按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
between 1898 and 1917 will doubtless be regarded by the historian a hundred years from now as a time of transition similar to that between 1815 and 1829。 In that earlier period John Marshall and John Quincy Adams did much by their wisdom and judgment to preserve what was of value in the old regime for use in the new。 In the later period John Hay performed； though far less completely； a somewhat similar function。
John Hay had an acquaintance with the best traditions of American statesmanship which falls to the lot of few men。 He was private secretary to Lincoln during the Civil War； he had as his most intimate friend in later life Henry Adams； the historian； who lived immersed in the memories and traditions of a family which has taken a distinguished part in the Government of the United States from its beginning。 Possessed of an ample fortune； Hay had lived much abroad and in the society of the men who governed Europe。 He was experienced in newspaper work and in diplomacy； and he came to be Secretary of State fresh from a residence in England where as Ambassador he had enjoyed wide popularity。 With a lively wit and an engaging charm of manner； he combined a knowledge of international law and of history which few of our Secretaries have possessed。 Moreover he knew men and how to handle them。 Until the death of McKinley in 1901 he was left almost free in the administration of his office。 He once said that the President spoke to him of his office scarcely once a month。 In the years from 1901 to 1905 he worked under very different conditions； for President Roosevelt discussed affairs of state with him daily and took some matters entirely into his own hands。
Hay found somewhat better instruments to work with than most Americans were inclined to believe probable。 It is true that the American diplomatic service abroad has not always reflected credit upon the country。 It has contained extremely able and distinguished men but also many who have been stupid； ignorant； and ill…mannered。 The State Department in Washington； however； has almost escaped the vicissitudes of politics and has been graced by the long and disinterested service of competent officials。 From 1897 to 1913； moreover； the service abroad was built up on the basis of continuity and promotion。
One sign of a new epoch was the changed attitude of the American public toward annexation。 While the war was in progress the United States yielded to the desires of Hawaii； and annexed the islands as a part of the United States； with the hope of their eventual statehood。 In 1899 the United States consented to change the cumbrous and unsuccessful arrangement by which； in partnership with Great Britain and Germany； it had supervised the native government of Samoa。 No longer unwilling to acquire distant territories； the United States took in full possession the island of Tutuila； with its harbor of Pago Pago； and consented to Germany's taking the remainder of the islands； while Great Britain received compensation elsewhere。 In 1900 the Government paid over to Spain 100；000 for Sibutu and Cagayan Sulu； two islands really belonging to the Philippines but overlooked in the treaty。 Proud of the navy and with a new recognition of its necessities； the United States sought naval stations in those areas where the fleet might have to operate。 In the Pacific the Government obtained Midway and Wake islands in 1900。 In the West Indies； the harbor of Guantanamo was secured from Cuba； and in 1903 a treaty was made with Denmark for the purchase of her islandswhich； however； finally became American possessions only in 1917。
By her policy toward Cuba； the United States gave the world a striking example of observing the plighted word even when contrary to the national interest。 For a century the United States had expected to acquire the 〃Pearl of the Antilles。〃 Spain in the treaty of peace refused to recognize the Cuban Government and relinquished the island into the hands of the United States。 The withdrawal of the Spanish troops left the Cuban Government utterly unable to govern； and the United States was forced to occupy the island。 Nevertheless the Government had begun the war with a recognition of Cuban independence and to that declaration it adhered。 The country gave the best of its talent to make the islands self…governing as quickly as possible。 Harvard University invited Cuban teachers to be its guests at a summer session。 American medical men labored with a martyr's devotion to stamp out disease。 General Wood； as military governor； established order and justice and presided over the evolution of a convention assembled to draft a constitution for the people of Cuba and to determine the relations of the United States and Cuba。 These relations； indeed； were already under consideration at Washington and were subsequently embodied in the Platt Amendment。* This measure directed the President to leave the control of Cuba to the people of the island as soon as they should agree to its terms。 It also required that the Government of Cuba should never allow a foreign power to impair its independence； that it would contract no debt for which it could not provide a sinking fund from the ordinary revenue； that it would grant to the United States 〃lands necessary for coaling or naval stations〃； that it would provide for the sanitation of its cities； and that the United States should have the right to intervene； 〃for the preservation of Cuban independence； the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life； property； and individual liberty； and for discharging〃 certain obligations with respect to Spanish subjects which the United States had assumed in the treaty signed at Paris。 After some hesitation the convention added these provisions to the new constitution of Cuba。 On May 20； 1902； the American troops withdrew； leaving Cuba in better condition than she had ever been before。 Subsequently the United States was forced to intervene to preserve order； but； though the temptation was strong to remain； the American troops again withdrew after they had done their constructive work。 The voluntary entrance of Cuba into the Great War in cooperation with the United States was a tribute to the generosity and honesty of the American people。
* An amendment to the Army Appropriation Bill of March 2； 1901。
Porto Rico presented a problem different from that which the United States had to solve in Cuba。 There existed no native organization which could supply even the basis for the formation of a government。 The people seemed； indeed； to have no desire for independence； and public sentiment in the United States generally favored the permanent possession of the island。 After a period of rule entirely at the discretion of the President； Congress established in 1900 a form of government based on that of the American territories。 Porto Rico remained； however； unincorporated into the Union； and it was long doubtful whether it would remain a dependency or would ultimately attain statehood。 In 1917； however； the degree of self…government was increased； and the inhabitants were made American citizens。 It now seems probable that the island will ultimately become a State of the Union。
Meanwhile on the other side of the world the United States had a more unpleasant task。 The revolted Filipinos； unlike the Cubans； had not declared themselves for independence but for redress of grievances。 The United States had assisted Aguinaldo； at the moment in exile； to return to the islands after the Battle of Manila Bay but had not officially recognized him as having authority。 When he saw Spanish power disappearing under American blows； he declared himself in favor of the abolition of all foreign rule。 This declaration； of course； in no way bound the United States； to whom the treaty with Spain； the only recognized sovereign； ceded the island absolutely。 There was no flaw in the title of the United States； and there were no obligations； save those of humanity； to bind the Americans in their treatment of the natives。 Nevertheless； the great majority of Americans would doubtless have gladly favored a policy similar to that pursued in the case of Cuba； had it seemed in any way practicable。 Unfortunately； however； the Filipinos did not constitute a nation but only a congeries of peoples and tribes of differing race and origin； whom nearly four centuries of Spanish rule had not been able to make live at peace with one another。 Some were Christians； some Mohammedans； some heathen savages； some wore European clothes； some none at all。 The particular tribe which formed the chief support of Aguinaldo； the Tagalogs； comprised less than one half of the population of the island of Luzon。 The United States had taken the islands largely because it did not see any one else to whom it could properly shift the burden。 The shoulders of the Tagalogs did not seem broad enough for the responsibility。
The United States prepared； therefore； to carry on the task which it had assumed； while Aguinaldo； with his army circling Manila； prepared to dispute its title。 On February 4； 1899； actual hostilities broke out。 By this time Aguinaldo had a capital at Malolos； thirty miles north of Manila； a government； thirty or forty thousand troops； and