,ii
: t
PlliElT 13'KILEY'S LETTEO
KKSIDKNT M'Kr.M.K' letter
of acceptance U probably the most
important unofficial document U-
ned iu t'.ii country ' quarter of a
-cntury. Tlic President take the conn
try into hi confidence nnl throw n now
light upon th history of the past to
year. Irrespective of its cniislie arraign
ment of the criti.-a of the administration
and its forceful clinching of the fart that
Itryani.sm means the "immediate" de
struction of the gold standard ainl sub
stitution therefor of free silver coinage
at tbe ratio of 1 to 1. the letter is iuv
-iiortant in the historic sense bcca use it
givee the American people their first
"knowledge of the statesmanship ami con
dition connected with recent cpoch-muk-ing
events.
The President, although by nature a
mild and conciliatory man, can I nroua
ed to a point of dangerous combativeness,
and when the mood in on him he becomes
one of the most effective debaters we
liave hud in this country for many years.
Id hi letter he wastes no time in what
might be called preliminary sparring, but,
harms delinilely located the enemy'
rltal spot, which i the free silver heresy,
he strikes at it wiih force and precision.
The financial question, he ay, may not
toe the paramount issue, but it is the im
mediate issue. ,-It will admit of no tie--lay
and will suffer no postponement."
For has not the Icmocrntic party declar
ed for the "immediate" coinage of silver
at a ratio of IU to 1? And is there any
doubt that .Mr. l'.ryan, who insisted upon
tl insertion of the silver plank in the
platform, against the advice of the best
men in the party, will use every means,
if he is elected, to cany his principles
Into praeth-c?
After paying the tribute of his regret
that the Democratic party by its nominee
and its reiteration uf the free silver plank
of ISiWI has made it necessary for the
Totera to realtlrm their decision of four
rear ago in favor of the existing gold
standard. President McKiuley boldly
pick up the gage of battle on the i-sue
of Imperialism. What that issue is he
tate most happily in a single paragraph
near the end of his letter. After he has
marshaled the facts which place the
whole controversy iu the clearest possi
ble historical light before the reader, he
aaya:
The American question is be
tween duty and desertion the
American verdict will be for duty
and against desertion, for the He
public against both anarchy and
imperialism.
As a campaign document the letter is
regarded as phenomenally strong. ut
it is more than a campaign document. It
is a contribution to history. The Presi
dent deals candidly with the American
people. He is not afraid to tell them
. what he has dime or w hy he did It. He
deals in facts rather than in arguments.
TKXt" OK THK LKTTKR.
President's View on Free Silver and
the Philippine Q:ictian.
Eieentlve Mansion, Washington, P. C.
Sept. 8. To ttie Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge,
Chairman Notification Committee My Dear
Kir; The nomination of the Hepnlillenn na
tional convention of June 111, .'or the
office of President of t lie United States,
which, as the otlicinl representative of the
convention, you have conveyed to ine, Is
accepted. I have carefully examined the
platform adopted and give It my hearty
approval.
Upon the great Issue of the hist national
election It Is clear. It upholds the gold
tandard and Indorses the legislation of the
present Congress hy which that standard
baa hern effectively strengthened. The sta
bility of our national currency Is. therefore,
secure so long as those who adhere to this
platform are kept iu control of the govern
ment. Same inea Involved.
Ia the first liatlle. that of lS'.HJ. the friends
f the cold staudard and of sound currency
were triumphant and the country Is enjoy
ing the fruits of that victory. Our antag
onists, however, are not satlstled. Tbey com
pel us to a second battle upon the same lines
on which the first was fought ami won.
While regretting the reopening of this
question, which can only disturb the present
satisfactory financial condition of the gov
ernment and visit uncertainty upon our
great bnliios enterprise, we accept the
Issue and again Invite the sound money
forces to Join hi winning another and we
hope a permanent triumph for an honest
financial system which will continue Invio
lable the public faith.
All Loyal to PKver.
