Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1899 — ISLES HELD IN TRUST [ARTICLE]

ISLES HELD IN TRUST

M’KINLEY TALKS OF LANDS TAKEN FROM SPAIN. Americans Have No Imperial Designs —Taking Over of Sovereignty a Doty Made Necessary by War—Nation’s Authority "Will Be Asserted. President McKinley, for the first time since Dewey's victory at’ Manila, has made public declaration of what has been and is the policy of the administration regarding the Philippines. This public declaration was made by him in Boston Thursday night at the banquet of the Home Market Club, at which he was the guest of honor. He proclaimed it to be his duty, as the chief executive of the nation, to possess and hold the Philippines until Congress shall direct otherwise. He also stated that at no time did one word or line go from him either to Manila or the American peace commissioners which did not place as the first consideration the W’elfare and the rights of the Filipinos. To this he added that “no imperial designs lurk in the American mind.” In his address President McKinley reviewed at length the Philippine situation, saying that the country must bravely face the new issue and decide it for the best interests of the islanders as well as the people at home. That this country has no imperial designs was positively declared by the nation’s chief executive. He said an imperial policy was opposed to the principles of the American Government and could not be entertained. Cession of the Philippines, Mr. McKinley said, became a necessity, and, hard though the duty is, it will have io be As for the future of the islands, it rests with Congress, the representative of the peopeople, and the people will do what is right. While grieving over every drop of blood shed at Manila, whether from the veins of a brave American or a misguided native, the President said the Filipinos will be compelled to respect the authority of the United States and then will be shown that the conqueror is working for the islands’ good. The banquet of the Home Market Club at Mechanics’ Hall was the largest affair of the kind ever arranged in this country, the exact number of persons who were served being 1.914. Besides these there were fully 3,800 spectators in the balconies.