HIS LETTER OF 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 Duty The Philippine Ques' tion and Our Foreign Dependencies in General, EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHING TON.—Hon Henry Cabot l t(Ho upon the same lines on which the first wire fought anil won. While regret ling tho ri'nf»f>nlng of thta munition, waicn can onb- disturb the present satisfactory fJiinnclal condition of the government and tislt uncertainly upon utir great business enterprises, we accept the Issue and again Invite the sound mutiny fore* to join In wInning another and we hope h pernm nt-ul triumph for an honest financial sys tem which will continue Inviolable the public faith. As In 1996 the three silver parties are united under the some lender, who, Itn mediately after the election of that year. In nn address to the bimetallists, said: 'The friend* of hlmrtulUKm have not been \annulshedI they have simply been overcome. They believe thul the gold atnndnrd Is a conspiracy of the money changer* agalnt the welfare of the hu man race, and they will continue the war fare against It.” The policy thus proclaimed has b»en ac cepted and confirmed by these parties. Th« silver demnr rntlc platform of 19W continues the warfare against th< so called gold conspiracy when It expressly says, "we reiterate the demand that (the Chicago) platform of l>98 lor an American financial system made by the American Jl for themselves which shall restore and maintain h bimetallic price level and mm a part of such system the Immediate restoration of the fre and unlimited coin age of silver arid gold st Ibe present ra tio of l« to I. without walling for the aid or consent of any other nation.” Ho the Issue .is presented. II wdll be noted that the demand Is for the Imme diate restoration of the free coinage of silver al 16 to 1 If another Issue Is par amount this Is Immediate. Il will admit of no delay and will suffer no postpone ment. Turning to the other associated parties tve Hnd In the populist nallonul pis I form adopted at Sioux Falls, H. 1 May Id, !'* i Hie following declaration: "We pledge anew the people’s party fever to cease the agitation until this financial conspiracy Is I lotted from the statute books, tho Lincoln greenback re stored, the bonds a. paid and all corpora tion money forever retired. Wo reaf firm the ihmund for the reopening of the mints of the United State* for the free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 18 to I. tile I torn i dials In rea .• in (he volume of silver coins end certificate.i thus created to bo substituted, dollar for dollar, for toe banknotes Issued by private corporations under suit Ini privilege, granted bv law of March M, KHO, and mtor national bank ing laws." The platform of the sliver fairly adopt ed at Kaiir-as (’fly July 0, JdtKi makes me following unriouccment: “We declare it to be our Intention to lend our efforts to the repeal of this cur rency law, which not only repudiates the ancient and lime-honored principle# of tile American people before the conatltulion was ni’loptcd, but I* violative of the prin ciple# of th* constitution itself, and we • hall not cease our efforts until there has b, en established In Its place a monetary system based upon the free and unlimited coinage of sliver and gold Into inouev a’ the present legal ratio of l« to 1 by the In dep ndent action of tin- United Slates, Under which system all paper money shall he 1: sited by the government and all such money coined or Issued shall be a full legal tender in payment of ull debts, public and private, without exception." In all three platforms these parties an nounce that their efforts shall bo un< cas ing until the cold act shall la* blotted from the statute books and tho frea and unlimited coinage of silver at 16 to 1 ehull take Its place. The relative Importance of the issues I d i not stop to discu s. All of them are important. Whichever [tarty Is success ful will he bound in conscience to curry Into administration and legislation Ms several declaration* and doctrines. One declaration Will be a* obligatory as an other tint all are riot Immediate It .* Hot possible that the-., p rths would treat the doctrine of iti to 1, the Immediate rea lization of w hh It Is demandixl by their scv> tl platforms, us v dd and inopera tlve In the event that they soulil be clothed with power Otherwise their pro fession of faith Is Insincere ft is ihcr* I ire the Imperative Inodm** or those op. |losed to this hnunrfal her.-ay to pr v,.„t the triumph of the parlies whose union is only n-sur*d by adherence t > th* stiver li.sim Will the American people Hi rough inillUerenee or f itided security, huxunl tile overthrow of the wise tmaect il legis lation of tlie last year and r.-vtv. i*te danger of the sliver standard wr.n all of the In M It aide evils ..f seal let *%t col, II . non Hod general disasti r w hieti justly aurru cd at a arous'd them In Id*. Wt>KK <>F IIKiM Hl-lt’AN ftiNtiftKHH The republican parly remains tsUaf .1 to it- print ip.* .f , tariff which auppi.,,* Stiff,cho.t r. venue* for the gnv«*rntuoul Mid a-le.pt us pro! cl Ion to uur , |.t n I | wliteh ep. ns foreign mat get I. tl* fiults t.f American labor and furnish * tleW channel* through which t" m.rg.t the eat pli* ol A merle in firm* Tile .ittv' In'll I'd let !•* Ipb » of pro', .aloe ,t»,| r,. prialty W'te the Hi *1 pi dg<* of riotbll can vl torv t.» pc wrlttr-< into pot. i. iiw The pr.tu const. -* ha* giv-n (.> ,\t*s k t a tefr.or .il guv. i clinn.i f..r wha h it It Hi wslt.tl fiver,- than a »toart r of * .-htury . has r*t,Mt*h.«l s f*|irvi st*t|vv g Wet t.ftisM In Hisitl, ha* vtgu t..r«*»l-itd p't-v |a .<» hrt-it hnanritl law it prutt.i.