HIS LCTTEROP ACCEPTANCE
President McKinley Gives to the Public the
Document Eagerly Looked For.
DEALS WITH ALL THE REAL ISSUES
Country Has Prospered Under Republican Rule and the Party
is Ready to Come Before the People on the Record It Has
Made in Following the Path of DutyThe Philippine Oucs
tion and Our Foreign Dependencies in General,
KXKCUTIVB MANSION. WASHING
TON. Hon. Honry Cnbot I.odge, Chair
limn Notification Committee: My Dear
Sir: Tho nomlnntlon of tho republican na
tional convention of June 111, 1900, for Urn
timen ot president of tho United Mates,
which ns the official representative of tho
rnnvcntlon you huvo conveyed to nic. In
accepted. I Imvp carefully examined tho
platform adopted ami glvn to it my
hearty approval. Upon tho ureal Issua
of the lam national election It I clour.
U upholds tho gold standard ami en
dorses the legislation of tho present con
fess by which that Htnnilnrd had been
ffectlvcly strengthened. Tho stability
of our national currency Id therefore se
curo o long ns those who ailhero in till
plulform nro kept In control of tho gov
ernment. In the first haltle. tlmt of SM.
tho friends of thu gold standard find of
found currency were tilumphnnt una tho
country In enjoying tho fruits of that vic
tory. Our antagonists, however, aro not
intlsned. They compel uh to a second
Ixittlo upon tho sumo lines on which thu
first wcro fought and won. While regret
ting tho reopening of thin question, . wiilch
can onlv disturb the presunt satisfactory
nnanelal condition of th government and
visit uncertainty upon our groat business
enterprises, wo accept the Issue and again
Invito tho sound money forces to Join In
winning another and wo hope n perma
nent trlun.ph for an turnout ilnnnclal sys
tern which wilt contlnuo Invlolnblo tho
puhlle faltli.
A In HOT tho three silver purlUs are
united under the same loader, who, Im
mediately after tho election of thut year,
In, an uddrvss to the blmclnlllsts, said;
"The frloiidM of bimetallism havo not
heon vanquished; they hnvo slnuily liecn
overcome. They bellevu that tho gold
standard Is a conspiracy of the money
changer ugnlnst tho wulfuro of tho bu
man ruco. nnd (hey will contlnuo the war
faro against It."
The policy thus proclaimed hus been ac
cepted nnd confirmed by those parties.
Tho silver democratic platform of 1W0
continues tho warfaro against tho so
culled gold conspiracy when It oxpressly
says, "wo relterato tho demiind that (tho
Chicago) platform of M for an American
financial system mndo by tho American
peoplo for themselves which shall restore
and maintain a bimelalllo prlco Invol and
ns a part of such system thu Immediate
restoration Of tho free and unlimited coin
age of sliver and gold ut thn present ra
tio ot 16 to 1, without waiting for the aid
or consent of nny other nation."
Ho thn Issue. Is prcsonttd. It wilt bo
noted that tha demand Is for tho tmmo
illnlo restoration of tho free colnngo of
sliver nt 111 to 1. Jf another Issue, Is par
amount this Is Immediate. It will admit
of HQ dotuy mid will suffer no postpone
ment. Turning to tho otlwr associated parties
wn find In the populist national platform
adopted at Sioux Kails, H. !., May 10,
1900. tho following declaration:
"Wo plcdgo nnuw tho people's pnrly
never to cease tho agitation until this
financial conspiracy Is blotted from tho
statute books, tho Lincoln greenback iu
stored, tho bonds an paid and all corpora
tion money forever retired. Wo reaf
firm the demand for tho reopening of tho
mints of tho United Stntcs for thn froo
nnd unlimited coinage ot silver nnd gold
at the present legal ratio of 10 to 1, tho
Immediate Increase In thn volume of silver
coins and certificates thus created to bo
substituted, dollar for dollar, for luu
banknotes Issued by private corporations
under special privilege, granted bv law
ot March 14, 1900, and prior national bank
ing laws."
Tho platform of tho sliver pnrty ndopl
ed at Kansas City July C, 1000 makes uio
following rinnouccmniit:
"Wo declare It to bu our Intention to
lend our efforts to tho repeal of this cur
rency law, which not only repudiates tho
ancient nnd time-honored principles of tho
American people beforo thn constitution
wus ndoptetl, but Is violative or tho prin
ciples of tho constitution Itself, and we
shall not ceaso our efforts until thorn lias
been established In Its place a, monetary
system based upon tho free and unlimited
eoiungo of silver mid gold into money nt
tho presont legal ratio of K5 to 1 by tho In
dependent action ot tho United Slutcs,
under which Hystem all paper money
shall bo Issued by the government nnd all
such money coined or Issued shall bn a
full legal tender In payment of nil debts,
public nnd private, without exception."
In nil throo platforms these parties an
nounce that their efforts shall bo unceas
ing until tho irold act shall bo blotted
from tho statute books and thu froo and
unlimited colnngo of sliver nt 10 to 1
shall toko Its pliute.
Tho relative Imiiortunco of the Issues
I do not stop to discuss. All ot ihem aro
Important. Whichever party Is success
ful will bo bound In conscience to carry
into administration and legislation Its
several declarations and doctrines. One
iioi'iiimuon win uo as obligatory ns an
inner, nut ail am not Immediate. It Is
not possible that theso parties would treat
tho doctrine of 111 to . tin. immn.iini.t
Mention of. which U demanded by their
rarciiil IHUUlirillS, ns VOKl Ullll lUUPom
've in tlio event that thoy soulit ba
ClOthCd With tiownr. lltlmnvU.. II,
fesslon of faith Is Insincere. It Is there-
mm uiu imperative uusincs.i nt thoso op
posed to nils llnanclal heresy to pr vein
1110 t rill til till or thn linrll.iu .i,.M.. ....I....
Is only assureil by lullierenco to the silver
iniiiio. win uio American people, through
iiidiiTormico or fancied security, hazard
miu uveiuiriw ot ino WI80 llllllUCla en Is
latlon Of too lust vrnr .mil i.ivlv., ,,
itnngcr of tho silver stanonnt xtM all of
tho Inovltnhlii pvllti of scattered eouiUunco
Him Kt-neiui disaster wuirii justly alarm'
ed and aroused thuni in JMifT.