Aa In lvrto, the three silver parties art
salted under the same lender, who, Imme
diately after the election of that year, Iu an
address to the bimetallism, sa!:
"The friends of bimetallism have not been
vanquished; they have simply been over
come. They believe that the gold standard
la a conspiracy of the money climbers
against the welfare of the human race and
they will continue the warfare against It."
The pulley thus proclaimed has been ac
cepted sml confirmed by those pirtles. The
silver Democratic platform of 1!)00 continues
the warfare against the so-called gold con
aplraey when It expressly nays:
"We reiterate the demand of thrtt Che
-Chicago) platform of ls!l for an American
flnanclal system made by the American peo
ple for themselves, which shall r"store and
maintain a bline rllbr price level; and ns
part of such system the Itnmod'ate restora
tion of the free sml ununi ted collage of
ellver and g !d at the present ratio of HI to
J. wltbott waiting for the aid or consent of
ay other nation."
'i h" I'flrfimount Tssne. .
Bo the- Issue l presented. It will he noted
(hst the demand Is far th Immediate restor
ation of the free eon.igc of sliver at 19 lo
J. If another sue is parr nomnf, this Is
liiiuied'iite. It will admit tif ao litis aid
tylii au&er uo postponement.
. i
Turning to the other associated parties,
we flud I "I tha ropulist national platform
adopted at Sioux Kalis. . IK, Mm 10, 1900.
the following declaration:
"We pledge anew the People's party nev
er to cease the agitation until this financial
cousplraey Is blotted from the statute book,
the Lincoln greenback restored, the boada
all paid and all corporation money forever
retired. We realllriu the demand tor the re
opening of the mints of the l ulled States
for the feee and unlimited coinage of sliver
and gold at the present legal ratio ef 10 to
1, the Immediate Increase In the volume ef
sliver coin and certificates thus created to
be substituted, dollar for dollar, for the
bank notes Issued by private corporations
uuder special privilege, granted by law of
March 14, 1900, and prior national banking
laws."
Declare Their Hostility.
The platform of the sliver party adopted
at Kansas City, July 8, 1900. makes the fol
lowing announcement:
"We declare It to be our Intention to lend
our efforts to the -repeal of this currency
law, which not only repudiates the ancient
and time-honored principles of the Ameri
can people before the Constitution was
adopted, but Is violative of the principle of
the Constitution Itself: and we shall not
cease .our efforts until there has been estab
lished In Its place a monetary system based
iiihiiI the free and unlimited coinage of silver
and gold Into muaiey at the present legal
ratio of 10 to 1 by the Independent notion of
the I'nlted States, under which ystem all
paper money shall be Issued by the govern
ment, and all such money coined or Issued
shall be a full legal tender In payment of
all debts, public and private, without excep
tion." Combine Asalnst Gold.
In all three platforms these parties an
nounce that their efforts shall be nnceaslng
until the gold act shall be blotted from the
statute books and the free and unlimited
roluage of sliver at 10 to 1, shall take its
place.
The relative Importance of the Issues I do
not stop to discuss. All of them are Im
portant. Whichever party Is successful will
be houud In conscience to carry Into admin
istration and legislation Its several declara
tions atnd doctrine, tine declaration will he
ns obligatory as another, hut all are not Im
mediate. It is not possible that these parties would
treat the doctrine of HI to 1, the Immediate
realization of which is demanded by their
several platforms, as void aud Inoperative
lu the event that they should be clothed
with power. Otherwise their profession of
faith Is Insincere. It Is therefore the Im
perative business cf those opposed to this
llnanelal heresy to prevent the triumph of
the parties whose union Is only assured by
adherence to the silver issne.
Knclnir Grave Peril.
Will the American people, through Indif
ference or fancied security, hazard the over
throw of the wise financial legislation of the
last year and revive the danger of the silver
standard, wilh all of the Inevitable evils of
shattered confidence and general disaster
which justly alarmed and aroused them In
lMKi?