-i r.,i toy , Iish.utn' of tusk* of tiitti with a . i..i tal ' I t* i I f the Undll of vi 1 ■» * and rural xottiO.oital.** -.*4 iaititfigt |e*. .'1*1 o .Mill fw f.rp'.table ho* .. , |-, I i»hi « *l *r .» mala lh.,» tUKM • • *< «l I HJtr I Mi M '.-ii-ll Ha I < « II fl 'W ll>» »a»|*l « i at •»* i.| in# t»i . »** »**4 la a • a'M 4 3 ,„•» Is*at* i« mi»l aiikii k* in* MtMa*' • »* la ar«. >«* »l *»>«•■ .<• Va Hr .« i t iii t«m-H taana.i *>» m* fatratiti ia *M a| |k« *«m<- la lU » *t*» *f ifiiit |u,w*ki*» ►*»* |. a i>i I »‘h * i taataii r *1 I"#* Ta • «ta .» ♦. Hal h • i* ku «*i M* «* f» •» akk 'ki. a •' .*t.* la ♦.,« m»h. *** IWt>t «<•* * K'l Ml k i*tf luMit l fanat Mata *«»*.:* >H-* a * » •i ** a-»» I *a twi «%i IS * » ■ * •-» a *H >iatM« ai'ti Hk * I l i i|it It,! t»- I la*i»|it| •4 *.t ti »*.»*• •« »a* train ta mi »*« vut rency la greater per capita than it lias ever teen. It was 121.10 In IMS!. 11 has In creased to $2»>.M on July 1, 1900. and ,.o.M> on September 1, liwu. Our total munr" on July i, ivjtj, wait 11.508.134,968; on July 1, 1900, It wan 13,062.425.400, and 12,'Mi,6*3,042 Oil September I, 19)0. Our industrial and agricultural condi tions art* more promising than they liuve been for many years; probably more so than they have ever been. Prosperity abounds everywhere throughout the re public. 1 rejoice that the southern as well us the northern states, are enjoy ing a full share of these Improved nation al conditions and that all are contribut ing so largely to our remarkable Indus trial development. The tnoneylend* r re ceives lower rewards for tils eupltal than If It were Invested In active business. The rates of Interest are lower than they have ever been In this country, while those things which are produced on the farm and In the workshop, and the labor pro ducing them, have advanced In value. Unless something unforeseen occuis to reduce our revenues or Inereuse our ex penditures the congress at Its next ses sion should reduce taxation very mate rially. hive years ago wo were selling go.ern mont bonds bearing as high as 5 per i. nt Interest. Now we are redeeming them with a bond nt par. bearing 2 per cent In terest. We are selling our surplus pro ducts and lending our surplus money to Kurope. One result of our selling to oth er nations so much more than we have bought from llnm during the last thiee years is a radical Improvement of our financial relations. The great amounts of capital which have been borrow, d of Kurope for our rapid, material develop ment have remained a constant drain up on our resources for Interest and divid ends and made our money markets liuule to constant disturbances hv calls for pay ment or heavy sales of our securities whenever moneyed stringency or panic occurred abroad. We have now been pay ing (best) di bis and bringing homo many of our securities and i staTilishlng counter vailing credits ubruud by our loans and placing ourselves upon a sure foundation of financial Independence. In the unfortunate contest between Great iirltuin and the Boer states of Houtli Africa the United Stales has main tained an utltude of neutrality In ac coidance with Its well known traditional policy. It did not hesitate, however, when requested hy the government of the Foiith Afrlean republics, to exercise Its good offices for u cessation of hostili ties, it Is lo be ot.serveil that while the Hotilli African republics made like re uu'-st of other powers thu United Slates is the only one which complied. The Kritieh government declined to ucccpt the Intervention of any piwer. KXTKNSION OK MKlb nANT MARINK Ninety-one per cent of our exports and Imports are now carried by foreign ships. For ocean transportation »■" pay annually lo foreign shipowners over ll*2,,W),0»i. We ought to own the ships for our carrying trade with llie world and wu ought to bfilld them In American shipyard! and man them with Ameilean sailors. Our own citizens should receive tie transpor tation charges now paid lo foreigners. I liuve lulled the attention of congress to this subject In my several annual mes HO If OS. I now reiterate these views. A subject of linmcoiiite importance to "Ul country Is Hie completion of n great watt-rw.iy of commerce between the At lantic ami Pacific. The construction of u riiarlttmc ' anal I-, now more than mr in dispensable to that Intimate anil ready communication between tiur eastern ami wi sti rti him purls demanded by the unnex allon of the Hawaiian Islumls and the expansion of our Influence and trude In the Pacific. Our national iioliey more Imperatively Ilian ever calls for lia completion and control by this government, and It Is be 1 loved that the next session of congress, after receiving the full report o. ,ne com mission appointed under the act approved March I Mi#, will make provisions for the sum accomplishment of this great work. Combinations of capital which control the market In commodities necessary to the general use of the people by sup pressing natural anil ordinary competi tion, thus enhancing prices to tm general consumer, arc obnoxious to the common law and the public welfare. They arc dangerous conspiracies against me pub lic good and should bit made the subject of prohibitory or penal legislation. Pub • b'Uy will be a helpful influence* t(' check tins evil. 1 nlforimty of legislation In tm several states should be secured. Dis crimination between what In Injurious and what is uw ful and iiect-sar” in business operations is essential to tt.e wise ami ef fective treatment of this subject. Hon est ru-opiration of capital is necessary to meet new business conditions and extend our rapidly increasing foreign trade, but < ■ nspiracies and combinations intended to restrict