The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-20

a ship canal connecting the Atlantic and
the Pacific. Through It in time of peace
If we shall be unhappiiy engaged in war.
the canal shall carry our warships and
shall exclude those of the enemy, and
under conditions which shall violate no
treaty stipulations.
The Spanish War.
This is the brief account of our steward
ship for four years During a portion OF
that period we were involved in war
that for a time paralyzed business and
commerce, and would have taxed heavily
the resources and credit of any other
country than ours; and for the past year
or more we have been employing an army
OF some 5000 men in suppressing an in
surrecuon against our authority $500 miles
away. No industry has felt the strain OF
these extraordinary expenses, nor have
they affected the general sum OF our
prosperity. More than that. the condi-
tons resulting from the legislation Of
the past four years have obliterated every
issue that was raised during the last
campaign. The Democracy having, there
fore, TO find some rallying cry. seek ii in
the results of our late war with Spain.
and upon that question, as upon all 9TH
ers, we stand ready to meet them in the
open.
During the weeks and months preceding
the outbreak of hostilities with Spain the
president of the United States, who knew
by personal experience on many battle
field something OF the horrors of war.
and who realized the expense and suffer
ing which war entailed. stood firmly upon
the ground that peaceful solution could
be found. And when that awful occur
renee took place in the harbor OF Ha-
vana, and hot frenzy OF indignation
swept over our people and a conflict
seemed Inevitable. he faced popular clam
or and heated counsels. and sim believed
that the wrongs OF Cuba could be rene
died and redressed without an appeal 10
the arbitrament of war.
The folly OF Spain and the indignation
OF the American people forbade peace
full solution. Then the president, second
ed by a Republican congress. before a
gun was fired, declared to the world the
lofty and unselfsh motives that alone ac-
tuated the nation. No man now. or IN the
centuries to come, when history. which
alone "triumphs over time, recounts me
marvellous story of the war which changed
the map of the world, shall ever truthful-
~ say that this republic was animated by
any but the noblest purposes. Recorded
time tells OF no ,such war, ior vas
and free republic, for the freedom OF an
other race. while it's own liberties were
unassailed.
dwell upon the incidents of the war
crowded with successive victories ana IL
lumned with countless examples or IN
diytdual bravery and gallant conduct. It's
living heroes are honored by a generous
country: It's dead hav. ennobled the race.
and will live forever In the hearts OF
grateful people. Throughout all its anNi-
Gus days the president commander-in-
chief OF our armies and our navies,
planned and directed with unerring nano'
ills wise diplomacy saved MS from threat
ened international complications From
the commencement of hostiles unlii
Their close the conduct OF the war was UNI
assailable and the paltry criticisms OF tWp
years ago are already buried In the limbo
of oblivion.
Treaty of Peace.
In August. 1898 a preliminary protocol
was executed at Washington, followed by
the sessions of the peace commissioners
of the United states and Spain. IN PARIS.
commencing In october of that year
Public interest in this country concerning
these negotiations was intense uhth our
soldiers and sailors had landed at Ma
Mia we had known little OF the condi-
tiohs Of the people of the Philippines,
We soon ascertained that the crueltles
and expressions existing IN tuoa were
mild compared with the treatment 70
which 5000 coo OF people In those Islands "a
were subjected. We realized th9t u we
rellnoIished the archipelago to spain We
consigned lts inhabitants again TO CON
dltion worse than slavery. worse than
harharisrp. We had put our hands 10 the
plow and every instinct OF honor ana hn
manlty forbade us to turn back. A UNI
versal demand arose from all over the
country that we should retain our hold
the protection Of our laws. lift them out
OF their unfortunate condition ana NJ
them, If possible. for self-government'
Any agreement PS our m snain r 20
serving for ourselves an island or coal
ing station. would have aroused uni
Versal national Indignation, and would
never have been ratified by the repre-
sentatives OF the people
No man saw this 40 clearly as DID the
president. In his advices TO the commits
sioners he told them II was imperative
that we should be governed only by mo-
tlves that should exalt the nation; that
territorial expansion was our least con-
Germ. but that. whatever else was done.
the people OF the Philippines must be HI
Grated from Spanish domination and he
reached this view solely through consid-
erations of duty and humanity The
American commissioners, men of differ
ing political faiths. reached IA unanimous
conclusion. The treaty or Paris was
ratified by the vote of two-thirds Of the
senate ana the territory we acquired un-
der It became lawful and legal possessions
OF the United states. The responsibility
for the war rested upon US all. the re-
sponsihiity for the treaty rests chiefly
upon the Republican party. and that party
avows tho wisdom OF the treaty and
declares II TO be the policy OF the party
10 adhere 70 It's terms and to accept the
responsibilities Il imposed
We assumed dominion over Puerto Rico.
cuba and the Philippines for reasons
differing as TO each Of them.
ReIations with Puerto Rico.
We took 20 ourselves the little island
OF Puerto Rico because II lay under the
shadow OF our own shores, and because
it's continued occupancy by Spain or hv
any foreign government WuOlt be a con-
slant menace to the states and 10 that
great interoCeanic waterway which We
shall build and own and operate rs an
American canal We found it impover-
ishcd nv years OF colonial misgovcrn-
mont and without any system 90 revenue
laws. Soon after the peace IT'S people
were further stricken hy flood and fam.
inc We assumed toward them every
obligation which sympathy and friend
ship could prompt We contributed as y
nation large sums ot money 80 amrlinrate
their condition and To- enable them tp
plant and garner their crops. Then We
said To them. we shall gltv Nou Just
and equitable form % free government,
with power 10 manage YOUR homo affair.
Uutn YOU shall devise proper and efficient
methods ~ revenue ana taxation Huur
needed funds shall be raised as follow IS.
You shall pay upon your imports II prr
cont Of tho present arn rate govern
Tag importations into tho United STAT
which means an average duty - e per
cent Al thc npcessAttrs ~ NE ard
building materials FOR fHe structures y.u
nrrd shalt De free t'n The Tot aaN -
March i-le all these daties ShfU cease
.