The Chicago platform of 1MH! Is reaffirmed
In Its entirety by the Kansas Cliy conven
tion. Nothing has been omitted or recalled;
so that all the perils then threatened are
presented anew with the added force of a
deliberate reattlrmatinu. Konr years ago
the people refused to place the seal of their
approval upon these dangerous nud revolu
tionary policies, and this year they will not
fall to record again llieir earnest dissent.
Faithful to Pledges.
The I'.epulillenii party remains faithful to
its principle of a tariff which supplies suf
ficient revenues for the government and ade
quate protection to oir enterprises aud pro
ducers, and of reciprocity, which opens for
eign markets to the fruits of American labor
and furnishes new channels through which
to market the surplus of American farms.
The time-honored principles of protection
and reciprocity were the first pledges of lie
publlcan victory to be writteu Into public
law. .
The present Congress has given to Alaska
a tcriltoriul government for which It had
waited more than a quarter of a century;
has established a representative government
in Hawaii; has enacted bills for the most
liberal treatment of tlic pensioners and their
widows; has revived the free homestead
policy.
In Its great flnanclal law It provided for
the establishment of banks of issue with a
capital of $25,000 for the benelit of villages
and rural communities, bringing the oppor
tunity for profitable business In banking
within the reach of moderate capital. Many
are already availing themselves of this priv
ilege. Pome Convincing Figures.
During the past year more than $19.000. 00
of United States bonds have been paid from
the surplus revenues of the treasury, and In
addition $25,000,000 of 2 per cents matured,
called by the government, are lu process of
payment. Pacific Itallroad bonds Issued by
the government In aid of the roads lu the
sum of nearly $44,000,000 have been paid
since Dee. 31, 1S97. The treasury balance Is
In satisfactory condition, showing on Sept.
1 $135,419,000, In addition to the Sl.iD.U0fl.0mj
gold reserve In the treasury. The govern
ment relations with the Pacific railroads
have been substantially closed, $124.421,0i:0
being received from these roads, the greater
part In cash and the reihalndcr with ample
securities for payments deferred.
Instead of diminishing, as was predicted
four years ago, th4 volume of our currency
Is greater per capita than It has ever been.
It was 121.10 In IMIO, It had Increased to
2u.-0 on July 1, PJCiO, and $2i.3 on Sept. 1,
1900. Our total money on July 1, lsyu, was
$1,. -.00,43 1.OCG; on July 1, Who, It wss $2,
lMiU.425,490, and $2,091l.t3,0t2 on Sept. 1,
1900.
Prosperity In Genernt.
Oar Industrial and agricultural condition
are more promising than they have been for
many years; probably more o than they
have ever len. Prosperity abound every
where throughout the republic. I rejoice
that the Hon t hern a well a the Northern
Stares are enjoying a full share of these Im
proved national condition and that all are
contributing o largely to our remarkable
Industrial development.
The money lender receives lower reward
for Ills capital than If It were Invested In
active business. The rate of Interest are
lower than they have ever been In tbla coun
try, while those things which are produced
on the farm and In the workshop, d the
labor producing them, bare advanced In
value.
Our foreign trade show a aatlsfactory and
Increadag growth. Th amount f tsar ex
port for the year HXiO over those of the ex
ceptionally prospcroua year of 1W9 w
about half a million dollar for every day
of Oj yeur, and these sums have gone Into
the borne aud enterprise of the people.
Th-r ha been an Increase of over i.Vi,000,
UbO lu the exports of agricultural products,
t'.rMn:M n manufactures and In the prod
ucts of the mine of over f 10.(Xi.iO.
Bin Gaina la Trade.
Our trade bu lances cannot fall to give sat
isfaction to the people of the couutry. lu
we wild abroad 15.4:e.76 of product
more than we bought abroad, lu 1K1I9 $.V2!),-
874.813 and In 11XW t544.471.70l, making dur
ing the three year a total balauce In our
favor of Il.CNi.779, 100 nearly Ave times the
bslum-e of trade In our favor for the whole
period of 1 year from 17t0 to June :).