busmens, create monopuln-s amt control prices should be eiiet lively restrained. Tim best service which can he rendered to ,abor is to unurd it an opportune for steady and remunerative employment and give it c-very encouragement or udvance llletit. | tie piiu y t ..at subserves * nd Is the true American policy. The past throe years have been mole sutlsiucloiy to American w orKingim n than ma> >r« c* l.ng years. Any c eng- of ... present Imlaf.i.ol or tlnanctal policy of tm gov ernment would tie disastrous to their liighest Interests. With prosperity at home amt an tin reusing foirigu market for American products employment should oontlnue to wait upon laic r and witn tm present g ■ d standard tin wurgim-niun is secured against payments for his itbor In a depreciated currency. I-or labor • short day is belter man a short dotiar oro< win lighten the burdens, the outer lessens I tie rewards of toll ’1 lie one wnl promote < oo entluelll utnl lluti penoenca, the Other penury and want. The wages ■ if labor should be ath lyuale to weep (tie home m comfort. ,a nale the children and. with ihr.ft and i-’ctieuiy, lay some' ilung i.y lor tha days of Itn.riutly and out i|«, I hi- Ara-rU un ara |.r-f lutHii* Iflatiful In kka- aniJIrtk. -n.lora sink mar* l:wm who h,4, a In rv.ry linn- , f ruuIlKl fni<«hl ih«-lr luuntiya halt r» aim 4 ■-ita-tl Ha hoimf *1 ha aurvlvora »tm 14* *W.i*« ami urphnr,* t f 11, aim tiava 1 ilivM «fe J'kal > vltllliml lHeh, ,,IB I in f-*ua an.I . oitanfvrale , .,r« „f if,* lilll->« ►'»* are ».,* left Ilf Una,* a I »khl la tin an ,ii» »*r amt an.i# maiiy «f it, v,l*(ana t>f iln» «.«*•( a4i ar* lUU Malnl In na II,sir natal,* ta ara »n*mM I* . ,, , in Ih* ■ „t Iwra an N 01.1 m.ilin. la.,, • Mia* ai,l "irMiw atih r. i* t* a*«nl ta lh. i.i.ntlt a. 1 AM Tn t»>itt.ir mu W a k**» l«4* la f, **»»«*i if ,'aka ••ara Jan. in I Iran VI1 1,41* U41 >»*} ».n,» ant «-i iM tieJ >»n . 1 ii44,nn ttt» V»« »<>ia lie* Ik* ala 1 aka* ,1*4.4 ik* leak- t ami *« * «ii,1 k« »i.» 4v)i k, 1*4,4 t«,t«ta,*.l Ikn 411I11, . „u in* 14a- • M* h,»a • tun. *1*4 m .4i»t ! niia 1 I | 1- 'a a ,i, n ... | , ,, j • *,!«• 4».| 4 .»»kf. k*k# la »‘,4**4.,lma n I IiHi*’ **- ‘ k * 4 kr: t 4. tf , « I - . i f, a M i b*»-a 44-I * Ik I 4*4 uk.I r It * Ik . t I lt*a k! t aki n. * , 4l **.,441.4, 4, *• l-» ■ ' > 4 , ' I 1 * t., l . f- ak-* t*4fi ia> i lam hmI aktanant k,< h**H Ink* kl IlkM 44 rn 14 klili k , U >. than 6.0CM. An election has been ordered to be held on September 15, under a fair election law, already tried In the munici pal «lections, to choose members of a constitutional convention, and the con vention, under the same order. Is to as semble on the first Monday of November to frame « constitution upon which an In dependent government for the Island will • ■•■•‘I. All this Is A long step In (he liiIiiII ment of our sacred guaranties to the peo ple of Cuba. W'e hold Porto Rico by the same title as the Philippines. The treaty of peace which ceded us the one conveyed to us the other. Congress has given to this Island a government In which the inhab itants participate, elect their own legis lature. enact their own local laws, pro vide their own system of taxation and in those respects have the same power ami privileges enjoyed by olher territories be longing to the United States, and n much I larger measure of self-government than • was given to the Inhabitants of laiulslnna under Jefferson. A district court of- the United Htates for Porlo Hleo has been inaugurated, all of whlcn are In opera tion. The generous trcuimeni of the Por to Ricans accords with the most liberal thought of our own country and encour ages the best aspirations of the people of the Island. While they do nol have Iri stMnt free commercial Intercourse with the United Slates, congress compiled with my recommendation by removing, oil ilay 1 lust, xs per cent of the duties and pro viding for the removal of the remaining 15 per cent on March 1, 19ii2, or curlier If the legislature of Porlo Hleo shall pro vide local revenues for the expenses of conducting the government. During this Intermediate period Porto Klcan products coming Into the United States pay ,i tur llt of 15 per cent of the rates undei the Dlnglcy act, and our goods going to l'orlo Hleo pay a like rate The duties thus paid and collected, both In Porto Itico and the United Unites, are paid to the government of Porlo Rico and no part thereof Is taken by the national govern ment. All of the duties from November 1, Hits, to June 3U, lissi, aggregating the sum of 62,25*),52-1.21, paid at the custom houses In the United Stales upon Porto Khan products, under the laws existing prior to the above mentioned act of con gress, have gone Into the treasury of Por lo Hleo to relieve the destitute and for schools amt other public purposes. In ad dition to this we have expended for icllet, education und Improvement of rottiis the sum of ll.5M.0M.95. The United Stales military force In I he island lias beta r* - duced from ll.OuO to 1,500 men. and native Porto Ricans constitute for the most part the local constabulary. Under the new law and the Inaugura tion of civil government there has been a gratifying revival of business. Tbs manufacturers of Porlo Hleo are devel oping; Its Imports nr.- Increasing; Its tar iff Is yielding Increased returns; Ms Helds are b.