It was because the colonial policy of Spain impoverished and degraded the Spaniards at home, through the injustice, greed and profligacy of those abroad, that the huge structure, once so great an imposition upon mankind, a rotten fabric so gilt that the inherent weakness was disguised, has finally fallen into universal and irretrievable ruin.

It is well Spain should retain the Canaries and the Balearic group, for they are as Spanish as any peninsular province, and legitimately belong therefore to the kingdom.  The application of this principle excludes Spain from the Philippines, and their des- [NOTE:  gap in original] been committed by the failure of war to our hands.  There is no nation that will dispute our peaceable possession of the Philippines.  Any other nation’s proprietorship will be challenged.  Our authoritative presence in the islands will be a guarantee of peace.  Any other assertion of supremacy will be the signal for war.  Our assumption of sovereignty over the islands would quickly establish tranquility.  Any other disposition of the burning questions now smoldering will cause an outburst of the flames of warfare.  The Spaniards in Manila have been transient.  They are not rooted in the soil.  They all come and go like Captain-Generals, a mere official class, with the orders of the Church participating actively in secular concerns, more active as politicians than as teachers of religion.  In the view of the native population it is as indispensable that the priests of Spain shall return to their native land as that the soldiers should go.  The deportation of these people would remove classes of consumers and not affect unfavorably a productive industry, or the prosperity of a self-sustaining community, and there would be but rare instances of the severance of family ties.

It will be said of the affirmation that, the avowal of the possession of the Philippines as a responsibility without end would be a peace measure, and anything else make for war, does not take into account the attitude of the Philippine Dictator, by proclamation, General Aguinaldo, and his followers.  We desire to speak with respect of the General, for he has shown in trying times, under strong temptations, the presence in his character of personal integrity in public matters, and reference is made to his refusal to consent to the division among insurgents alleged to be leaders, of the money paid by the Spaniards for the disarmament of the rebels, when two years ago there was an agreement upon the terms of a truce.  This money transaction has been referred to as the sale of their cause by Aguinaldo and his associates, as if they, as individuals, had pocketed the usufruct of the bargain.  The money was paid by Spain as an earnest of her sincerity, the Captain-General representing the force and good faith of the kingdom, in granting reforms to the Philippines.  On condition of insurgent disarmament the people of the island were to be allowed representation in the