnant of
Spanish troops in the Philippines
would follow Dewey over the wide
ocean and harass the Pacific coast of
this continent or drive out Shafter
from Cuba? There was not so much
as one Chinese junk in which the
Spanish troops could sail away from
Manila. Did the President fear that
some other power would enter upon
and take possession of the islands?
Probably he did have some fears of
that kind and he would not cast
aside bone to he picked by any
European Bear, Lion or Eagle. The
unfortunate people of the Philippines
should not be left to the predatory
instincts of any Of those animals. 1t
would be better to take them into the
bosom of this nation which alone
among all people Of the earth is suf-
| ficiently enlightened to plant the torch
of liberty in a benighted land.
The case Of Puerto Rico is also
instructive on the point of the inten-
ton of the government. When San
tiago surrendered, General Miles went
to Puerto Rico in great haste to re-
ceive the surrender of that island be-
fore terms of peace with Spain should
be made. And this was openly
avowed in the press as the desire of
the government to get possession of
the island before peace could be
made, In order that it might be held
by this government rs conquered
territory.
Whatever may be said of the con-
duct Of the war and the seizure of
Puerto Rico and the Philippines as
evinc.ng an intention to hold them as
conquered territory, the treaty of Par
is furnishes conclusive evidence of
that intention. In the case of Cuba,
Spain relinquished its title and SOW
ereignty without saying to whom.
In the case of Puerto Rico, Guam,
and the Philippines, Spain ceded its
title and sovereignty to the United
States. The difference in the terms
used signifies the purpose Of the gov
ernment in respect to each Of the Is
lands. In accordance with the reso-
luton of Congress, Cuba was to be
allowed a government of its own peo-
pie. 1t was to be Stree and indepen-
dent" The other islands in which
by the treaty this government ac
quired sovereignty" were to have
such government as the conqueror
might be inclined to give them.
We may pass the Puerto Ricans
without comment, since they have
been put under some kind of govern
ment which no one has been able to
define. 1t may be SAID, however,
that Puerto Rico is under arbitrary
power the like of which was never
before known i'll the history of the
United States. In. the Philippines
Mr.. Mckinley bought an insurrection
which he has vaiuly attempted to
suppress from the day of his pur-
chase to the present time. He calls
the inhabitants Of those islands in
surgents, because they refused to ac-
cept change of masters when trans
ferred to the United States by
Spaiu And what is being done in
the way of government in those far
distant islands? Mr.. Mckinley has
commission of five men out there
making laws for the people. The
commission has no authority from
congress or any other legislative
body. They act only under Mr.. Nc
Kinley's order as commander-in-
chief of The army Of the United States,
and the laws made by them will be
Mr.. McKinley's laws. If the presi-
dent has authority to make laws for
ANYBODY | shall be glad to have some
Imperialst point out tile source of
such authority. 1t is said that these
people are unfit for self government
or as General Shafter said of the Gu
bans Gas fit as hell is for storing gun
powder" Be it so, and the fact is
entirely beside the question under
discussion. The matter in issue is
not whether any people are prepared
I,,@ lnk