1PH7 Inclusive.
Kour hundred and thirty-six million dol
lars of gold have been added to the gold
stock of the I'nlted State since July 1. lwsj.
The law of March 14, lm, authorized the
refunding Into 2 per ceut bonds of that part
of the public debt represented by the 3 per
cents due In HHiS, the 4 per cent due In H"i
and the S per cent due lu 1!HM, aggregating
IH40.0Xi0.0ii0. More thnu one-third of the
sum of these bonds was refunded lu the first
three mouths after the passage of the act,
and on Sept. 1 the sum had been Increased
more than .13.000,000. making lu all $:t:u).
.ri7K.iif(i, reultlng In a net saving of over 18,
37'J,520. Government Ravins Money.
The ordinary receipt of the government
for the fiscal year 1900 were 1711,527,000 In
excess of Its expenditures.
While our receipt both from custom and
Internal revenue have been greatly Increas
ed, our expenditures have been decreasing.
Civil and miscellaneous expenses for the fis
cal vear ending June :. I'.KHV were nearly
$14,000,000 less than In 1SU!. while on the
war account there Is a decrease cf more
PRESIDENT
than !l.',000.00O. There was required R,
OoO.OOO less to support the navy this year
than last, and the expenditures on account
of Indian were uearly two and three-qunr-ters
million dollars less than 111 1S!K).
The only two Items of Increase lu the pub
lic expenses of 1900 over 1890 are for pen
tlons and Interest pn the public debt. For
1890 we expeuded for pensions (1.19.394,029,
and for the fiscal year 1900 our payments on
this nccount amounted to $140.'877.3ia The
net Increase of Interest on the public debt
of 1900 over 1899 required by the war loan
was $263,408.25.
Honda Speedily Taken.
While Congres authorized the govern
ment to make a war loan of $400,000,000 at
the beginning of tbe war with Spain, only
$200,000,000 of bond was Issued, bearing 3
per cent l iterest, which were promptly and
patriotically taken by our citizens.
L'ules something unforeseen occur to r
duce our revenues or Increase onr expendi
tures, the Congress at Ita next session ahould
reduce taxation very materially.
Fifty years ago we were selling govern
ment bonds ben ring as high as S per cent In
terest. Now we nre redeeming thera with a
bond at par bearing 2 per cent Interest. We
are selling our surplus product aud lending
our surplus money to Knrope.
Knrop I tmr Debtor.
One result of our selling to other nations
so much more than we bnve bought from
them duHng the past three year Is a radical
Improvement of our financial relation. The
great amount of capital which bnve been
borrowed of Europe for our rapid, material
development have remained a constant drain
upon our resource for Interest and divi
dends and made our money markets liable
to constuut disturbances by rail for pay
ment or heavy sale of our aecnrlttea when
ever money stringency or panic occurred
nbroad. We have now been paying these
debt and bringing home many of onr se
curities and establishing countervailing
credlta abroad by our loans and placing onr
selves npon a sure foundation of flnanclal
Independence.
In the unfortunate contest between Orent
Britain and the Iloer states of South Africa
the United Statea ha maintained an atti
tude of neutrality In accordance with It
well-known traditional policy. It (lid not
hesitate, however, when reipieited by the
governments of the South African republics,
to exercise It good offices for a cessation of
hostilities.
Did What W Conld.
It la to he observed that while the South
African republic made like request of other
power, the L'nlted States Is the only one
which compiled. The Hrltlsh government
declined to accept the Intervention of ao
power.
Nlnet on per cent of onr export and Im
aorta arc ir carried by forclga shlpa. For
ocean transportation we pay snnnslly to for
eign khlp owner, over H1.-..OU0.iiO. We
ought to own the hlps for our carrying
trade with the world, and me ought to build
them la American shipyard and mau them
with American sailors. Our own citizens
should receive the transportation charge
now pld to foreigner.