WOttlC OK IUSPUIILK'AN CONOUKKH
Tilt) renuollean ti.irlv r,.i,,li,., rm.r.,i
to lis principle of u tariff which mipplles
Hiilllclont revenues for the government
nnd adequate protection to our enter
prises and producers: and of reciprocity
which opens foreign mnrUotH to the fruits
Of American liilint1 nml for,,!.!,.,.,
channels through which to market tho
surplus of American furms. The ilme-
uuininu iiriiiuiiniH or protection ami reel,
proclty wcro the llrJLPedges. "f re uhlb
can victory to be wtiftHii into i.ni.iiA ,,,
Tlio present congress hus given to Alasi
nil u mrruoriai government, ror wlllch It
had waited more than u nuiirtur i,t n
conturyi has established it representative
government In Hawaii: has unnoted bills
for the most liberal treatment of iho
pensioners and their widows; ban revived
jiiu ilea imiiii-Miviiii poiioy. in us greui
llnanclal law It provided for tho eslab
llshment of banku of luiin win, .i.i
till of S25.O00. for thn lipiu.lli nt vll!,,.!.
nnd rural communities and bringing the
oppprtunlty for prolltnble buslnesn In
uiiii(iiik wiuiiii mo renen or modvrati
cuiiltul. Many are already availing thorn
neiven in mis privilege.
During tho last year more ttinn $13,000.
000 of United Htatcs bonds liavo Immi mil,
from the surplus ruvcniuiu of thn inmi
ury nnd In addition $:5.(ioi),oo0 ot " tier
reins iiuuureii, caneii ny uio government
mo in iiriicesu ui paymont. 1'aciiio ran
road bonds IhnuciI by the government li
aid of the rnuds In the sum ot nearly
ii.ihw.iam nave uucii pain sinco liccemner
.it, ikii. inn ireuuury luuunco is in sut
lsfnclory condition, showing on Septem
i,..r.J"Ht ls.Mli,ouo, in addition to tho
w genu reserve held in tlio trcas
ury, ino government's relations wit
ino, raciuo railroads iiavn tieon suhMu
tlally closed, Ul.42l.0O') being received
irom ineso rouiiii, ino greater part li
cash find tho rcmuluder with ample socur
iitrn mr iuyiiiuillH iieierrcii.
Instead Of diminishing, us wnu nrmllnt
ed four yourn ago, the volumv ot our cur
rency Is grenter per cnnlla than It 1ms
ever been, It was $21.10 In 1890. It tins In-
reused to tlfi.U) on Ju y 1. 1500. nnd -!.
on September 1, I'm Our total mone on
.Inly I, IKW, was V.'M.M.'Ji'A: an July 1,
1900, It was 12.002. K3, 401, nnd I2.0JC.W.0U
on September 1.
i.j u r industrial unit ngricunurni condi
tions are more nrom sing than they have
been for many years; probably more so
than they have ever been, rrosperlty
abounds evorywhero throughout tho re
public. I rcjolcu that the southern, ns
well as the northern states, are enjoy
ing n full share of these Improved nation- .
al conditions and Hint nil urn contribut- I
ing so largely to our remarkable iikiuh-
nui development. The moneyinndtr re
delves lowrr rewards for his catiltal than
If it wern Invested In active business. The
rates of Interest are lower than they nave
ever been In this country, while thoso
things which uro produced nn the farm
ind In the workshop, and thu labor pro
ducing them, have advanced In value.
unless something unforeseen occuis to
reduce our revenues or Increase our ex
penditures tho congress at Its next ues
slon should reduce taxation very mate
rially. Klvo yours ago wo wcro selling govern
ment bonds benrlnir as hlirh ns li nor cent
interest. Now wo are redeeming them
with n bond at par, bearing i! per cent In
terest. Wn are selling our surplus pro-
liets find t iii 1 1 1 1 1 lt mir snrtibiH nionnv to
Kurope. Ono result of our selling to otll-
' nations so muub p.inro than wo havo
bought from them during tho lust three
years Is n radical Improvement of our
llimmlnl relations. Thu great amounts
f catiltal which have been borrowed of
Kurono for our mtilil. material develop
ment havo remained a constant drain up
on our resources for Interest and divid
ends ami made our money markets liable
to constant disturbances bv culls for pay
ment or heavy sales of our securities
whenever moneyed stringency or panic
occurred abroad. Wn have now been pay
ing these debts and bringing homo many
r our securities and establishing counter
ailing ctedlts abroad bv our loans and
placing oursidves ution a Hiiro foundation
of llnanclal Independence.
In tho unfortunate contest between
(Ircat Ilrltalu and the liner states ot
Houth Africa thn United Htatcs has main
tained an ntiludo of neutrality In ac
cordance with Its well known traditional
policy, it did not hesitate, however,
wiieii reiiuesled by tho gnverumuiit of
tho Houth African republics, to cxeiclso
Its good ofllces for n cessation ot hostili
ties, it Is to bu observed that while
thn South African republics made like re
quest of other powers the United Slates
is the only ono which complied. The
Ilritlsh government declined to accept tho
Intervention of any power.
10XTKNHION OK MlJItt'll ANT MA1UNK
Nllietv-ono mil" cent nt our ixtmrlM nml
Imports nro now carried by foreign ships.
Kor ocean transportation wo pay annually
to foreign shipowners over IlKi.UOO.OOO. Wo
ought to own tho ships for our carrying
trade with tho world and wo ought to
build them In American shipyards and
man them with American sailors. Our
wn citizens should recotve tho tninsnor-
tatlon charges now paid to foreigners. I
havo called tho attention ot cougres to
nun Huujeoi in my several annual mes
sages. I now relterato these views.
A subject ot Immediate imnortniico to
our country Is thu completion of a groat
wutorwny of commerce between thu At
lantlo and Pacific. The construction of a.
maritime canal Is now moro than over In
dispensable to that Intimate and ready
communication between our eastern unit
western seaports demanded by tho annex
ation ot the Hawaiian Islands nnd the
expansion or our iiiiiuunce and trndo In
uio ruciiie.
Ollr nittlolinl nollcv morn hnnnrntlvnlv
than ever calls for Its comnlotlon nml
control by this government, and It Is be-
uoveu mm ino nexi session ot congress,
after receiving the full report oi ,no com
mission apixilnteil under tho act npproved
March 3, 1899, will make provisions for
the siuu accomplishment of this great
work.