-lng cultivated; free schools are being established. Notwithstanding the many embarrassments Incident to i change of national conditions, Porto Ri co Is rapidly showing the good effect* of Us new ivlalli ns to (Id* nation. THE PHILIPPINE QUE8TION. i or tnc nuke of full and Intelligent un derstanding of the 1'hlilpplne question, and to give to the people authentic In formation of the acts and alms of the ad ministration, 1 present at some length the events of Importance leading up to the present situation. The purposes of the executive are best revealed and can best he Judged by what he tins done and is doing It will be seen that the power of the government haw been usi .1 for the liberty, the peace and the prosperity of the Philippine peoples, and that fori, has been employed only against r-cee which stood In the way of the realization of these ends. On the 22th of April, 1*9$, eongre.v. de clared that n state of war existed be tween Spain and the ( tilted States, on May 1. Pits. Admiral l»eway destroyed the Kpnnlsh fleet In Manila buy. On May l‘» 1*®*. Major General Merritt, l' H. A., v/as placed In command of the military expe dition to Manila, and directed among other things, to Immediately "publh h a proclamation declaring that we come not to make war upon the people of the Phil ippines nor upon any part or faction among them, hut to protect them In thetr homes. In their employments and In lindr personal ami religious rights. All per sons who. either by active eld or bv hon est submission, co-operate with the Pull ed Htatc, in its efforts to give effect to this benifleent purpose, will receive the reward of Its support and protection," On July 3, ...a, the Spanish fleet m at tempting to escape front Santiago h..rbor, was destroyed by the American licet, and on July 17, 1x9b. the Spanish garrison in tile city of Santiago surrendered to the commander of Hie Armrlcnn forces Following these brilliant victories, on tie 12th day of August. 1x9*. upon the Initiative of Spain, hostilities were sas P tided and a protocol was signed with a view to arranging terms of peace between the two governments. In pursuance there of I appointed as commissioners the fol lowing distinguished citizens to conduct the negotiations on the part of the [’tilt ed States: Hon Wllltnm K. Day of Ohio, Hon. William I'. Frye of Maine, lion. Cushman K. Davis of Minnesota, Hon. George Gray of Delaware and I Ion. W'hltelaw Reid of New York. In ad dressing the peace commission before Its departure for I'arls, I said: "It Is my wish that throughout the ne gotiations entrusted to the commission the purpose and spirit with which the 1 nlted Hi.ites accepted the unwelcome ne cessity of war should he kept constantly In view W'e took up arms only in obedl •be*,*? ,h<* dictates of humanity and In the fulfillment of high public and moral obligation*. We ha»i no design of ng grandlzorm-nt and no umhltlon of con quest. Through the long course of re peated representations which lire, eded and aimed to avert the struggle and In the final arbitrament of force this .oun try was Impelled solely by the purpose of relieving grievous wrongs and removing long existing conditions which disturbed Its tranquillity, which shocked the moral sense of mankind und which could no lunger be t*ndmv«J. "ft Is my earnest wish that the Fultrd Htates in making peace should follow the *«»il high rule of conduct which guided It In facing war. It should he as setupu lotis and magnanimous In the coneluu lng settlement as It was just and humane In Its original action. "*du g n. tha *< , rei.-nii i f Hpain in *av«r ng ih- form-r w MI-a) j r-lwiion* «f the inhabitants and m ** (h Itshlog a new padll- st p.‘*> r the m.tho,* I Ity of I he tut)* » dtate* I* la |,.I e %. f t*d S f. t the •ecor.ng «,f the person* ai d ,r-.p I eft* «d the geegtn uf the lata let- WHO Mr I the ranfrentllus of all Ihvtr yt- >t* riant* I and frill 1*1* It wIU bo tha duty Ihe 3 Siam In of I ho f**» »s ,f mi yules I , j tMluMltM e an I pr Clint lo til tnial |tub | h manner lhal we **4n ' n>*l as tnva -t» j i»r * e«r »ra. not 4* fetes 11 1 , b***tect 1 if* wattvaa In tb ir M' * u* th*.r *•« i I | 4») IH !Mf 4,» J I ;4K* ll® Hlf to ’ * ritll.H I IN« ( la rd • la f . I >• • .. te «i hmav 1 j b**l" tM a#**tile gat n*b» , t gnthwt i tt • *, .«! v - ,,m S * I ; •• «t , a f lies $ ' Is 1 fttn I1' ,1 lam I’ UK-#v*ats* ml Mh*k Igun and Major Ueneral Elwell Otis, U. S. A. On the Bth of February. 1S9U, the treaty was ratified by the senate of the 1 tilted States and the congress Immediately ap propriated t2a.ttUO.OOU to carry out Its pro vision*. The ratifications were exchanged by the United States and Spain on the llth of April, wan As early us April, 1SH9. Ihe Philippine commission, of which Dr. Selmrman was president, endiuvored to bring about peace In the islands by repeated confer ence* with leading Tagalos, representing the so-culled Insurgent government, to the end that some general plan of gov• rn ment might be offered to them which they would uecept. So greul was the sa.lsfac- I tlon of the Insurgent commissioners with the form of government proposed by the American commissioners that the latter submitted the proposed scheme to ine for approval and my action thereon Is shown by the cable message following: ■'AlHy 5, IhfiB.