I have called the ttentlon of Congress to
this iihject iu niy everal auauai message.
In that of Dec. 8, 18T, I said:
"Most desirable from every standpoint of
national Interest aud patriotism Is the effort
to extend our foreign commerce. To this
end our merchant marine should be Improved
and enlarged. We should do our full share
of the cairyiag trade of the world. We do
uot do It now. We should be the laggard no
longer." '
. In mv message of Dec. T.. I said:
"Our national development wl 1 be one sided
.i ..iwf aetnrv so long as the remark
able growth of our Inland Industries remains
unaccompanied by progress on i.ie w".
There Is no lack of constitutional authority
for legislation which shall give to the coun
try maritime strength commensurate with
lis Industrial achievements and with Its
rauk among the natlous of the earth.
"The past yeor has recorded exceptional
activity In our'shlpyard. and the promises
of continual prosperity In shipbuilding are
abundant. Advanced legislation for the pro
tectlon of our seamen ha been enacted. Our
coast trade, under regulations wisely framed
at the bogiunlug of th government and
since, shows Its results for the pat fiscal
year nnequaled In our records or those of
any other power.
Need of the Canal.
"We shall fall to realize onr opportuni
ties, however. If we complacently regard
only matters at home and blind ourselves to
the necessity of securing our share In the
valuable canying trade of the wor:d.
"1 now reiterate these views.
M'KINLEY.
"A sabject of ImmeUlale importance to
onr country Is the completion of a great
waterway of commerce between the Atlantic
and Pacific. The constrnetlon of a mari
time canal I now more than ever Indispen
sable to tbnt Intimate and ready communi
cation between our eastern and western sen
ports, demanded by the annexation of the
Hawaiian Islands and the expansion of our
Influence and trade In the Pacific.
"Our national policy more Imperatively
than ever calls for Its completion and con
trol hy this government, and It Is believed
that the next session of Congress, after re
ceiving the full report of the commission ap
pointed under the act approved March 3,
1899, Vlll make provisions for the sure ac
complishment of tnls grent work.
Would Restrict Trust.
Combinations of capital which control tbe
market In commodities necessary to the gen
eral use of the people hy suppressing nat
ural and ordinary competition, thus en
hancing prices to the general consumer, are
obnoxious to the common law and the public
welfare. They are dangerous conspiracies
against the public good, and should be made
the subject of prohibitory or penal legisla
tion.
Publicity will be a helpful Influence ta
cheek this evil. Uniformity of legislation In
the different States should be secured. Dis
crimination between what I Injurious and
what Is useful and necessary In business
operations Is essential to the wise and effect
ive treatment of this suliject.
Honest co-operation of capital Is necessary
to meet new business conditions and extend
our rapidly Increasing foreign trade, but
conspiracies and combinations Intended ta
restrict business, create monopolies and con
trol price should be effectively restrained.
.Peat Friends of Lnhnr.
The best service which cau be rendered to
labor Is to afford It an opportunity for
steady and remunerative employment and
give It every encouragement for advance
ment. The policy that aubsi-rves this end I
the true American policy. The past three
yesrs have been more satisfactory to Ameri
can worklngmen than many preceding years.
Any change of the present Industrial or
financial policy of the government would be
disastrous to their highest Intrrcs's.
With prosperity st home and an Increas
ing foreign market for American products
employment should continue to wait upon
labor, and with the present gild tttdard
the worklngman Is secured against payment
for bis labor In a depreciated currency. For
labor a short day is better than a short dol
Isr. One will lighten the burdens, the other
lessen the rewards of toll. The one will
promote contentment and Independence, the
other penury and want.
Fpcak for Good Waa-ea.
The wage of labor ahould be adequate to
keep the home to comfort, educate the chil
PPFPT
dren,' and, with thrift and economy, lay
something by for the day of Infirmity and
old age.
Fraetlcal civil service reform ha alwaya
had the support and encouragement of the
Itepubllcau party. The future of the merit
system la safe la It hand.