Combinations of rimllnl ivlilnh nnnlrnl
the market In commodities necessary to
the gcuerul use of the peoplo by sup
pressing natural nnd ordinary competl-
linn, iiius eniiiincing prices to tile Sfciieral
consumer, are obnoxious to tho common
law Ulld tlio Dublin wolf nro. Tlinv m-n
dangerous conspiracies against tno pub
lla good and should be made tlio subject
of prohibitory or penal legislation. Pub
licity win iju a neiprui iniiuenco to check
this evil. Uniformity of legislation In the
soverul stales should bo secured. Dln-
eriminution between what Is Injurious und
What Is useful and necessarv In IiuuImimm
operations Is essential to tho wise and ot-
lecuvo treatment or mis subject. Hon
est co-opcratlou of capital Is necessary to
meet now business conditions and extend
our rapidly Increasing foreign trade, but
conspiracies and combinations Intended
to restrict business, creatu innnnimllim
and control prices should bo effectively
unit uuiuil,
Tlio Dost servlco which can bo rendered
o labor Is to afford It an iiimnrliinli.- f.ip
stonily und remunerative employment nnd
Rive tt every encouragement -or udvnnce-
iiieiii. ino policy i..iii suiiscrvcs i...s end
Is tlio truo Amorlcan policy. Tho past
threo years huvo buen mora Satisfactory
to American workinumeu than man- urn.
ceding ycura. Any t .align of w.o present
Indiifitrlal or llnanclal policy ot tno gov
ernment would bo disastrous to their
highest Interests. With prosperity nt
homo und nn Inoreaslnir forolmi muricut
for American products umnlovnient HhnuM
1,-uiiiiiuiu in wan upon launr ami wltu the
preseiu gom smnuuni tno woriunemun Is
scoured against payments for his labor
In n depreciated currency. Kor labor a
short day Is bettor lliuii n. Hhnri iiniinr
ono will lighten tho burdens, tho other
lessens uio rewards oi loll. Tlio one will
promotu contentment mid Independence.
thu other ticnur.v ami want, 'rim wmrnu
of labor should bu adequate to keep the
nuiim in uniiiiiiri. iMiiicnui inn ,n iiron.
and, with thrift und economy, lay somo-
iiiiiig ny nir uio nays or iniirmily una
uiu iiku.
tho American peoplo nro profoundly
grateful to the soldiers, uallnrx ami mur.
lues who have In uvory time of conflict
loiigni ineir country untiles und do
feuded Its honor. Tlio survivors and tho
widows und orphans of those who have
fallen uro Justly entitled to receive thu
generous und considerate euro ot the
nation. Kew nro now left ot those who
fought In the Mexican war nnd while
many oi nut veterans or tiiu civil war
are still spared to us their numbers are
rupuny uimiuisiiiug una uko and infirmity
uiu liicroaslmr their iluinmilnni. 'I'lmun
with the soldiers of the Spanish war, will
inn m ni-Kiuuivii ny ineir graterut coun
trymeu. The liension laws huvn hnnn in,
eral. They should be Justly iulmlnlHtiri,i
and will be. Preference siiould tie given
to thn soldiers, sailors and marines, their
wimnvn mm in inilliiH, wnu res pi) CI to em
ihu) nii'iii iii uiu mimic service.
AH TO KOU131UN ij:i'k.nui:ncihs.
Wn havo been In possession ot Cuba
since January 1, 1S99. Wu have restored
order and established domestic tranquil
lity. Wn have fed the starvlmr cloilimi
the nuked mid ministered to thu sick. Wo
have Improved tlio sanitary condition of
uio isiaiiu. we navo siimuiuiou industry,
Introduced nubile education and tukmi
a full and comprehensive- enumeration of
the Inhabitants. The quallllcatlon of elec
tors has been settled and under It officers
nave liven cnosen ror all the municipal!
tics of cuha. Thoso locnl governmontii
uro now In oporutlon, administered by the
people. Our military establishment tins
been reduced front 43,000 soldiers to less
than C.W0. An eleetb n has be n or ! red
to bo held on September IS, under a fair
election law, already tried in thn inuulel-
pal (lections, to choose members of a
constitutional convention, nnd ttie con
vention, under the samf order, N to as
semble nn tho llrst Monday of November
to frnnio a constitution upon which nit In
dependent government for the Island will
rest. All this Is a long step In tho fulfill
ment of our sacred guarantiee to thu peo
ple of Cuba.
Wo hold Porlo ttlco by the same tltto
as the Philippines. Tho treaty of ptuco
which ceded us tli9 one conveyed to us
tho other. Congress has given to this
Island u government In which tho inhab
itants participate, elect their own Icglu
lature, unset their own locnl laws, pro
vide their own system of taxation mid In
thoso respects have tho same power und
privileges enjoyed by other territories be
longing to tho United States, and n much
Inrger measure of self-government thnn
was Klven to the Inhabitants ot Mulsluna
under Jefferson. A district court of tho
United States for Porto Itico tins been
Inaugurated, all of whlcn nre In opera
tion. The generous treatment ot the Por
to Itlcnns accords wltti tha moat liberal
thought of our own country und encour
ages tho best aspirations of the peoplo of
the Island. While they do not have In
stant frto commercial Intercourse with
the United States, congress complied with
my recommendation by removing, on May
I last, 8,1 per cent of the duties und pro
viding for the removal of tho remaining
15 per cent on March 1, 1902, or earlier
If the legislature of Porto Illco shall pro
vide local revenues for the expenses of
conducting thn government. During this
Intermedliito period Porto Rlcnn products
coming Into tho United Htatcs pay a tnr-
'? ".fi 15 ''cr Ccnt uf tnu rnten under
the Ulnglcy act, nnd our goods going to
Porto ltfco pny u like 'rate. The duties
thus paid and collected, both In Porto
ijico mid tho united States, nre paid to
the government of Porto Hlco and no part
thereof Is taken by tho nntlonnl govern
ment. All of tho duties from November
I. UP, to June 20. 1900. nirirrririitlnir llin
sum of 12.250,523.21. Pnld at tho custom
nouses in tlio United Htates upon Porto
Illouti products, under the laws cxb-tlng
prior to tho above mentioned net nf cnn.
gross, huvo gone Into the treasury of Por-
io .uico in relieve tuo destitute and lor
schools nnd other public purposes, lit ad
dition to this wn huvo xiitiiili! for r. ll.-f.
education uud Improvement of roads tho
sum oi i,ai3,oi.ao. Tho United States
military force In the Island tins been re
duced from 11,000 to 1,500 men, nnd native
ono means constitute for tno most part
jui-iii I'uiiniiiniiiury.
