The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-11
M'KINLEY ON ISSUES

se"fa' NohsFths mas given 10 this
island government IN which the lnhabl-
tants participate. elect their own iegis-
iature, enact their own local laws. rro-
vide their own system OF taxation, ana
IN these respects have the same power
sna privileges enjoyed BY other Territories
belonging 70 the Uaited states. and a
nnch larger measure OF self-government
man was given TO the inhabitants OF
LOUISIANA under Jefferson. A district
court Of the United States for Porto Rico
mas been established and local courts
nave been inaugurated, all Of which are
IN operation. The generous treatment of
the Porto Ricans accords with the rost
hoeral though, 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 COM
piled With my recommendation by rsmoy-
Ing. or the ist day OF May last. s. per
cent. Of the duties and providing for thu
removal of the remaining Is per cent. on
she lst OF March. l9e. or earlier. II the
legislature of Porto Rico shall proyide
local revenues for the expenses of con-
Quoting the government During this in
termediate period Porto RIcan products
coming into the United States pay a
tariff Of Is per cent. OF the rates under
the D!ngiey act, and our goods going to
Porto Rico pay like rate. The duties
thus paid and collected both in Porto
Rico and the United tSates are paid 10
the government of Porto Rico, and no
part thereof Is taken by the national gov
eminent All the duties from November
!, 1893. 10 June 30 1900. aggregating the
sum OF s.. .2jo.523 y. paid az the custom
houses in the United States upon Porto
Rican products. under the laws existing
prior 20 the aforementioned act of Con-
gress, have gone into the treasury Of
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 A.5l30S4.s5. The United
States military force In the island has
been reduced from ll.OO0 20 100. and ma
tive Porto Ricans constitute for the most
part the local constsbulaTv.
Under the new law and the Inauguration
cf civil government there hes been n graf
flying revival of business, The manufac-
lures of Porto Rico are devslcDing: her
imports are increasing: her tariff Is Weld
ing increased returns; her feds are hsing
cultivated: free schools are being estab-
lished. Notwithstanding the many en-
haTrassmentS incident 10 a change of ma
tional conditions. she Is rapidly showing
the good effects Of her new relations to
this nation.
Review sf the Phiiipaine Question.
For the sake OF full and intelligent un-
derstanding of the Philippine question,
and TO give TO the people authentic infor-
nation Of the acts and aims Of the adj
ministration, | present at some length the
2 es.z
present situation. The purposes Of The
Executive are best revealed and can best
he judged by what he has done and is do
ing il will be seen that the power of the
government has been used for the liberty,
the peace, and the prosperity OF the Phil
! ippine peoples 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 that state of war existed be-
tween Spain and the United States. On
May !, 1898, Admiral Dewey destroyed taa
| Spanish feet in Manila Bay. On May %,
1 1898. Mai. Gen. Merritt L. S. A, was
/ placed In command of the military expo
/ dition to Manila, and directed, among 9TH
er things. to Immediately publish a proc
| lamation declaring that we come not ~
make war upon the people of the Philip
pines nor upon any part or faction among
them, but TO protect them in their homes,
| in their employments, and in their per-
sOnal and religious rights. All persons
! who either by active aid or by honest
submission, cooperate with the United
States In its efforts TO give effect to this
beneiicent purpose will receive the reward
| of its support and protection"
On July 3, 1888, the Spanish fleet in at
tempting to escape from Santiago harbOr
was destroyed by the American fleet, and
on July II, 1895, the Spanish garrison in
the city of Santiago surrendered 10 the
commander OF the American forces.
Following these brilliant victories, on
the 18th day OF August, 1885 upon the
initiative Of Spain, hostilities were sus-
lpended, and protocol was signed. with d
view TO arranging terms OF peace between
the two governments. In pursuance there
OF | appointed as commissioners the fol-
lowing distinguished citizens to conduct
the negotiations on the part of the United
States: Hon. William R. Day, of Ohio
Hon. William p. Frye. of Maine; Ho.i
Cushman X. Davis, of Minnesota; Hon
George Gray, of Delaware, and Hoa,
Whitelaw Reid, of New York.
Instructions to the Peace Commission.
In addressing the Peace Commission be.
fore its departure for Paris. / said:
at Is my wish that throughout the ne
gotiations intrusted 10 the commission
the purpose and spirit with which the
United States accepted the unwelcomt
necessity OF war should be kept constant
ly In view. We took up arms only il
| obedience TO the dictates of humanity
and in the fulfllment of high public anG
moral obligations. We had no design oi
| aggfandizement and no ambition Of con
| quest. Through the long course of re
peated representations which preceded
and aimed TO avert the struggle and II
the final arbitrament of force, this coun
try was impelled solely by the purpose
Of relieving grievous wrongs and remov
ing long existing conditions which dis
| turbed its tranquility. which SHOCKED
the moral sense of mankind, and whicf
could no longer he endured.
at Is my earnest wish that the United
States, in making peace. should follow
I the same high rule of conduct whiei
guided 1t in facing war. II should be a.
scrupulous and magnanimous in the een
Guiding settlement as itIwas just and hu
name In It's original action.
"Our aim in the adjustment Of peace
should be directed to lasting results arC
| to the achievement of the common gooC
under the demands of civilization. rather
than to ambitious designs.
Without any original t..Gae-t u e0Gsi
plete or even partial acquisition. the pres
ence and success of our arms at Manils
impose upon us obligations which W.
cannot disregard. The march Of event;
rules and oyerrules human action. Avow
ing unreservedly the purpose which ha'
animated all our effort. and still soiicf
tous 10 adhere to it. we cannot be un
mindful that without any desire or de
sign on our part the war has brough
us new duties and responsibilities whiei
| We must meet and discharge as becomes
a great nation. on whose growth and ca
reer from the beginning, the Ruler OF Ma
tons has plainly written the high com
mand and pledge of civilization"
On October Is, is9s. while the peace com
mission was continuing its negotiations
! In Paris. the following additional instrue
\ ton was sent: