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Grover Cleveland

Occupation- Former President Cleveland was retired during the time of the controversy about annexing the Philippine Islands. He still spoke out strongly against the colonial expansion. In 1898, he was one of the honorary, vice-presidents of the Anti-Imperialist League. Position on Issue- Cleveland was an Anti-imperialist. He was against the annexation of the Philippines.

List of Reasons for Interest in Topic- “We can conquer the Philippines, and after conquering them we can probably govern them. It is in the strain upon our institutions, the demoralization of our people, the evasion of our Constitutional limitations, and the prevision of our National mission that our danger lies.” This statement, said by Grover Cleveland, suggests that he knows the country is capable of annexing the Philippines but sees it as a threat to America. The act goes against the Teller Amendment of the Constitution. It would be inconsistent to disclaim any institution of annexing Cuba and then annex the other Spanish colonies, such as the Philippines.

“Our country will never be the same again. For weal or for woe, we have already irrevocably passed beyond the old lines for the British are killing natives in an effort to possess their land.” This is yet another statement by Grover Cleveland that suggests his position on the annexation debate. Cleveland feels the United States should not acquire the country because the Filipinos themselves were fighting the Americans in the Philippines. Such an act like this showed that the Filipinos did not want to be under American rule.

Cleveland also reasoned that the annexation of the Philippines would force another “primitive race” to join the US. Many though this was not fair and suggested that US talk of “uplifting” the Filipinos were hypocritical. At home the US was not even trying to protect the rights of black men.

References: Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, and Emilio Aguinaldo

Work Cited: "GROVER CLEVELAND TALKS ON PHILIPPINES; Deplores the Campaign as Pregnant with Dire Consequences. ALSO DENOUNCES BOER WAR His Remarks Not Received with Unmixed Approval  at Holland Society Dinner -- Wedding Congratulations Sent to Queen Wilhelmina." //GROVER// // CLEVELAND TALKS ON PHILIPPINES //. 18 Jan. 1901. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. . "Philippine-American War, 1899-1902." //Philippine-American War, 1899-1902//. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. []. "Profiles of U.S. Presidents." //Retirement//. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. [].