During tbe present administration aa oc
casions have arisen for modification ar
amendment In the existing civil aervtce law
aud rules, they have been made. Important
amendment were promulgated by executive
order under date of May 29. ISM. having for
iheir principal purpose the exception from
competitive examlnatloa of certain plaoea In
volving fiduciary responsibilities or duties
of a strictly confidential, scientific or execu
tive character, which it ws thought might
Im Iter be filled by noncompetitive exmlna
tlon or by other tests of fitness In the dla
creticn of tbe appointing officer.
Value of Merit Bytem.
it Is gratifying tbat the experience of more
lliau a year has vindicated these change In
the marked Improvement of the public er
vice. The merit system, as far a practicable,
is made the basis for appolntmenta to of
fice iu ouanew territory.
The American people are profoundly grate
ful to the soldiers, sailors and marines who
have In every time cf conflict fought their
country 'a battles and defended lta honor.
The survivors and the widows and orphans
of those who have fallen are Justly entitled
to receive the generous and considerate care
of the nation.
Few are now left of those who fought In
i he Mexican war, and while many of the
veterans of the Civil War are still spared to
us their numbers are rapidly diminishing
and age and Infirmity are increasing their de
pendence. These, with the soldiers of the
Spanish war, will not be neglected by their
grateful countrymen!. Tbe pension law
have been liberal. They should be Justly
administered, and will be. Preference
should be given to the soldiers, sailor and
marines, their widows and orphan, with
respect to employment in the public ser
vice. Kept Faith with Cuba.
We have been In possession of Cuba since
the first of January, 1809. We have re
stored order and established domestic tran
quillity. We have fed the starving, clothed
the naked, ami ministered to the sick. We
have improved the sanitary condition of the
Island. We have stimulated Industry, In
traduced public education, and taken a full
and comprehensiie enumeration of the In
habitants. The qualification of electors has been set
tled and under It officers have been chosen
for all the municipalities of Cuba. These
local governments nre now In operation, ad
ministered by tbe people. Our military es
tablishment ha been reduced from 43,000
to less than 6,000.
An election has been ordered to be held on
the 15th of September under a fair election
law already tried In the municipal elections,
to choose members of a constitutional con
vention, and tbe convention, by the same
order. Is to assemble on the first Monday of
November to frame a constitution npon
which an Independent government for the
island will rest. All this Is a long step In
the fulfillment of our sacred guarantee to
the people of Cuba.
Plant for Porto Rico.
We bold Porto Itlco by the same title as
the Philippine. The treaty of peace which
ceded ns the one conveyed to us the other.
Congress has given to this Island a govern
ment In whlcb tbe Inhabitants participate,
elect their own legislature, enact their own
local laws, provide their own system of tax
ation, an I in these respects bnve the lame
power and privileges enjoyed by other terri
tories belonging to the I'nlted States and a
much larger measure of self-government
than wa given to the Inhabitant of Louisi
ana under Jefferson. A district court of the
United States for Porto Hlco has been estab
lished and local courts have been Inaugur
ated, all of which nre In operation.
The generous treatment of the Torto
Rlcans accord with the most liberal thought
of our own country and encourages the best
aspirations of the people of tbe Island,
While tbey do not bnve Instant free com
mercial Intercourse with the United States,
Cougcess complied with my recommendation
by removing, on the 1st day of May last,
85 per cent of the duties and providing for
the removal of the remalulng 15 per cent
on the 1st of March, 1902, or earlier if the
legislator of Porto Rico shall provide local
revenues for the expenses of conducting the
government.
Island la Profited.
During this Intermediate period Torto
Itlean products coming Into tbe United
States pa a tariff of 15 per cent of the rates
under tbe Dlngley act and our good going
to Porto Rico pay a like rate. The duties
thus paid and collected both In Porta Hlco
and the United State are paid to tbe gov
ernment of Torto Rico and no part thereof
I taken by the national government.
