The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-19
MIR. CARNEGIE,s RLUNDER

For Mr.. Andrew Carnegie's sake the
Journal regrets that he has confirmed the
statement that in an interview with Presi-
dent Mckinley he offered to pay 100000
If he might be permitted to assure the
Hilipinos Of their freedom and independ-
ence. The story as made public in a recent
magazine article is that before the ratifica-
ton OF the treaty Of peace by which the
United States was to pay Spain $4,000, 600
for relinquishing her title to the Philippines,
Mr.. Carnegie went 70 President Mckinley
and offered TO assume the payment of the
$2O. 900 on condition that he be sent to
Manila with authority TO assure the Fill
pinos that the United States would soon
recognize their independence. OF course
Mr.. Mckinley declined proposition the &C
ceptance of which would have rendered him
liable to Impeachment and would have made
him infamous in history. Whatever may
have been Mr.. yCarnegie's motive in maxi
ing such a proposition it was essentially a
mercantile proposition and based on a
money view of the case. The Spanish
American treaty which had been concluded
and signed contained a provision that THE
United States will pay to Spain the sum
OF $2O.OO0,O00 within three months after the
exchange of the ratifications of the present
treaty" Mr.. Carnegie seems to have
thought that this sum was in the nature of
purchase money to be paid for the islands
and people. and that by assuming the obl-
cation he might himself buy the right to
grant the Filpinos their independence, or
at least to give them official assurance that
the United States would soon do so. A
more essentially mercantile view of a state
question was never taken. The sum of $20-
100000 which the United States agreed to
pay Spain was not purchase money for the
islands, nor was any such promise neces-
sary on the part of the United States to
protect the title The islands were already
the property of the United States by con-
quest, as far as Spain was concerned. The
so 600 900 was intended as reimbursement TO
Spain to the extent of her actual outlay in
the islands for the advantage of the in
habitants, for permanent betterments and
improvements. President Mckinley was
right when he said: Mr.. Carnegie does not
understand the matter" In reality his mer-
camille view of the case was a very sordid
one 1t took no account Of the rights Of the
United States, made good by war, no &C
count of her duties and responsibilities in
the case, and, above all, account of the
question of national prestige. His PROPOSE
ton virtually one to abandon the
islands President Mckinley stated the case
clearly in his next annual message that of
1899, when he said:
The islands are ours by every title of
law and equity. They cannot be abandoned.
If we desert them we leave them at once to
anarchy and finally TO barbarism. We
fling them, golden apple of discord. among
the rival powers, no one of which could
permit another 10 seize them unquestioned.
Their rich plains and valleys would be the
scene of endless strife and bloodshed.
Mr.. Carnegie may have thought that his
mercantile plan of procedure would have
averted these conditions. but he did not
understand the matter. Acceptance of his
proposition might have contributed much TO
his own exploitation, but it would have
placed lasting badge of infamy on the
United States. The making of the PROPOSE
ton was a blunder. and its acceptance
would have been crime