Note on the Question of the Philippines V. 1

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1 Carman F. Randolph, A Note on the Question of the Philippines [1] (1898)

handle is hein.philipp/ntqstppp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: A NOTE ON THE QUESTION OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
The United States have vanquished Spain in their
chosen theatre of war as completely as Germany van-
quished France in 1870, yet, instead of meeting Spain's
plea for peace with an ultimatum covering all the great
territorial questions suggested by the declaration or
developed by the prosecution of war, they have signed
a Protocol, the third article of which reads: The United
States will occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor of
Manila, pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace which
shall determine the control, disposition and government
of the Philippines.
In thus postponing the question of the Philippines
the United States were not moved by consideration for
Spain, nor did they surrender or qualify the victor's right
to finally dictate terms. They were simply unprepared
to formulate terms in respect of a situation at once dense,
unpremeditated and unprecedented. A large element in
this uncertainty was, and is, whether the United States
should annex Philippine territory. This question, though
perhaps an inevitable sequel to the brilliant victory at
Manila, should have no sustained interest for the Ameri-
can people. Terminable responsibilities in the Philippines
may be necessarily continued, perhaps enlarged, but a
clear perception of the welfare of our Republic will in-
duce us to avoid the perpetual obligation of annexation.
We need no Asiatic territory, except for a coaling station;