All of tbe dutle from Nov. I, 1898, to June
30, 1900, ggregatlng the um of $2,250,
523.21, paid at tbe enstnm houses In tbe
United States npon Porto Rlcan products,
under the laws existing prior to the above
mentioned act of Congress, have gone Into
tbe treasury of Porto Itlco to relieve the
destitute and for schools and other public
purposes. In addition to this, we have ex
pended for relief, education and Improve
ment of roads tbe sum of $1,613,084.05.
Military Force Cnt Down.
The United States military force In the
Istands bos been reduced from 11,000 to
1,500, and native Porto Rlcans constltnte for
the most part the loc constabulary.
Under the new law and the Inauguration
ol civil government there hna been a grati
fying revival of bna'ness. The manufacture
of Porto Rico are developing; ber Imports
are Increasing; her tariff Is yielding In
creased returns; her fields are being culti
vated; free si bonis nre being established,
Nnlwlthslr.ndlng the many embarrassments
Incident to a change of national conditions.
she Is rapidly showing the good effect of
her new relation to tills nation.
Tor the snke of full and intelligent under
standing of the Philippine question and to
give to the people kiilbentic Information of
the ct and alms of the administration, I
present at some length the event of Impor
tance leading up to the present altnatlon.
The purposes of the executive are best re
vealed and csn best be Judged by what he
has done and Is doing,
Kvcry Move for Peace.
It will be seen that the power of the gov
ernment has been used for the liberty, the
pence and tbe prosperity of the Philippine
peoples, and that force has been employed
only against fore which stood la the w---i
he realisation of these tads,
pp
Tffi
On the 25th day of April, isjis, c
declared tbat a state of war exi.te. j!!
Spain and tbe United States, o u"
1898, Admiral Dewey destroy u,
fleet la Manila Bay. On May 19 im w
Oen. Merrltt. U. 8. A., wa. place, u
mand of the military expedltiOD t u
and directed among other thing t ia,"'''
atel "pobllaU a proclamation declaria,,?"
we come not to make war upon tb
of tbe Phlllpplnea nor upon any p,n L?
tlon amoffg them, but to protect tk
their homes, In their employments, M
their personal and religious rights. n
sons who. either hy active ,id or fe,
eubmlssloa. co-operate with the rZ
Statea la ita effort to give effect t !!
beneficent pnrpoee will receive th
of Ita aupport and protection."
Roana Fortunes of War.
On Jnly 3, 1808, the Spanish fleet i.
tempting to escape from Santiago ..rk,
wa destroyed by tbe American fleet iti
July 17. 1898, the Spanish garrison I. Z
city of Santiago surrendered to ihi e
mender of the American forces.
Following these brilliant victories, oi ,w
12th day of August, 1898. upon the lnhi,u
of Spain, hostilities were suspended, im .
protocol waa signed with a view to trm,
ing terma of peace between the two foterv
ments. In pursuance thereof I appointed m
commissioner the following dlstlnpiW
citizen to conduct the negotiations 00 ib,
raft of tbe United States: Hon. William
Day of Ohio. Hon. William P. Fr
Minnesota, Hon. George Gray of DeUlrt
and Hon. Wbltelaw Reld of New Tort.
Forced Into Conflict.
In addressing the peace comnilssios Wvt
its departure for Paris, I said:
"It Is my wish tbat throughout the i.R
tlatlons Intrusted to the commission the pur
pose and spirit with which the United Sitw
accepted the unwelcome necessity ot sir
should be kept constantly In view, w?
took up arms only In obedience to the dc.
tates of humanity and the fulfillment of bigs,
public and moral obligations. We bad u
design of aggrandizement and no ambltla
of conquest.
"Through the long course of repeated if
reientatlons whlcb preceded and aimed i
avert the struggle and In the final arbitri
ment of force this country was ImprOd ..
ly by tbe purpose of relleriuf trirvotit
wrongs and removing long exisilnf condi
tions which disturbed Its tranquillity, abut
shocked the moral sense of ninukiiid and
which could no longer be endured.
