We secured peace, we protected the people of the islands against foreign foes, and we minimized the chance of domestic trouble.

We satisfied the creditors and the foreign nations to which the creditors belonged; and our own part of the work was done with the utmost efficiency and with rigid honesty, so that not a particle of scandal was ever so much as hinted at.
Under these circumstances those who do not know the nature of the professional international philanthropists would suppose that these apostles of international peace would have been overjoyed with what we had done.

As a matter of fact, when they took any notice of it at all it was to denounce it; and those American newspapers which are fondest of proclaiming themselves the foes of war and the friends of peace violently attacked me for averting war from, and bringing peace to, the island.

They insisted I had no power to make the agreement, and demanded the rejection of the treaty which was to perpetuate the agreement.

They were, of course, wholly unable to advance a single sound reason of any kind for their attitude.