—Hchurman, Manila. Yours of the 1th received. You are uutboilzed to propose that under the mlltary power of the president, pending action of con gress, government of the Philippine Is Isnds shall consist of a governor general appointed by the president, cabinet ap pointed by the governor general, a gener al advlstory council elected by the peo ple. the quallllcnttoiin of electors to lie carefully considered and determined and the governor general to have absolute veto. Judiciary strong und independent, principal Judges appointed by Ihe ntest dent. Ihe cabinet and Judges to be chosen from natives or Americans, or both, hav ing regard to Illness. The president ear nestly desires the cessation of bloodshed and that the people of the Philippine Is lands at un early date shall have me larg est measure of local self-government con sistent with peace and good order.' in the latter part of May another group of renresentatlves eume from the Ineur gent leader. The whole matter was fully discussed wltti them and promise of ac ceptance seemed near at hand. They as sured our commissioners they would re turn after consulting with their leader, but they never did. As a result of thp views expressed by the first Tagalog representative fa voluble to the plan of Ihe commission It appears that he was, by military order of the Insurgent leader, stripped of Ills shoulder straps, dismissed from the urmy and sen tenced to twelve years' imprisonment. The views of the commission are best set forth In their own words: "Deplorable o» war Is. the one In which we are now engaged was unavoidable by us. We were at lucked by a bold, ad venturous and enthusiastic army. No al ternative was left to us except Ignomin ious retreat. ' It Is not to bo conceived of that any American would have sanctioned the sur render of Manila to the insurgents. Our obligations to other nations and to the friendly Filipinos and to ourselves and our Hag demanded that force should he met by force. Whatever the future of the Philippines may be, there Is no coiirsu open to us now except the prosecution of l«e war until the Insurgents are reduced to submission. The commission Is of the opinion that there has been no time since • he destruction of the Spanish squadton by Admiral Dewey when It was possible to wlihdtaw our forces from the Islands either with honor to ourselves or with safety to the Inhabitants. ‘ Satisfied that nothing further eoultl be accomplished In pursuance of their mis sion until the rebellion was suppressed and desiring to place before the congress the result of their observations, ! re quested the commission to return l> the t nltcd Slates. Their most Intelligent and comprehensive report was submitted to congress. In March, 19*10. believing that the l.,sur rectlon was practically ended and eur tiestli desiring to promote the establish ment of u stable government I appointed the following civil commission: lion. William II. Taft of Ohio, Prof. Dean (' Worcester of Michigan. Hon. Puke I Wright of Tennessee, Hon. Henrv i\ Ide of Vermont and lion. Ikrnard Moses of California. That all might share In the regenera tion of the Islands, anil participate In llo lr government. 1 directed (Jemral M.:o Arthnr, the military governor of the Philippines, to issue a proclamation of amnesty, which contained among otiier statements the following: "Manila. I*. 1.. June 21. 1900.—By blrec of th<* pri'Hl.Jent of the s*t;itt,w the undersigned announces amnt-sly with complete Immunity lor the past and ab solute liberty of action for the futuic. to all persons who are now, or at any time since February i, IMS*, have been In in surrection against the I tilled States In either a military or civil capacity, and who shall, within a period of ninety ilujs from the date hereof, formally renount e all connection with such Insurrection and subscribe to a declaration acknowledging and accepting the sovereignty and auth ority of (tie i'filted States ami over the Philippine Islands. The privilege herewith published Is extendi d to all coin tt ned without any reservation whatever, except ing that persons who have violated the laws of war during the period of active hostilities are not erabruued within the scope of this nmnesty. * • » ' In order to mitigate us much as pos sible consequences resulting from the va rious disturbances which since have succeeded each other so rapidly, and to provide In some measure for destitute Filipino soldiers during the transitory period which must inevitably succeed a general peace, the military aulhorltits of the I nlted States Will pay M p, to each man who presents a rifle In good condition." I tul-r their Instructions the commission, composed of representative Americans of different sections of the country ana from different political parties, whose charae ter and ability guaranty the most nuth rul Intelligence and patriotic service, are now laboring to establish stable govern ment under civil control, In which the In habitants shall participate, giving lin-m opportunity to demonstrate how far they are prepared for self-government. This commission, under date of August "1. li'UO. makes an Interesting report' The commission Is confident that "by n Judicious customs law. reasonable Ian! tax and proper corporation franchise tax. imposition of no greater rate than that in the average American state, will give less annoyance and with peace will pro duce revenues sufficient to pa- tn, ex penses of efficient government. Including militia and constabulary." They "are preparing a strlng-mt civil service law ytv.ng equal opportunity to Filipino < and Americana, with preference for tip. for mer where qualifies lions are equal to enter by lowest rank and by promotion reach the head of the department * • * I’octy-flve ratios of railroad extension tin ••• r negotiation will give access to a ,ai«. or .vines rich In valuable mineral-’ a mile nigh, v.lth strictly tern)»»• ra!e . brnat, • * • It allroad construction will give employ, nt,nt to many and communication uili furnish market i„ vast stretches of ri> h fieri, ultural lands." The report state., that there are "call* from all parts of th- Islands for -qt.pc sch „ Is, school supplies and Kf..;ll*h teachers, greater than the vonimi .Ion Cat. provide until a eoiniireh -nslve school *' ‘tent ts organised. Night »< hool.i for teaching Knglirh to adult ; ar > hying tat.li-h.sl it. response to popular demand N UK* children show aptitude In learn, b r Kuglish; Hpun, h Is spoken I.» a ms 11 fro Ilot. „f the people and In a few years th- no-dtiur. if common!.,,tkn tn tin eourls public . iff,-a and tad wren diff. r. *•*■! 