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CHAPTER X

PORTO RICO AND THE PHILIPPINES

This chapter completes our study of the territorial growth of the United States. For the series of studies on expansion little more can be claimed than that they open up the subject, and give a fair introduction into its complicated history. A complete account of the territorial development of the United States would nearly coincide with the history of the Union. However it is believed that a large portion of the documents essential to an understanding of the subject are here brought together as has never been done before; also it is hoped that typical speeches have been chosen, and typical men made to speak on the one side and the other of the issues discussed from time to time as annexations have been made. The essential clauses in each treaty or resolution by which territory has been gained have been cited. The extracts made from controversial writings and speeches are not made in all cases because the statements made are true, but the choice has been made in order to present the views held by the one side and the other. For example the statements made by Senator Hoar may be true or false, as may be those made by Senator Lodge, for example, on the other side; but they are representative men, and the extracts show what they

believed to be true, and the reasons in part for their conclusions. Again some solution must be reached upon the questions at issue; the extracts from Mr. Johnson and Mr. Beveridge will illustrate the opposite positions. It goes without saying that an honest effort has been made to get representative extracts, and then to let these extracts tell their own story. How successful the effort has been the author cannot say, but leaves it to his fellow teachers to decide. Of one thing a confident opinion may be expressed namely, that a careful study of this little volume will give the pupils of the average American school a more detailed and adequate idea of the growth of the American nation, than can be secured from the material ordinarily available. The work is finished, and it is hoped that it may supply a need that the compiler has felt greatly in his own work.

The following extracts from the messages and proclamations of President McKinley give a good insight into the official side of the steps taken in the recent acquisitions of territory.-First Annual Message, Dec., 1897:

The most important problem with which this Government is now called upon to deal pertaining to its foreign relations concerns its duty toward Spain and the Cuban insurrection. Problems and conditions more or less in common with those now existing have confronted this Government at various times in the past The story of Cuba for many years has been one of unrest, growing discontent, an effort toward a larger enjoyment of liberty and self-control, of organized resistance to the mother country, of depression after distress and war

fare, and of ineffectual settlement to be followed by renewed revolt. For no enduring period since the enfranchisement of the continental possessions of Spain in the Western Continent has the condition of Cuba or the policy of Spain toward Cuba not caused concern to the United States.

The prospect from time to time that the weakness of Spain's hold upon the island and the political vicissitudes and embarrassments of the home Government might lead to the transfer of Cuba to a continental power called forth between 1823 and 1860 various emphatic declarations of the policy of the United States to permit no disturbance of CuLa's connection with Spain unless in the direction of independence or acquisition by us through purchase, nor has there been any change of this declared policy since upon the part of the Gov

ernment.

The existing conditions cannot but fill this Government and the American people with the gravest apprebension. There is no desire on the part of our people to profit by the misfortunes of Spain. We have only the desire to see the Cubans prosperous and contented, enjoying that measure of self-control which is the inalienable right of man, protected in their right to reap the benefit of the exhaustless treasures of their country.

Throughout all these horrors and dangers to our own peace this Government has never in any way abrogated its sovereign prerogative of reserving to itself the determination of its policy and course according to its own high sense of right and in consonance with the dearest interests and convictions of our own people should the prolongation of the strife so demand.

Of the untried measures there remain only; Recognition of the insurgents as belligerents; recognition of the independence of Cuba; neutral intervention to end the war by imposing a rational compromise between the contestants, and intervention in favor of one or the other party. I speak not of forcible annexation, for that can not be thought of. That, by our code of morality, would be criminal aggression.

Sure of the right, keeping free from all offence ourselves, actuated only by upright and patriotic considerations, moved neither by passion nor selfishness, the Government will continue its watchful care over the rights and property of American citizens and will abate none of its efforts to bring about by peaceful agencies a peace which shall be honorable and enduring. If it shall hereafter appear to be a duty imposed by our obligations to ourselves, to civilization. and humanity to intervene with force, it shall be without fault on our part and only because the necessity for such action will be so clear as to command the support and approval of the civilized world.—Richardson, Messages and D ̧cuments of the Presil nts, Vol. X., pp. 127, 128, 131, 136.

Special Message, March 28, 1898:

At forty minutes past nine in the evening of the 15th of February the Maine was destroyed by an explosion, by which the entire forward part of the ship was utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe 2 officers and 264 of her crew perished, those who were not killed outright by her explosion being penned between decks by the tangle of wreckage and drowned by the immediate sinking of the hull. —Ibid, p. 137.

Message of April 11, 1898:

The long trial has proved that the object for which Spain has waged the war cannot be attained. The fire of insurrection may flame or may smoulder with varying seasons, but it has not been and it is plain that it can not be extinguished by present methods. The only hope of relief and repose from a condition which can no longer be endured is the enforced pacification of Cuba. In the name of humanity, in the name of civil. ization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us the right and the duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop.

In view of these facts and of these considerations I ask the Congress to authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the Government of Spain

and the people of Cuba, and to secure in the island the establishment of a stable government, capable of main. taining order and observing its international obligations, insuring peace and tranquility and the security of its citizens as well as our own, and to use the mili tary and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes. -Ibid, p. 150.

Second Annual Message, Dec. 5, 1898. In the Message he cites the following Joint Resolution of Congress:

First. That the people of the island of Cuba are, and of right ought to be, free and independent.

Second. That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the Government of the United States does hereby demand, that the Government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.

Third. That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several States to such extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect.

Fourth. That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people.-Ibid, p. 164.

In the same Message the following paragraphs are found:

Only reluctance to cause needless loss of life and property prevented the early storming and capture of the city, and therewith the absolute military occupancy of the whole group. The insurgents meanwhile had resumed the active hostilities suspended by the uncompleted truce of December, 1897. Their forces invested Manila from the northern and eastern sides, but were

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