The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-10

We are doing 1t now. As the sovereign
! power We can initiate action and shape
means to ends, and guide the Filipinos Ia
! self-deyelopment and self-government. As
protectorate power We could not initiate
action, but would be compelled to follow
and uphold a people with no capacity yet
to go alone. In the one case We can pro-
iect both ourselves and the Filipinos from
being involved in dangerous complications:
in the other we could not protect even the
Filipinos until after their trouble had
come. Besides, IL we cannot establish any
government of our own without the con-
sent of the governed as our opponents con-
tend, then we could not establish a stable
government for them or make ours a pro-
tectorate without the like consent, and
neither the majority of the people nor a
minority of the people have invited US to
assume it. We could not maintain a protec-
torate even with the consent of the gov
erned without giving provocation for con-
flicts and possibly costly wars. Our rights
in the Philippines are now free from out
side interference and will continue so in
our present relation. They would not be
thus free in any other relation. We will
not give up our own to guarantee another
sovereignty.
Our title is good. Our Peace Commission
ers believed they were receiving a good
Executive believed it was good title
when he submitted it to the Senate Of the
United States for its ratification The
Senate believed it was a good title when
they gave it their constitutional assent.
and the Congress seems not to have
doubted its completeness when they APP
propriated S20.009.000 provided by the
Treaty. II any who favored its ratifica-
tion believed it gave us a bad title, they
al To- .,,1I Irs
Identical with that under which we hold
our territory acquired since the beginning
of the Government. and under which we
have exercised full sovereignty and es-
tablished government for the inhabitants.
The Republican party does not have to
assert its devotion to the Declaration OF
Independence. That immortal instrument
of the fathers remained unexecuted until
the people under the lead OF the Repub-
lican party in the awful clash OF battle
turned its promises into fulfillment. It
wrote into the Constitution the amend
ments guaranteeing political equality to
American citizenship and 1t has never
broken them or counseled others in
breaking them. 1t will not be guided in
its conduct by one set of principles at
home and another set in the new terri
tory belonging to the United States.
II our opponents would only practice as
well as preach the doctrines of Abraham
Lincoln, there would be no fear for the
safety OF our institutions at home or their
rightful influence in any territory over
which our flag floats.
Empire has been expelled from Porto
Rico and the Philippines by American free
men. The flag Of the Republic now floats
over these islands as an emblem Of right
ful sovereignty. VIII the Republic stay
and dispense to their inhabitants the bless
ings of liberty, education. and frea institu
tions, or steal away, leaving them to an
archy or imperialism?
The American question is between duty
and desertion-the American verdict will
be for duty and against desertion, for the
Republic against both anarchy and i'm
perialism.
The Chinese situation.
The country has been fully advised Of
the purposes OF the United States in
China, and they will be faithfully adhered
to as already defined.
The nation is filed with gratitude that
the little band, among them many Of our
own blood, who for two months have been
subjected to privation and peril by the
attacks of pitiless hordes at the Chinese
capital, exhibiting supreme courage in the
face of despair, have been enabled by
Gods favor to greet their rescuers and
find shelter under their own flag.
The people, not alone of this land. but
of all lands, have watched and prayed
through the terrible stress and protracted
agony OF the helpless sufferers in Pekin,
and while at times the dark tidings seem
ed to make all hope vain, the rescuers
never faltered in the heroic fuifillment of
their noble task.
We are grateful to our own soldiers
and sailors and marines. and to all the
brave men who though assembled under
many standards, representing peoples
and races strangers in country and
speech. were yet united in the sacred
mission of carrying succor to the be-
sieged, with a success that is now the
cause of 4 worlds rejoicing
Not only have we reason for thanks
giving for our material blessings, but we
should rejoice In the complete unification
OF the people of all sections of our coun-
try that has so happily developed in the
last few years and made for US a mcIs
perfect Union. The obliteration Of old
differences, the common devotion to the
flag. and the common sacrifices for its
honor, so conspicuously shown by the
men of the North and South in the Span
ish war have so strengthened the ties of
friendship and mutual respect that
nothing can ever again divide us. The
nation faces the new century gratefully
and hopefully. with increasing love OF
country, with firm faith in its free in
stitutions and with high resolve that
they shall not perish from the earth"
Very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.