11ita.fi will b. Fl.gtifh .rvatb.n of a central government within eighty*,. month*, under which substantially rights dc«* nt. -1 b. the |.ii| „f r,yf,(4 (n It e federal votiSllt.lt.el,, gey |„ ag cttre.1 to the p pie of tha- Philippine* and w il bring to Horn Funi.nini t.1 pr '»uyr. **y education and poPtlcwl enlighten. T" ttK WAR Nrt Al.l *AVt*F AT A 1.1, f'll* iHtitt to niy r %tH*t 1*4* tw ■ n a.ut u l« Hid done It. L. tag the fits of Id., r.y and s1 d g.... t, n,. to *' werde f the net «n Ht»t» R .rt h .. toon. J.res l«d I., th- tr pent..» an | k,rw» pvrity, their »d. t w. q helng t o! far Hof •» a * 11, IttsfiU’SI (lit tor S, „| t •>f "crltj **'••* it*.!* or custsen. a .) f .* »»c ut .that. b ,t tor h m ,,.llr and I idvlltsalhtw agd fur th* Waffotion »f the I ...taiMlt dtt WK,i who w-l ■ •V';' •' n- I % *i* ■:’* ** i %% hif *»*** | 9 i Kmmt r *» M |K.*i tferf* tt , 444* I % I ' «!! ******* 1 ,fc* • «f< . , •P.r*'4 1**0 AAfK-eft Id* mh % l ft a f 4 | ! | murderously and without the shadow of I cause or Justification. There may be I those without the means of full Informa tion who believe that we were In ulllunee ! with lit* Insurgents uiol that wo assured ! them that they should have Independence, j To such let me repeat the facts. On May y>. P9S. Admiral Dewey was Instructed [ by me tv make no alliance who uny parly or faction In the Philippines that would I Incur liability to maintain their cause In J the future, and he replied under dale of ! June II. "Have acted according to spirit of department's Instructions from the beginning, and I have entered Into no alliance with the Insurgents or with uny faction. Ttds squadron cun reduce the defenses of Manila at any moment, but tt Is considered useless unill the arrival of sufficient t*nited States forces to retain possession." In the report of lhe flrsl Philippine com mission, submitted on November 2, lMt'J. Admital Dewey, one of its members, said: "No alllanee of any kiinl was entered Info with Agulnaldo nor was any promise of independence made 10 him at any time.” General Merritt arrived In the Philip pines on July 25, IStis. and a dispatch from Admiral Dewey to the government at Washington said: "Merrill arrived ••ea terilay situation Is most critical In Ma nila. The Spanish may surrender at any moment. Merritt's most >11 flit ult problem will he how to deul with the Insurgents under Agulnaldo. who have become ag gressive and even threatening toward our army." Ili-re Is revealed the spirit ot the insurgents as early as July. pdW, before the protocol was signed, while we were still engaged lit active war with Spain. Kven then the Insurgents were threaten ing our arn.y. On August 13 Manila was captured and of this and subsequent events the I’nllip pine commission says; "When the city of Manila was tnken August 13 the Fili pinos took no purl In the attack, but came following In with a view to looting the city and were only prevented from do ing so by our forces preventing them from entering. Agidualdo claimed iiiat he hud the right to occupy the cllv he demanded of General Merritt the palace of Mabt ranan for himself and the cession of all the churches of Manila, also that n part of the money taken from the Spaniards as spoils of war should be given up, and above ail that he should be ■•lv»n the arms of the Spanish prisoners. All these demands were refused. Generals Merritt. Greene nnd Anderson, who were In command at the beginning of our occupation, and until the surren der of Manila, state that there Pits no allegiance with the Insurgents and no promise to them of Independence. On Au gust 17. IHPS. General Merrill was Instruct ed that there must he no Joint occupa tion of Manila with the insurgents. Gen eral Anderson, tinder dale of February JO. l»00, sgye that h« was present nl the Interview between Admit al Dewey and the insurgent leader, uiuj that In this In terview Admiral Dewey made no prom ises whatever. He adds; "He (Agul naldo) asked me if mv government was going to recognise his government. 1 answered that 1 was there simply In a military capacity: Hurl I could eat ack nowledge his government, because I had no authority to do so." Would not our adversaries have sent Dewey's fleet to Mnnlla to capture and destroy the Spools., s* a power there, or, dispatching It there, would they have withdrawn It after tin- destruction of the Spanish ileel ; and if the latter, whither would they have directed it to sail? Where could It have gone? What part In the Orient was opened to It? Do our adversaries condemn the expedition und‘ r the command of General Merritt to strengthen Dewey In the distant ocean and usust In our triumph over Spain, with which naiton we were at war? Was It riot our highest duty to strike Spain at every vulnerable point that win war might be successfully concluded *tl the earliest practicable moment? And was It not our duty to protect the lives and properly of those who came within our control by the fortunes of war? Could we have come away at any time between May I, and (he com!union of peace without a stain upon our good name? t'oulil we have come away without dis honor at any lime nflei tin* ratification of Ihe peace tnuly by Inc senate of Ihe United Slates? There has heen no time since the de struction of the enemy's fleet when we could or should have left the Philippine archipelago. After the treaty of peace was ratified no power but congri ss could surrender our sovereignty or alienate a foot of the territory thus acquired. The congress has not seen til to do the