Under thn n.iu Intu niiil thn InniuM'.-n.
tlon of civil government there has been
a gratifying revival of business. The
manufacturers of Porto Itlnn nm duvi I.
ppiiig; Its Imports uro Incrcnslng; lis tnr
Ift Is yielding Increased returns: Its fields
am being cultivated: free schools nre
Hug established. Notwithstanding he
many emburrnnsinenlH Incident to a
nnngo or national conditions, Porto HI
o In runldly hIiowIhl- the u-nnil pni,ri nf
ts new relntlons to tills nation.
TIIH PIUIjIPPINK qukstion.
For tho sake of full and IntRlllirnni tin.
erstnndlng of tho Philippine question,
nd tO KlVe tO tho llimnlr ulltln.ntlr. Iii.
formation of tho acts and alms of thu Ad
ministration, I present nt some length
the evonts of Importance leading up to
tho present situation. The purposes ot
tlio executive aro best revealed und can
best ho Judged by what he has dono and
s uonig. n win ua seen that tho power
)f the UOVerillllntlt liuu henn iiwA.t trf Mm
lllierty. tho peace and tho nrostierlty of
tho Philippine peonies, and thnt force tins
been employed only ugalnst rprce which
niooa in ino wny ot tho realization of
theso ends.
On tho 2.itll tit Anrll UK nnn,.r.. ,lo.
clared tlint n statn of wur existed lio-
iween upain and tlio cnlted States. On
May 1, 1WS, Admiral Dcwoy destroyed tho
Spanish fleet in Manila bay. On May 19.
IWit, Major General Merritt, U. B. A., was
p need In command of thu mllltury cxpu
d tlon to Munllu, nnd directed among
other things, to Immediately "publish u
proclamation declaring that we como not
to mnku war upon the peoplo of thn Phil
ippines nor upon uny part or faction
among them, but to protect them In their
homes, In their employments unit 111 their
personal and rollglous lights. All per
sons who. either by active aid or by hon
est submission, co-operato with thn Unit
ed States In Its effortn to givo effect to
this benlllcent purpose, will receive the
ruwarn oi its stipport and protection."
wu j my j, iwj, uiu npnnisn nect in at
tempting to escnpo from Santiago harbor.
Was destroyed bv tha Amnrlrnn Moot nml
on July 17. 1MW, tho Spnnlsh garrison In
tho city of Santlngo surrendered to the
commander of tho American forces.
j'oiiowing ineso tirilllant victories, on
thu 12th day of August. 18118, upon tho
Initiative of Spain, hostilities wore sua
ptiuled and u protbcol was signed with u
view to nrrmiglug terms of pence between
tho two governments. In pursuance there
of I appointed ns commissioners the fol
lowing distinguished citizens to conduct
tlio negotiations Otl the Hurt nf thn fTnlt.
ed States: Hon. William It. Day of Ohio.
ton. Wllllnm P. Kryo ot Maine, lion.
'llSlinnill K. Davis of Mltmn.nitn. linn.
Cleorgo amy of Delaware mid Hon.
Whltelaw Held of New York. In nd
dressing the peaco commission before Its
depnrturo for Paris. 1 said:
"It Is my wish that throughout the ne
gotiations entrusted to tho commission
Hie purpope mid spirit with which the
United Stntcs accepted the unwolcomo ne
cessity of war should be kept constantly
In view. We took up nrms only In obedl
enco to tho dictates ot humnnlty mid In
'iiinni oi .iiiKii jiuuiic mid moral
obligations. We hud no design of ng
grnndlxemcnt and uo umldtlon of con
quest. Through tho long course of re
peated representations which precedod
and aimed to avert tho struggle and In
tho final nrbltrnmont of force this coun
try was impelled solely by tho purpose ot
relieving irrlovous wronirH umi r.i,,vii
long existing conditions which disturbed
nn iranniuiiity. wnicn siiockod tho moral
sense of mankind and which could no
longer oa enuurcii.
"It Is mv earnest wlnb thnt Mm T'i,l-.l
Stales In tnnktng ticaco should follow the
same uigu ruio or conduct which guided
It In facing wnr. It should bo ns scrupu
ntis and magnanimous In the conclud
ng sottloment us it was just and humane
in us original action,
"Our aim In thn adjustment of peaco
should ba directed to lasting rcsulU uud
ui mo aniuevemeni or tiie common good
under tho demands of civilization, rather
than to ambitious designs.
"Without any orlulnul thought of rom
ploto or oven purtlnl acquisition, tho pres
ence and success of our nlms In Manila
Imposes upon us nbllgntlons which wo
cannot disregard. The march of uunts
ruies anil overrules human action. Avow
ing unreservedly tho purpose which has
unlimited all our effort nnd still sollclt-
iiun iu milium 10 u, we cannot nu unniiuit-
iui iiiai viinoui miy itcsiro or design on
our part the war has brought us new du
ties and responsibilities which wo must
meet mid discharge us becomes a sroat
nniion on wnoso growth nnd career from
the beulnulni; thu rulur of nntiniw im.
plainly written tho high command nnd
pledge or civilization,"
Tho treaty of peaco was concluded on
December 10. 1S98. ny Its terniH the archi
pelago known as the Philippine Islands
was ceded by Spain to tho United Hlntes.
It was also provided that "tho civil tights
mid political status of tho native Inhabi
tants of the territories hereby ceded to
tlio United States shall bo determined by
tho congress." Ulevcn dnys thereafter,
on December 21, the following direction
wus given to the commander of our forces
In tho Philippines:
. Vxo 1,"""riy commander ot tho
United Statrs Is enjoined to mnku known
to thn Inhabitants of tho Phlllpplno Is
lands that In succeeding to the sovereignly
of Spain, In severing the former political
relations of tho Inhabitants and in estab
lishing a now political power tho author
ity of tho United States Is to bo exerted
for the securing of the persons mid prop
erty of thn peoplo of tho Islands and for
the confirmation of all their private rights
nnd relations, it will be the duty ot the
commander of tho forces of occupation to
nnnounco nnd proclaim In tho most pub
lic manner that wo como not ns Invaders
or conquerors, but ns friends, to protect
tho natives In their homes, In their em
ployments and in their personal mid ie
llglous rights."
P1HI.1PPINR COMMISSION.
In order to facilitate the most humane,
imclllo nnd effective extension of nuihnr.
ity throughout these Islands und to secure
with thu least possihlo delay, tho buncllts
ot n wise mid generous protection ot Ufa
nnd property to thu Inhabitants, l up
pointed In Janunry, 1S99, a commission
consisting of Hon. Jacob Qnuld Sehur-
man of New York, Admiral George Dew
ey, U. S. N,, Hon. Charles Uunby at In
diana, rrof. Dean C. Worcester ot Mich
igan and Major CJcnernl Khvell Otis, U.
li, A.
