shell, caught fire and ran for the shore; a second ran up the white flag, but was found to be sinking; a third blew up. "Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying," said an American captain, and not a cheer was heard. From a photograph by Hall THE BATTLESHIP " OREGON " Steamed from San Francisco to Key West in 68 days, and took part in the naval battle off Santiago In four hours the fight was over and Spain had lost six vessels, six hundred men in killed and wounded, and one thousand two hundred prisoners, while the Americans had but one man killed and three wounded, and suffered little damage to their vessels. In a few days the entire Spanish army in Santiago surrendered, and General Miles started to invade Porto Rico, but before he had overrun much of the island the war ceased. 571. The Capture of Manila; Treaty of Peace.' As soon as General Merritt could collect an army on the Pacific Coast and transport it to the support of Admiral Dewey, Manila was forced to surrender (August 13th). In the Philippines, as in Cuba, the natives had revolted against the tyranny of Spain and aided the Americans in defeating the Spaniards. On the day before Manila fell, the French ambassador, acting for Spain, signed at Washington the first draft of a 1 Constitution, Article II., Sec. 2. treaty of peace. War ceased as soon as the news could reach our armies and fleets. From October to December. American and Spanish Peace Commissioners discussed at Paris the final terms. They agreed to the following: 1. That Spain should give up all authority over Cuba, and transfer Porto Rico, Guam, an island in the Ladrones group, and the Philippines to the United States. 2. That the United States pay Spain twenty million dollars. 3. That the rights to be given to the inhabitants of these new possessions should be decided by Congress, with the exception that they should have religious freedom. Many people in this country were opposed to taking possession of the Philippines without the consent of the inhabitants, who were then, under the leadership of Aguinaldo, demanding independence. But a larger number declared that if the United States should withdraw her authority from the islands the people would fall into a state of anarchy, and foreign nations would probably seize various portions. The treaty of peace was ratified early in 1899. 572. The Results of the War. The following are the main results of the Spanish war: 1. America comes into possession of colonies. Not only did the United States change her mind during the war with Spain and annex the island republic of Hawaii (see map, page 413) (8 529), but she accepted as colonies the islands ceded by Spain. This action met with considerable opposition because it brought to the American people a new and difficult problem. Many believed that we should not undertake to govern millions of people living thousands of miles away, who belonged to a · different race and who knew nothing of our system of government. A permanent increase in the cost of government. The war not only added several millions of dollars to our national debt in spite of "war taxes," but resulted in a permanent increase in the size of the army and navy, and in the number of civil officers. 3. The expansion in American com merce. Our trade with Cuba and Porto Rico has constantly increased, but with Asiatic countries the increase has been even greater. The old Asiatic trade, which once reached us by way of Europe, now comes largely by way of the Pacific, the transcontinental railroads, and the Great Lakes. Large numbers of Ameri cans have gone to institutions. Already Cuba as well as our colonies have learned valuable lessons in good government. During the American occupation, under the command of Governor-General Leonard Wood, the Cubans were taught how to rid their chief city, Havana, of that dread disease, the yellow fever. Hundreds of American teachers have gone to carry the blessings of the free public school to the people of the colonies. 5. The United States raised in the estimation of European nations. All European nations took a deep interest in the war. The majority of their people sympathized with Spain. Some thought that the United States made war to get possession of Cuba rather than to free Cuba from Spain. But when the United States withdrew from Cuba (1902) and left the island to be governed by its own people, Europeans were convinced of her good faith. They were surprised at her easy victory, and were convinced that the United States was able to take an important part in the affairs of nations. There are many evidences that the respect of other nations for this government has materially increased since the Spanish War. 6. Another proof that the American Union is perfect and perpetual. Everybody rejoiced to see what all had long believed, that ex-Confederates and their sons would respond to the nation's call to arms as quickly and enthusiastically as any other American citizens. Indeed, this war helped all sections, all classes, and all races to realize, as never before, what the American Union means. RECENT EVENTS 573. Insurrection in the Philippines (1899). The Philippine Islands contain about eight million inhabitants, the majority of whom are classified as civilized and belong to the Malayan race. The natives of Luzon had been foremost in the rebellion against Spain, and had allied themselves with the Americans at the capture of Manila. Their demand for immediate independence not being granted, they attacked the American forces. In the war which followed, the American troops, led by General Otis, defeated the poorly armed native |