one or the other anil the president had no au thority to do cither If he had been so In clined, which hp was not. So long us the sovereignty remains in us it Is the duly of the executive, whoever he may Is*, to uphold that sovereignty and If It be at tacked to suppress Its assailants. Would our political adversaries do less? It has been asserted that there would have been no lighting In the Philippines it congress had declared its purpose to give lndepi ndence to the Tucal insur gents. The Insurgents did not wait for lh« action of congress They assumed (he offensive, they < pence! lire on our ar my. Those who usaert our responsibility for the beginning of the conflict have for gotten that before the treaty was ratt Ited In the senate anil while Ihe Bucon resolution was under discussion, on Feb ruary 1, 1899. the insurgents attacked the American army, ufter being previously advised that the American forces were under orders not to Are upon them ex cept in self-defense. T lie papers found In ihe recently captured archives of tne Insurgents demonstrate that this attack had been carefully planned tor weeks be fore It occurred. Their unprovoked as sault upon our soldiers at a time when the senate was deliberating upsn Ihe treaty shows that no action ua our part except surrender and ttbnndoiilneiu would have prevented the lighting and leaven no doubt in any fair mind ot where the re spoiislbllit} rests for the shedding of American blood. With all the exaggerated phrase-making of ibis electoral contest, wc are in danger of being diverted from the real conten tion. We are In agreement with all of those who supported the war with Kp.titi and also with those who counseled me rati fh a l inn of tie* treaty of peace. Upon these two great essential steps ...ere can no Issue and out of the.* * catne all Of our responsibilities. If others would shirk the oblige tic ns imposed t> Ihe war arid the treaty, wc must tltcHne to act further wltti them and here the Issue was made II Is our purpose to establish in the Philippines a government suitable to Ihe went* and conditions of the Inhahl t.itiis and t*> prepare them for srlf-govi rn inent atid give them self-govei'iimcnl when they uii t- tdy for II That I am aiming to do under my constitutional au thority and will continue to do until con gress shall determine the p latent status of tin* inhabitants of the archipelago. Art our opponents ag dnst the treaty? If so. they must be reminded lhat it cot).it not hat* tieeti ratified in the sed ate but for their asalmslice. The senate which r.itth d the tri it> mid the congress which added its sanction by a large ap propriation comprised senator* atnl rep* r ■>!■,taiiti* of tne p-ople of nil parties Wind.1 < ur • i l ore nls suficii.br to the Insurgents, aho.tdou our sovereignty or cede It to theta? If that le* hot tiuir pur pose then it shun # d«MU^ U .4 { II fkfc^MN'Ii 4»*l M I *?» **%• 4 )W N^4 4»4tlV f tltfpy Ilit4 Mm f f til*** Nt*# » 4 j }rt .tip iff < ''ktti.sjliiivhl ill I'.-. * 1* t»§*NMM4 I Ml*- f » •% * ‘4k* '44 k*I 4 m**' hki' » l w>•>* I *'• * 9 »t h^.t ' lit V iMMts'l# 4 - tt I k H * I . |>v 4 • I «* | tiM III • »4>4 i||r i | IM -a4*4rn I i * *0*11 A§*V«i ll^i * ftttal f» u« * We are asked to transfer our sovereignty to a small minority In the Islands without consulting the majority and to abandon the largest portion of the population, which has been loyal to us. to the cruel ties of the guerilla Insurgent bands. More than this, we are asked to protect this minority In establishing a government and to this end repress all opposition of the majority. We are required to set up a stable government In the lnlert.-t of those who have assailed our sovereignty and fired upon our soldiers and ineu maintain It at any cost or suermeo against Its enemies within and ugalnst those tiavlng ambitious designs from without. This would require an army and navy far larger Ilian is now maintained in the Philippines and still more In excess of what will necessary with the full rec ognition of our sovereignly. A military support of authority not our own as thus proposed Is the very essence of militarism, which our opponents In their plauurni oppose, hut which by their policy would ot necessity be established in Us must of fensive form. The American people will not make tha murderers of our soldiers the agents of the republic to convey the blessings of liberty and order to the Philippines. They will not make them the builders of tho new commonwealth. Such a course would be a Is-lraynl of our sacred obligations lo l tie peaceful Filipinos and would place at the mercy of dangerous adventurers the lives and property of the natives and foreigners. It would make possible and cany the commission of such atrocities as were secretly planned lo be executed oil I tie aid of February. 1898, In the city of Manila, when only the vigilance of our i.rmy prevented the attempt to assassin t ale our soldieis and all foreigners anil pillage and destroy the city and Its sur roundings. In short, the propostion of lhose opposed lo ua Is lo continue all the obligations In the Philippines which now rest upon the government, only changing the relation from principal, which now exists, to that of surety. Our responsibil ity Is to remain, but our power is lo h« diminished. Our obligation Is lo be no less, but our title Is to be surrendered to another power, which Is without experi ence or training, or the ability to main tain a stable government al home and ab solutely helpless to perform Its Interna tional obligations with the rest of the world. To this we are opposed. \V« should not yield our t It lo while our obli gations last, iri the language of our plat form, "Our