On tho Cth of Kebrunry, 1899, the treaty
was ratified by tho senate of tho United
States und tho congress Immediately ap
propriated IW.OOO.ow to carry out Its pro
visions. Tho ratifications were exchanged
by the United States and Spain on tho
Hth ot April, 1S99.
As early as April. 1SS9, tho Philippine
commission, of which Dr. Schurman wns
president, endeavored to bring Lbout
peaco In the Islands by repcutcd confer
ences with leading Tngnlos, representing
the so-called Insurgent government, to tho
end that some general plan of govern
ment might be offered to them which they
would accept. So great was tho satisfac
tion of tho Insurgent commissioners with
tho form of government proposed by tho
American commissioners that tho latter
submitted tho proposed scheme to me for
approval nnd my action thereon ts shown
by the cablo message following:
"May 5, U99. Hclntrmnn, Manila: Yours
of the 4th received, ou are nutholtzcd
to proposo tlmt tinder the miliary nowcr
of the president, pending notion of con
gress, government of the Philippine Is
lands shall consist of n governor general
appointed by the prtsidrnt, cabinet ap
pointed by the governor general, a gener
al udvlstory council elected by tho peo
ple, tho qualifications of electors to bo
carefully considered and determined nnd
tho governor genet n I to huvo ubsohtte
veto. Judiciary strong and Independent,
principal Judges nppolntcd by tho presi
dent, the cnbluot und Judges to bo chosen
from natives or Americans, or botti, hav
ing regard to lltncss. The president ear
nestly desires thu cessation of bloodshed
and that tho peoplo of thu Philippine Is
lands at an early date shall have ine larg
est measure of local self-government con
sistent with peace and good order."
In the latter part of Mny another group
ot representatives came from tho Insur
gent leader. Thu whole matter was fully
discussed with them and promise of ac
ceptance seemed neur at hand. They as
sured our commissioners they would re
turn after consulting with their hader,
but they never did.
As a result of the views expressed by
the first Tngulog representative favotablo
to the plan of tha commission it appears
that tin was, by military order of tho
Insurgent leader, stripped of tils shoulder
straps, dismissed from the army and sen
tenced to twclvo years' Imprisonment.
Tlio views of the commission uro best
sot forth In their own words:
"Dcpiornuio as wnr Is, tho one In which
wo nro now engaged was uiinvnldablo by
us. Wo wero uttacked by n bold, ud
venturous nnd enthusiastic army. No al
ternative wus left to us except Ignomin
ious retreat.
"It Is not to bo conceived of that uny
American would have sanctioned the sur
render of Manila to tho Instirirciits. Our
obligations to other nations und to the
rriendiy Filipinos and to ourselves nnd
our flag demanded that force should bo
met ny force. Whatever tho future of tho
Philippines may lie. tliero Is no course
open to us now except tho prosecution of
me war until mo lnsurgcnta are reduced
to submission. Tho commission is of the
opinion thnt there hus been no time atneo
tho destruction uf tho Snanlsb Hauiulron
by Admiral Dewey when It was possiblo
10 wituuraw our rorces rrom tlio islands
either with honor to ourselves or with
safety to tho Inhabitants."
Satisfied that nothing further could be
accomplished In pursuance of their n's
ston until tho rebellion wns stippi ea. od
and desiring to place beforo the congress
tho rejiult ot their observations, I re
quested tlio commission to return to the
United States. Their most Intelligent nnd
comprehensive report wus submitted to
congress.
In March, 1900, believing that the Insur
rection was practlcnlly ended and ear
nestly desiring to promote the establish
ment of a stable government, I appointed
the following civil commission: lion.
William H. Tnft ot Ohio, Prof. Dean C
Worcester of Michigan, Hon. Luko I.
Wright of Tennessee. Hon. Henry C. Ide
of Vermont and Hon. IJemurd Moses of
California.
That all might shnre In the regenera
tion of the islands, nnd purticlpato in
their government, I directed General Mac
Arthur, the military governor of the
Philippines, to Issue a proclamation ot
amnesty, which contained among oilier
statements the following:
"Manila, P. I,, June 21. 1900. By direc
tion of tho president of tho Unllvi States
tho undersigned announces amnesty with
complete Immunity for tho past und nb
soluto liberty of action for the futiiio, to
all persons who nro now, or nt nny time
slncu Kobruary 4, lM'j, havo been In in
surrection against tho United States in
olthor a military or civil capacity, and
who shall, within u period of ninety days
from tho dato hereof, formally renounce
nil connection with such Insurrection and
siibscrlbo to a declaration acknowledging
nnd accepting the sovereignty nnd nuth
rlfy of tho United States and over tho
Philippine lslnnds. Tho privilege herewith
published is extended to all concerned
without uny reservation whntovor, except
ing that persons who havo violated the
iaw?...f vnr during tho period of active
hostilities nre not embrnced within the
scone of tills umnesty.
"In ordor to mitigate as much as pos
Bible consequences resulting from tlio va
rious disturbances which slncu havu
succeeded euch other so rapidly, and to
provide In some measure for dcslltuto
Ullplno soldiers during the transitory
period which, must Inovltubly succeed u
general peace, tho mllltury authorities ot
tlio United States will pay 30 pesos to
each , mun who presents a rlllo in good
condition."
Under their Instructions the commission,
composed of representative Americans of
different sections of tho country and from
different polltlcut putties, whoso charac
ter and ability guuranty tho most tulth
ful tntolligenco und putrioUo service, nre
now laboring to establish Btnble govern
ment under civil control, in which tho In
habitants shall participate, giving them
opportunity to demonstrate how far they
nro prepared for seir-governmont.
.TVVLc",n11l8Blon' under dato of Ausust
21. 1900. makes nn interestinjr report.
Tno commission Is conlldent that "by n
judicious customs law. rcasonublo land
tax and proper corporation franchlso tax,
Imposition of no greator rato than that
n the averngo American state, will kIvo
less annoyance and with peaco will nro
duco rovenuos BUlIlcIent to pav the ex
penses of eillclent government. Including
mllltla and constabulary." They "are
proimrlng ii stringent civil service law.
giving equal opportunity to Klllplnos am
Americans, with preference for tho for
mer where qualillcations aro equal, to
enter by lowest rank nnd by promotion
roach tho head of tho department.
