Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-10

for Porto Rica has been established and
local courts have been i~nagurated, all of
which are in operation. The generous
treatment of the Porto RicanS accordS
with the most liberal thought of every
one in the country, n encourages the
best aspirations of the epOple of the
island. While they do not have instant
free commercial free intercourse with the
United States, congress complied with
my recommendation by removing IN the
first day of May last So per cent. of the
duties. and providing for the removal Of
the remaining Is per cent. on March 1.
1902. or earlier if the legislature of
Porto Rico shall provide local revenues
for the expense of conducting the govern
ment. During this intermediate period.
Porto Rican products are coming into
the United States under the Dingley
act and our goods going into 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 government. All
of the duties from November 1. 1898. to
June 80. 1900. ~aggregating the sum of 81
250, 523,2l paid at the custom houses in
the United States upon Porto Rican pro-
ducts under the laws existing prior to the
above mentioned act of congress. have
gone into the treasury of Porto Rico to
other publicpurpo. nadditis ntotsesIolh
relieve the destitute and for school and
other public purposes. In addition to
this we have expended for relief, educa-
ton and improN ement of roads. the sum
Of 81. 5l3. 0S4. IS. The United States mill
tary force in the island has been reduced
from II 900 to 1.50o. and native Porto Ri
cans constitute for the most part the
local c~onstabulary. Under the new law
and the Inauguration of the civil govern
n,ent there has been a gratifying revival
of business. The manufactures of Porto
Rico are developing. her imports are in
creasing her tariff is yielding increased
returns: her fields are being cultivated:
free schools are being established. Not
withdrawing the many e~mbarrassments
Incidental to an increase Of national in
dustries. she is rapidly showing the good
effects OF her new relations to his ma
ton.
THE PHILIPPINES.
For the sake of full and intelligent
understanding of the Philippine cues
ton. and to give to the public authentic
information of the acts and aims of the
administration. | present at some length
the events Of Importance leading up to
the present situation. The purposes OF
the executive are best revealed and can
pest pc Judged by what he has done and
IS doing. It will be seen that the power
OF the government is being used for the
lherty. peace and prosperity Of the peo-
pies and that force has been employed
only against force which stood in the
way of the realization of these ends.
On the 18th day of April 1898 congress
declared hat a state of war existed be-
tween Spain and the United States. On
MAY l. 1928, Admiral Dewey DESTROYED
the Spanish fleet in Manila bay. on
May 10, 1898. Major General Merritt. u.
=. A, was placed in command of the mil
1tary expedition to Manila and directed
among other things. to publish a proc
lamation declaring that we come not to
make war upon the people of the Phil |
1pplnes nor upon any part or faction
among them, but to protect them in their
homes, in their employments, in their
personal and religious rights. All per-
sons who by active aid or by honest sub
mission. cooperate with the United
States in its eEs,rts to give effect to
this benifcent proclamation were made
the wards of its support and protection"
BEGINNING OF PEACE NEGOTIA-
TONS.
On July 8, 1898, the spanish fleet in at
tempting to escape from Santiago har-
Dor, was destroyed by the American feet.
and on July s, 1898, the Spanish garrison
In Santiago surrendered to the comman-
der of the American forces. Following
these brilliant victories, on the 18th day
OF August, 1898. upon the initiative of
Spain, hostilities were suspended and
a protocol was signed with a view to
arranging terms Of peace between the
two governments. In pursuance thereof.
l appointed as commissioners the fol-
lowing distinguished citizens to con-
duct negotiations: Hon. w. r. Day of
Ohio, Hon. w. P. Frye of Maine Hon.
Cushman K. Davis of Minnesota. Hon.
George Gray Of Delaware and Hon.
Whitelaw Reid of New York. In ad-
dressing the peace commission before it's
departure for Paris. I said:
INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMISSIONERS.
1t is my wish that throughout the
negotiations the purpose and spirit with
which the United States accepted the
unWelcome necessity of war be kept con-
stantly In view. We took up arms only
In obedience to the dictates Of humanity
and in the fulfllment of high public
and moral obligations. We had no de-
sign of ACKNOWLEDGMENT and no ambition
OF conquest. Through the long course
or repeated representations which pre-
ceded n aimed to avert the struggle
ana IN the final a~rbitrament of force this
country was impel1ed solely by the pur-
pose OF relieving grievous wrongs and
removing long existing conditions which
disturbed the tranquility, which shocked
the moral sense of mankind. and which
could no longer be endured. It is nv
earnest wish that the United States in
making peace should follow the same
high rule of conduct which guided it in
racing war. 1t should be as scrupulous
and magnanimous in the concluding
settlement as it was just and human. in
its original action.
Our aim 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 thought of complete or
even partial acquisition. the presence
and success of our arms at Manila i'm
poses upon US obligations which we cam
not disregard. The march of events
rules and over-rules human action.
AYOWing unreserYedlY the nurnnse which