The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-09-13
M'KINLEY'S LETTER.
Makes Known His Acceptance
Of denomination.
ADVOCATES ISTBNIAN WATERWAY.
saba. Porto Rico and the Philippines
Considered-Favors Independence
For the Islanders When Capn-
ble of self Government.

bic of Self Government
WASHINGTON. Sept. William
Mckinley. president Of the United
States, has made public his letter ac-
cspting the denomination on the Repub-
lean national ticket. The president de-
'larcs unqualifedH for the gold standard
md prophesies its approval by the voters
Il the polls in the coming election. He
dso considers the tariff question the
3oer- British war and the isthmian wa
erway. Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ppines are likewise dealt with.
Referring to the currency issue, he
says:
While regretting the reopening of this
question, which can only disturb the
present satisfactory financial condition of
she government and visit uncertainty up
on our great business enterprises. we ac-
espt the Issue and again invite the sound
money forces to Join In winning another
and we hope a permanent triumph for an
honest financial system which will con-
Nnue inviolable the public faith"
= Concerning the tariff he says the fol-
lowing;
''The Republican party remains faith
3ul TO its principle Of a tariff which sup
nsnt and adequate protection to our en-
bsrprises and producers and Of reciproci-
b which opens foreign markets to the
fruits OF American labor and furnishes
new channels through which to market
Ne surplus Of American farms. The time
Aoaorsd principles Of protection and reci-
procity were the FIRST pledges of Repub-
pcan victory to be written into public
taw.
"ln the unfortunate contest between
4reat Britain and the Bosr states Of
)outh Africa the United States has
naintained an attitude Of neutrality In
accordance with its well known tradi-
Aonal policy. 1t did not hesitate, how
ever, when requested BY the governments
Of the South African republics to exer-
hlss its good Offices for 4 cessation of hos
eilities. 1t IL to be observed that while
4be South African republics made like re-
quests Of other powers the United States
the only one which complied. The
British government declined to accept
NE Intervention Of any power.
"A subject Of Immediate Importance to
CUR country Is the completion of q great
waterway Of commerce between the At
en:ic and Pacific. The construction of
maritime canal Is now more than ever
indispensable to that intimate and ready
Semmuniestion between our eastern and
western ssaports demanded By the an
tsxation Of the Hawaiian Islands and
NE expansion Of our influence and trade
In the Pacific.
I'VE have been In possession of Cuba
siAce tAs 1st Of January, 1890. We have
restored order and established domestic
tahquillity. We have fed the starving,
Clothed the naked and ministsred to the
(lek. We have improved the sanitary
6endition Of the island. We have stimu-
lated industry, introduced public educa-
Qen and taken q full and comprehensive
Enumeration Of the Inhabitants. The
Qualification Of electors has been settled,
snd under It officers have been chosen for
all the municipalities Of Cuba. These
local governments are now IN operation,
administsrsd BY the people. Our mill
tary esta bllshment has been reduced from
48 900 to less than 6,OOO. An election
has been ordered to be held on the 18th
Of September under fair election law
tried In the municipal elections
to choose members Of q constitutional
and the convention in the
same order is to assemble on the first
Monday Of November to frame q consti-
tuition upon which an Independent gov
srnment for the island will rest. All this
Il long step In the fulfllment OF our sa-
cred guarantees to the people Of Cuba.
I'VE hold Porto Rico by the same title
as the Philippines. The treaty of peace
which eedsd Us the one conveyed to US
ehe other. Congress has given to this is
land q government In which the inhabit-
ants participate, elect their own legisla-
ture, enact their own laws, provide their
own system of taxation and in these re-
spects have the same power and privi-
leges enjoyed by other territories be-
longing to the United States and much
larger measure of self government than
was given to the inhabitants Of Louisi-
ana under Jefferson"
Referring to the Philippines he says:
Every effort has been directed to their
peace and prosperity, their advancement
and well being, not for our aggrandize-
ment nor for pride of might, not for trade
or commerce, not for exploitation, but for
humanity and civilization and for the
protection Of the vast majority Of the
population, who welcome our sovereign
ty against the designing minority, whose
FIRST demand after the surrender of Ma
nila by the Spanish army was to enter
the city that they might loot it and de-
stroy those not in sympathy with their
selfish and treacherous designs.
Nobody who will avail himself of the
facts will longer hold that there was any
alliance between our soldiers and the in
surgents or that any promise of independ-
ence was made to them. Long before
their leader had reached Manila they had
resolved IL the commander Of the Amef-
lean navy would give them arms with
which to fight the Spanish army they
would later turn upon US, which they did
murderously and without the shadow of
cause or justification. There may be
those without the means Of full informn-
tion who believe that we were in alli-
ance with the insurgents and that we as.
sured them that they should have inde.
pendence. To such let me repeat the
facts, On the 26th Of May, 1898, Adj
miral Dewey was instructed by me to-
make no alliance with any party or fac
tion in the Philippines that would incur
liability to maintain their cause In the
future, and he replied under date of June
@, 1898: Have acted according to spirit
Of departments instructions from the be-
ginning, and | have entered into no AL