A,?.r'"v,f) V!11'''' f "V'road extension tin
dcr negotiation will give nccess to a mrgu
provlncii rich in valunblo minerals a mile
.,,, .,, on iuhj iuuijuriuc ciiniute.
ltallroud construction will give employ,
tnent tu many nnd communication will
furnish market to vast stretches of rich
agricultural lands."
uio report stutes that thero nro "calls
from all parts pf tho Islands for mibl o
schools, school supplies and Rniuii
teacners. greator than tho comniisin,.
can provldo until a comprehensive school
system Is organized. Night scbonti rXl
touching K.ngllsh to adults nro bolng es
tablished In responso to popular demand.
Natlvo children show uptltttdo In learn
ing l ngllsti: Spanish is spokon by a small
..i.i.,,u.. ,,, ,u ih'uimu una in a row years
tho, medium ot communication t . i.
courts, public ofuecs nnd botwoen differ
ent tribes will bo Kngllsh: croution of a
contrat government within eighteen
months, under which substantially all
rights described In tho bill of rights In
tho federal constitution. nr ..Ki, L
cured to tho peoplo of tho Philippines and
will bring to them contentment, prosper
ity Mflllmtttnti n.,,1 r,,illtlAni J.. . !
in en t" i''iii.ui uaiigiiicn'
THUUH WAS NO AnT.IANPK at att.
This shows to my countrymen what has'
been and Is bolnir done tn brine n, v.J.Vi
lit ot liberty nnd good government to
those words of tho nation. Kverv effort
has been directed to their peaco and pros
perity, their advancement mid well being
not for pur aggrandizement nor for pride
of might, not for trade or commerce; not
for exploitation, but for humanity and
.iiiiiiiimi miu nir uiu Jirorecilon Of IhQ
inv uiujuiii) ui uiu !uiiiilIUIHU, WHO WOl-
ftnne our soverehrutv nirulnat n, .i... i .
lng minority whoso llrst demand after tho
surrender of tlio city thut tlicv might
Nobody who will avail iitn.Hir 'V.VS'if;
facts will longer bold that thero wns nny
alliance between our soldiers und the lii-
piiikcimh, ui nun any promise ot mile
pendonce was made to them. Lone be
Hire inoir loader nail rpnrim.i m n
they hnd resolved If the commander of
the American navy should give them arms
with which to light tho Spmlsh urrn- tney
would later turn upon us, which they did
murderously nnd without tho shadow of
cnuso or Justlllcatlon. There mny bo
thoso without the means ot full Informa
tion who liellcvo that we woro In nllinnco
with the Insurgents nnd that wo nssured
them thnt they should have Independence.
To such let me reticat tho facts. On Mnv
2)',, 1S98, Admiral Dewey was Instructed
liv mo to mnko no hi lance witn nny imriv
or faction In tho Philippines that would
incur liability to maintain tneir cause in
tho future, und ho replied under dato of
June 6. looi: "Hnvo acted according to
spirit of department's Instructions from
tlio beginning, nnd 1 have entered Into no
nllinnco with tho Insurgents or with nny
faction. This squadron can rcduco tho
defenses of Manila ut nny moment, but It
is considered useless until tne arrival ni
sufllctent United States forces to retain
possession.
In tho report of the llrst Philippine com-
mld.ln,, ah,.lll.,l n.. Mm..., .Ml. off 9 1WV
Hiinoiuii, nuuiuiiici VII . u . ... i.u '"
Admiral Dewey, one of Its members, said:
no alliance oi any kiiui wns eniereu
Into with Agulnaldo nor was nny promise
of independence mndo tu him nt any
time."
General Merritt nrrlvcd in tlio P1U1 l-
pines on July SB, 1S9S, nnd a dispatch from
Admiral Dewey to tho government at
Washington said: "Merritt urrived -cs-terdny.
Situation Is most critical in Ma
nila. Tho Spanish may surrender nt nny
moment. Merrltt's most dlfllcult problom
will bo how to deal witn tne insurgents
under Atrulnnido. who hnvo become ug-
gresslvo and even threatening toward our
army." Here Is revealed the spirit ot the
Insurgents as early ns July, 1698, beforo
the protocol wns signed, while we woro
stilt engaged tn ncllvo war with Spnln.
Kven then tne inBurgcntB were inreaicn-
Ing our artr.y.
On August 13 Mnnlln wns captured nnd
of tills nnd subsequent ovnnts tho Philip
pine commission says: "When the city
of Manila wns tnken August 13 thu Klll
plnos took no part tn the attack, but
came following fn with a view to looting
the cltv and wero onlv nrcvented from do
ing so by our forces preventing them from
entering. Agulnaldo claimed that he had
the right to occupy tho cltv ho demanded
of General Merritt the palaco of Mala-
canan for liimscir ami uic cession ot mi
tho churches of Manila, also thnt n part
ot the money taken from tho Spaniards
as apolls of war should be given up, und
nlinvn nil thnt ho should bo n'v11 tlio
arms of tho Spanish prisoners. All these
demands were refused.
Generals Merritt. Greene nnd Anderson,
who were in command ut thn beginning
'of our occupation, und until tho surren
der of Manila, stnto that thero wns no
nlleglanco with the insurgents nnd no
promise to thent of Independence. On Au
gust 17, 1S98, General Merritt was Instruct
ed that tliero must no no joini occupa
tion of Manila with the Insurgents. Gen
eral Anderson: tinder dnto of February
10. 1900. says that ho was presont ul the
interview between Admiral Dewey nnu
the Insurgent leader, and thut In this In
terview Admiral Dewey made no prom
ises whatever. Ho mlds: "Ho (Agui
nnldn united inn If mv uovernment was
going to rpcognlzo hlo government. I
answered that I was there simply In a
military capacity; that I could not ncK
nowledge his government, because I had
no authority to do so."
Would not our adversaries nave seiu
Dowov's fleet to Cnnlla to canturo and
destroy the Spnulsa sea power there, or,
dispatching It there, would they havo
witnurawn it alter ino iiosirucnon oi uiu
Spanish Meet : nnd If tho latter, whither
would they hnvo directed It to sa!17
Where could It have gone? What port
In tho Orient was opened to It? Do our
adversaries condemn thu expedition under
the command of General Merritt to
strengthen Dewey In tho distant ocean
nnd ns-tist In our triumph over Spain,
with which nutlon we were at war7 Was
It not our highest duty to strike Spain
at every vulnerable point thnt uio war
might bo successfully concluded Qt the
earnest prnciicauie moment f
And was It not our duty to protect tho
lives nnd nrnncrtv of thosu who enmo
within our control by the fortunes of war?
Could we nnvo come away at nny nmo
between Mny I, IS98, and the conclusion
of peaco without a stain upon our good
name?