authority should not be less •"‘in our responsibility," and our present responsibility is to establish our author ity in every part of the Islands. No government ran So certainly pre serve the pence, restore public order, es tablish law. Justice and stable condi tions as ours. Neither congress nor tho executive can establish a stable govern ment In these Islands except under our right of sovereignty, our authority and our nag. And this we are doing. H e would not do It as a protectorate power so completely or so successfully •is We nra doing It now. As the sovereign power we can Initiate action and shape means to ends and guide tho Filipinos lo self-development and self-government. As l protectorate power we rould not initiate action, but would be compelled to follow and uphold a people with no capacity yet to go alone. In the one cas" we can pro tect both ourselves and thi- Filipinos from being Involved in dangerous complica tions; In the other we could not protect -ven the Filipinos until after their trou ble had come. Besides. If we cannot establish any government of our own without the consent of the governed, as our opponents contend, then »> could not establish a stable government for them or multi’ ours it protectorate with out the like consent, and rolther the ma jority of the people nor a mlnotity of the people have invited us lo nssiime It. He could not maintain a protectorate even with the consent of the governed without giving provocation for conflicts and possibly costly wars. Our rights In the Philippines are now free from < utsld* Interference and will continue so In our present relation. They would not be thus free In any other relation. He will not give up our own to guaranty another sov erelgnty. Our title I* good. Otir peace commis sioners believed they w re receiving a good title when they concluded the trea ty. Tile executive believed It was a good title when he submitted It to the senato of the I'nlted States for Its ratl.ientlon. I h« senate believed it was a good title " *i‘ n they gave It their constltutlm al 11s s m. and the congress seems not to have doubted Its completeness when they ap propriated $UO,00 i.Oob provided bv the Ireaty. If any who favored It* rutiflca tlon believed It gave US a bad title ttiey were not sincere. Our title Is pructlcully Identical with that under which we hold our territory acquired since (he beginning of the government and under which wo have exercised full ooverelgnty and es tablished government for the Inhabitants. It Is wonhy of note* that no one cutfthle of the I'nlted States disputes the fullness and Integrity of the cession. What then Is the real Issue on this subject? Whether It is paramount to any other or not, tt Is whether we shall be responsible lor the government of the Philippines with the sovereignty and authority which enables us to guide them to regulated liberty, law, safety ami progress, or whether we shall he responsible for the forcible arbitrary government of a minority without sover eignty amt authority on our part, and with only the embarrassment of a protec torate which draws us into their troubles without the power of preventing them. i here arc those who two years ago were rustling us on to war with Kpain who arw unwilling now to accept Its dear conse quences, as there are those urnong us who advocated the ratification of tho treaty of peace, but now protest against Its obligations. Nations which go to-war must lie prepared to accept its resultant obligations, and when they make tnutlos must keep tin in. Those who profess to distrust the lib eral and honorable purposes of the ad ministration In Its treatment of the Phil ippines are not Justified. Imperialism has no place In Its creed or conduct. Free dom Is a rock upon vvhicn tho republican parly was bullded and now rests, naoerfy Is the great republican ooctrin* -,/i which the people went to war and for which l.Ouo.mo lives were offered and hllllons of dollars expended to make It a lawful legacy of all without the consent of mas ter or slave. There Is a strain of lll-c >n cealed hypocrisy In the anxiety to >xtend the constitutional guaranties to tin peo ple of the Philippines, while their nullltt eatlon Is openly advocated al home. Our opponents may distrust themselves, hut they have no right to discredit the good faith and patriotism of the majority of the people, who are opposing them; they may fi er the woisi form of imperialism wPh the helpless Filipino* In their hands; but If they do. It Is beaus* they have parted witb the siurlt and faith of the fathers mid have lost the virility of the found ts of the party which they profess to represent Te republican party does not nave to assert Its devotion to the lH-ciarutl.*ii of Independence That Immortal instrument of the frttneis, r-mutneu unexecuted until the pi pie u'd r the lead of the repub lican party In the awful clash of batliu turned Its promises Into fulfillment it wrote tutu the coast it itt ton the amend ment* guaranteeing pout.> il equably to American lit IS* n*mp and It ha* never hi ok- it tli-iit or v ounscled others in lueaking I lo in It will not h* guided in Ms conduct by one set of principles at hum* and another in the new territory belonging to the 1’ntted Mate*. If out Npp-uient* Would only practice as well as preach lb* doctrine* of Ahra h.m l.ln* olti tlier* would be no leal f ir the Safety - f our lbsiitutl«*ns at hom* or i wi'ir* ba* Ik i. * vp I d frtui I'ortg Hie* and II.** nil Mu * * by .Vmsrn .a Hi I H» I * I 11 r. p -i. U MuW »<-, . d> i- ., ■* t . tn.-.r Inh-.heunl* ’*■** t'■ ’ mgs -f nlMrly siw ais*s usi b 1 * iu* r a* St li 'al lol* f-f I Xa Vi-,! ot illsration - f stl different** thw