High Sense of Duty. .
"It I my earnest wish that tbe I'al'et
States In making peace should follow tn
same high rule of couduct which guided it
In facing war. It should he as sernpnlmt
and magnanimous In the concluding aettl
meut aa It was Just und humane In Itt ord
inal action. our aim In the nljutt
uient of pence should be dieected to lasting
result and to the achievement of the cim
nion good under the deifiamls of clvlliini-i
rather tbnn to ambitious designs.
"Without any original thought f cumpr
or eveu partial acquisition, the preeDiil
success of our anus at Manila Impose ar
us obligation whlcb we cannot UUrrpN
The march of events rules aud overrule
human action. Avowing unreservedly Hi
purpose which bus animated all utir ttr,
and still solicitous to adhere to It. wf n
not he unmindful that without any dnl't
or design 00 our part the war baa brough:
us new duties and responsibilities waki
must meet aud discharge as becomes a grest
nation ou wnoee growth and career, Iro
the beginning, the Ituler of Nations Ml
ilnlnlv written the III ell eulliuniud
pledge of civilization."
r-hirked No Hepinnlbillty.
On Oct. 28, 1890, while the peace com
slon waa continuing Its 111 gotlatluna In l'rl",
the following additional Instruction
sent:
"it la Imperative upon us that !!
we should be governed only hy
which will exalt our nation. Territorial es
panslon should be our least concern; '";
we shall uot shirk the moral ob.lifatioo f
our victory la of the greatest,
"It la undisputed that Spain's authority
permanently destroyed In every part ef t'
Philippines. To leave any part In er ot"
control now would Increase our nltfcslU"
aud be opposed to the Interests of bu
Ity. Nor can we permit Si"' '
transfer any of the islands to not"
power. Nor can we Invite another Vv
or powera to Join the United States ! "
erelgnl ever them. We mast ehh" "
them or turn them back to Spils.
Only One Honorable lonrse.
"Consequently.' grave as are the re-P"
bllltlea and unforeseen s sre the ''
.1.. ..hl.-h ore ,er..re iis. the rie.ldfnt ("
ee but one pluln path of duty. Hi
... o,A.i.r A fflCJI"'
anee or ine arenipcing".
j ,,. lin adini
... ., . I fn II
tlve ana international "
other course.
"The President has given lo 1""
the commissioner, the fullest f"M'n
aud In reaching tne r.-- -
... i.,r..rmat on W
nounced, in ine ngni -
, .1... M..n,,iiision and t0
niUUICMl'.-U IU iiir hilbfl
President since your departure, a
Influenced by the slng.e
unmtnurui or mr .i,i,ntl
tlon of Spain, and whatever
tbe United State may m.- -. rt
from It .ease of generosity -'
ence rather than from any real or
obligation."
n . n..HitiiH Then.
ionics . B,
Again, on Nov. 13. I Instructed ts
mlsslont .,.. fc'i
"From the standpoint of ln,,pn pti
the archipelagoes (Porto Itlco
ipplne.) are Insufficient to PJ ,
penses, but aside irom -
an obligation to tn l" ' - - ,
pine, which will not per.-
them to tne .overei.in . .
J.i.tlfy ourselve. In such e-
we jjrMi.fc im - . rpw
"Willingly or not, w . ,ip
blllty of duly which " "bfll(T, '
. The President ""''',.)
division of the .rchipelsgo ' 11
thing but embarrassment In tne 1 ,
trade and commercial side.
indemnity for the cost of lh w .
tlon. w. might yield. The
. .nmnrnmlsed. but IB V"
nd .r'!'h:":,nnd0n.b.ppui:-
irongiy imi markes""
i.i ih. one b bss her m
Terma of the Tre.tr-
The treat of peace was cn i.r
know, aa the Philippic
,,vHP...t. ty''''" "-M.
movlded that "ta -