Could wo have come away without dis
honor nt uny time after tho rntlllcatlon
of tho peuce treaty by tno senate ot the
United States?
Tliero lias been no tltno smco tno de
struction of the enemy's fleet when wo
could or should have left the Phlllpplno
nrchlpelngo. After tho trenty of peaco
was ratified no power but congress could
surrender our sovereignly or nuennio a
foot of the territory thus acquired. The
congress has not seen lit to do tho ono or
the other nnd thu president had no au
thority to do either If he had been so in
clined, which ho was not. So long as tho
sovereignty remains In us It Is the duty
of the executive whoever ho mny be, to
uphold that sovereignty and If It be at
tacked to suppress Its assailants. Would
our political adversaries do less?
It has been asserted thut thero would
hnvo been no fighting in tho Philippines
It congress had declared Its purpose to
glvo Independence to the Tngnl Insur
ants. Tno insurgents uiu not wnu ior
ho uctlon of congress. They assumed
tho offensive, they opened fire on our ar
my. Those whp assert our responsibility
for tho beginning of tho conflict have for
gotten thut beforo tho treaty wns rati
fied in tho senatu and while the Bacon
resolution was under discussion, on Keb
runry 4. 1S99. tho Insurgents at tucked tho
Amerlcun army, ntter being previously
advised that tho American forces wero
under orders not to fire upon them ex
cept In self-defense. The papers found
in tno recently enpturcu aremves oi mo
insurgents demonstrate that this attack
had been carefully planned for weeks be
fore It occurred. Their unprovoked us
sault upon our soldiers nt a tlmn when
tno sonato wan ueiioerniing upai. ino
treaty shows that no action on our nurt
except surrender and abandonment would
nave prevented ino ngniing nnu leaves no
doubt in anv fair mind ot where tho re
sponsibility rests tor thu shedding ot
American mood.
With nil tho cxnggerated nhrase-maklng
of this eleotorul contest, we are In danger
ot being diverted from the real conten
tion.
Wo nro In agreement with all of thoso
who supported the war with Spain nnd
also with those who counseled tho rati
fication ot the treaty ot peace, upon
these two great essential steps Micro can
bo no Issue and out of these cumo all
of our responsibilities. It others would
shirk tho obligations Imposed by the war
and the treaty, we must decline to act
runner wun mem nnu tioro me issun was
mude. It Is our purposu to establish in
thu Philippines a government suitable to
thn wants and conditions of thu inhabi
tants and to prepare them for self-govern
ment and give litem seii-govornmeiu
when they are ready for It. That I um
aiming to do under my constitutional au
thority nnd will contlnuo to do until con
gress shall determlno tlio political Btatus
of tho Inhabitants of tlio urchipelago.
Aro our opponents against tno treaty
If so, they must bo reminded that It
could not have, been rntllled In tho sen
ntc tiut for their assistance. The sennto
which ratified tho treaty and tne com;rcbS
which added Its sanction by a largo ap
propriation comprised senators und rep
resentatives of the peoplo ot all parties.
Would our opponents- surrender to tho
Insurgents, nbnndon our sovereignty or
cedo It to them? If that bo not their pur
poso then tt should bo promptly dis
claimed, for only evil can result from tho
hopes raised by our opponents In thu
minds ot tho Filipinos, Unit with their
success at tho polls In November thero
will Imi a withdrawal of our urmv nnd of
Amerlcnn sovereignly over tho urchlpol-
ago, tho complete Independence ot tho
Tagnlog people recognized und tho pow
ers ot government over nil tlio other peo
ples of tho nrchlpelugo conferred upon
tho Tngalog loaders.
Tho effect of a belief tn tho mlmU of
the Insurgents that this will bo done has
nlrendy prolonged tlio rebellion and in
creases tho necessity for uio continuance
of u large army. It Is now delaying full
peaco In the archipelago mid tho estab
lishment ot civil governments mid hat; In
fluenced many of tho Insurgents ucaliist
accepting tho liberal terms of amnesty
offered by General MacArthur under my
direction. Hut for theso falsa hopes a
considerable- reduction could have been
had In our military establishment in the
Philippines mid thn realization ot n stable
government would bo nlread" nt hand.
Tho American people are asked by our
opponents to yield the sovereignty of the
United States In tho Philippines to n small
fraction of tha population, a single tribe
out of eighty or moro Inhnbltlii" the nr
chlpelago, a fraction which wantonly at
tacked tho American troops In Manila
whllo In rightful possession under the pro
tocol with Spain, awaiting the rutlhca
tlon of the treaty of pence by tlio sen
uto, and which has since been In active
open rebellion ugalnst the United States,
Wo are asked to transfer our sovereignty
to a small minority In the Islands without
consulting tho mujority nnd to abandon
tho largest portion ot tho population,
which has been loyal to us, to tho cruel
ties of tho guerilla lnsurgont bands. Moro
than this, wo aro asked to protect this
minority In establishing u government
nnd to this end repress all opposition of
the majority. Wo uro required to set up
a stnblo government In tho interest of
thoso who havo assailed our sovereignty
nnd fired upon our soldiers nnd then
maintain It at nny cost or itacriilce
ngalnst Its enemies within and ngulnst
those liavlng ambitious designs from
without. t
This would rcqulro an army and navy
or larger than Is now maintained In tho
Philippines nnd still moro in oxccrs of,
what will It) necessary with tha full rec
ognition of our sovereignty. A military
support of authority not our own as thus
proposed Is tho very essence of mllltnrlsm.
which our opponents tn their plnliorm
oppose, but which by their policy would
or necessity be established In Its most of
fensive form.
The American peoplo will not mako tho
murderers of our soldiers the agents of
tho republic to convey tho blessings ot
liberty nnd order to the Philippines. They
will not mnko them tho builders of tho
new commonwealth. Suoh a course would
bu n betrayal of our sacred obligations
to tho peaceful Klllplnos und would plnco
nt tho mercy of dangerous adventurers
tlio lives and property of tho natives and
foreigners. It would mnko possible and
easy tho commission ot such utrocltles as
wcro secretly planned to bo executed on
tho 22d of Kebrunry, 1199, In tho city at
Manila, when only tho vigilance of our
army prevented tho nttcmpt to assassin
ato our soldiers mid nil foreigners nnd
pillage nnd destroy tho city and Its sur
roundings. In short, the propostlon of
thoso opposed to us ts to continue nil tho
obligations in the Philippines which now
rest upon the government, only changing
tho relation from principal, which now
exists, to that of surety. Our responsibil
ity In to remain, but our power la to bo
diminished. Our obligation is to bo no
less, but our title Is to bo surrendered to
another power, wlllch Is without experi
ence or training, or the nhlllty to main
tain a stublo government at home and ab
solutely helpless to perform Its Interna
tional obligations with tho rest cf tho
w;orld. To this wa uro opposed. Wo
should not yield our tltlo while our obli
gations last. In tho Inngungo of our plat
form, "Our authority should not bo less
than our responsibility," and our present
responsibility Is to establish our author
ity In every part of tho Islands.
