Arizona republican., 1898-12-20
NOTHING IN THE TREATY
To ExCite Strong Opposition in
 inc Senate.

Washington, Dec 19.-It is believed ! by the administration that with the signature of the treaty of peace the rat ification of the treaty is assured. The
 president is confident that when the
 terms of the document are known every
 republican in the senate and many
 democrats will approve 'ahem, for, while
 the treaty brings the war to close, it
 does not pledge the United States for
 the future to any extent greater than
 everybody has recognized to be inevit-
 able.
 It is believed that those who sincere
 ly question the wisdom of the retention of the Philippines by Lhe United States will find nothing in the treaty which they cannot indorse conscientiously. It provides for the withdrawal of Spanish
 sovereignty, but does not determine the
 future of the islands, leaving that to
 American statesmanship.
 Those who believe that the islands
 should not remain permanently under
 American control will have an oppor-
 tunity, after the treaty is ratified, to
 discuss plans and propose methods by
 which the territory may become self
 governing, and in that they will have
 the full sympathy of the administra-
 tiOn. In fact, it would not be strange
 if the administration were to take the initiative and to ask some of those sen atOrs who have expressed the strongest doubts about the wisdom of permanent American occupation to consult with it.
 The president will rely particularly on the judgment and constitutional learning of Senator Hoar, whose dis interested advice is always acceptable at the White House. If he can devise a scheme whereby the Philippines shall enjoy self government or become prac- tically independent, the administration will certainly place no obstacle in the path of a practical plan with that end in view
 The one object which the president has had in mind in the negotiations of the treaty of peace, so far as the Phil ippines are concerned, has been to in- sure the permanent withdrawal of Spain from the islands. In order to accomplish that it has been necessary for the United States to take the islands in trust for the benefit of the inhabitants, but there is no suggestion anywhere in administration circles that the Philippines should be held as sub- ject people or the islands as a vassal state.
 American control as fixed by the treaty of peace goes no farther than has been found absolutely necessary in or der to complete the divorcement of the islands from Spain. The payment of which is provided for is not by way of purchase, but is rather a solace that nobody in the future shall be abla to say That Spain was treated with in- justice.
 The money payment is to be provid- ed for by congress with little opposi- tion. The ratification of the treaty of iS fn fhnCn persons who oppose the treaty will hardly go so far as to refuse the appro- l priation which is to be rendered nec- | essary if the treaty is to go into effect. | Indeed, representatives and senators l who have declared their opposition to ] the treaty, and who have expressed the i hope that it might not be ratified, have | at the same time declared their belief | that once ratified, nothing should be | done in congress to prevent the provis- | ions of the treaty from being carried | into effect. It is one thing, they argue, ! to try to prevent the United States from entering into an obligation. It is i quite another thing to endeavor to in- duce them to dishonor a pledge.
 The provision of the treaty that the 1 S20, ,000,0 ,000 shall be paid within three months after ratification makes it nee assary for the appropriation to be made ! at the present session of congress if an extra session is to be avoided. No trouble is looked for in that. The lead CTS of the house of representative ac cording to MT. Hopkins of Illinois stand ready to make the appropriation just as soon as the treaty has been rati- jed, or if ratification should be deferred until the close of the session or until in March, contingent appropriation is to be made payable within ,hree months i, after the ratification Of the treaty. That course is not without precedent, for the louSa ol a good many occasions has passed contingent appropriation bills n a similar way.