Imo government can so certainly pre
serve tho pence, restoro public order, es
tablish law. Justice nnd Btnble condi
tions ns ours. Neither congress nor tho
executive enn establish a stable govern
ment In theso Islands except under our
right of sovereignty, our authority and
our ling. And this we ure doing.
Wo would not do It ns a protectorate
power so completely or so successfully
as wo aro doing It now. As tho sovereign
power wo can Inltlato action nnd shnpi
means to ends and guldo tho Filipinos to
self-development and self-government. As
n protectorate power we could not inltlato
action, but would be compelled to follow
and uphold a peoplo with no capacity yet
to go alone. In the ono caso we enn pro
tect both ourselves and tho Filipinos from
being involved in dangerous complica
tions; in the other we could not protect
even the Klllplnos until after their trou
ble had como. Uosldes, if we cannot
establish any government of our own
without tho consent of tho governed, us
our opponents contend, then we could
not establish a stnblo government for
them or make ours a protcctorato with
out the like consent, and nclthor tho ma
jority of the people nor a. minority ot
tho peoplo havo Invited us to nsaumo It.
e could not mnlutuln n protcctorato
even with tho consent of the governed
without giving provocation for conflicts
?.n1 ,r.,l3?ibl.y coatly wars. Our rlglitH In
the Philippines arc now freo from outsldo
Interference and will contlnuo so In our
present relation. They would not bo thus
froe In any other relation. Wo will not
give up our own to guaranty another sov
ereignty. Our tltlo Is good. Our pence commis
sioners believed they wero receiving a
good tltlo when they concluded tho troa
lJ;. Th. executive believed it was a good
title when he submitted tt to tho sennto
of tho United States for Its ratification.
Tho senate believed It was a good tltlo
when they gave It their constitutional as
sent, nnd tho congress seems not to havo
doubted Its completeness when they im
propriated J20.00O.000 provided by tho
truaty. If nny who favored Its ratifica
tion believed It gave us a bad title, they
were not sincore. Our titlo is practlcnlly
Identical with that under which wo hold
our territory acquired since tho beginning
ot the government and under which we
hnvo cxerc'sed full tioverolgnty and es
tablished government for tho Inhabitants.
It is worthy of note thnt no one outside
ot tho United Stntcs disputes tho fullness
find Integrity of the cession. What then
Is tlio rcul issuo on this subject? Whether
It is paramount to nny other or not, It ts
whether wo shnll bo responsible lor tho
government of tho Philippines with tho
sovereignty nnd nuthorlty which enables
us to guldo them to reguluted liberty, law.
safety and progress, or Whotber wo shall
bo responsible for tho forcible arbitrary
government of a minority without sover
eignty and uttthorlty on our part, nnd
with only the embarrassment of a protcc
torato wlllch draws us into tholr troubles
without the power of preventing them.
Thero nre thoso who two years ago wcro
rushing us on to war with Spuln who aro
unwilling now to accept Its clonr conse
quences, ns there nro thoso among us
who advocated tho ratification of tho
treaty ot peace, but now pretest ogalnst
Its obligations. Nations which go to war
must be prepnred to accept Its resultant
obligations, nnd when thoy mako treaties
must keep them.
TIiobo who profess to distrust tho lib
eral mid honorable .purposes of tho ad
ministration In its trentment of tho Phil
ippines nro not Justified. Imperialism has
no placo In Its creed or conduct. Free
dom Is n rock upon wlucn tho republican,
party wns bullded and now rusis. jiDerty
is thn grent republican aoctrlno .uf which
thn people wont to war and tor wlllch
1,000.000 lives wero offered and billions
of dollars expended to make it n lawful
legacy ot nil without tho consent uf mas
ter or slave. Thero Is a strain of Ill-con-coaled
hypocrisy In the anxiety to extend
thu constitutional guaranties to tho peo
plo ot tho Philippines, while their nullltl
cntlon Is openly ndvocated at homo. Our
opponents may distrust themselves, but
tlmy have no right to discredit tho good
fnlth and patriotism of tho majority ot
tho people, who nro opposing them: thoy
mny fear tho worst form ot imperialism
with thu helpless Klllplnos In their hands;
but If they do, It Is because they havo
parted with the spirit and faith of tho
fathers und have lost thu virility of tlio
founders of tho party which thoy profess
to represent.
To republican party does not hnvo to
nsscrt Its devotion to tlio Declaration of
Independence. That Immortal Instrument
ot tho futlieis, remained unexecuted until
tho peoplo under tho lead of tho repub
lican party In tho awful clash of battle
turned Its promises Into fulfillment. It
wrote into the constitution the amend
ments guaranteeing political equality to
Amerlcun citizenship nnd it bus never
broken them or counseled others tu
breaking them. It will not bo guided In
Its conduct by one sot ot principles nt
homo nnd unother In the new territory
belonging to the united states.
If our opponents would only practice
as well ttB preach tho doctrines of Abra
ham Lincoln there would be no fear for
thn safety nf our Institutions at homo or
their rightful Influonco In uny territory
over which our flag floats.
Umpire has been expelled from Porto
Hlco mid tlio .Philippines by American
freemen. The Hag of tho republic now
lloats over these islands as nn emblem of
rightful sovereignty. Will tho republic
stay nnd dispense to their Inhabitants
thu blessings ot liberty, education und
free Institutions, or steal away leaving
them to nnarchy or Imperialism?
The Amorlcan question Is between duty
nnd desertion the American verdict will
be for duty and ugalnst desertion, for tho
republic ugalnst both unarchy und Impe
rialism. Tho obliteration of old differences, the
common devotion to tho Hag and the com
mon sacrifices for its honor uo cnsplcu
ously shown by the mon ot tho north and
south In the Spanish wnr, huvo so streng
thened tho tics ot friendship and mutual
rospect that nothing can over again di
vide us. The nation faces tho now century
gratefully mid hopefully, with Increasing
lovo of country, with firm faith In Its free
Institutions and with high resolves that
they "shall not perish from the carth.
Very rcspetttully yours,
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
4
1
.il!
