The times., 1898-07-31
TO KEEP THE ISLANDS
That Is the Suggestion of a Ma
.jority of Senator's.
SENATE FOREIGN COMMITTEE
It's Members Express Their Senti-
ments az to the Conditions Of
Peace with spain-Inferviews
with Senator's Foraker, Morgan.
EIkins, Money, CuIIom and others.

On what conditions should the United
States make peace with Spain? What
ought to be the amount of the war in
demnity and how many Of the Spanish
possessions should we hold permanently?
Such are the leading questions l put to
several of the most prominent senators
men who WELD wide influence in the
upper branch of our national legislature
and whose views cannot but attract the
widest attention by reason of their recog-
nized ability as International lawyers and
intelligent statesmen. Several declined
to talk for publication, but practically all
agreed that Spain should not only be
mulcted many millions as the price of
her conduct in proionging the war but
at the same time she should also be
shorn of nearly all her colonial possess
sicns
In view of the fact that the Senate
will be called upon to ratify the treaty of
peace and that such a treaty cannot be
made valid until it receives the unquali-
fled Endorsement Of majority OF the
members, ii is not only interesting. but
very instructive TO know in advance just
what the sentiment of our leading sena-
tors is on this all-important subject.
While the great majority of the Sen
ate favors settlement with Spain that
will prac ically deprive her of all her
colonies, there Is a small but pronounced
minority who does not belieyis in the wis
dom of such a step. Ii is not that they
hate Spain less, but because they love
America more. They see in the acquisi-
ton of insular and outlying possessions
q great many dangers ahead for the re-
public. and hold to the opinion that these
islands. which might be ours. should
work out their own salvation independ-
entity of the United States.
Among the Senate Committee on For
eign Affairs Senators Davis. Lodge, Gull
Iom, Foraker and Morgan all take the
view that it will be good policy for our
Government. 20 hold everything we can
possibly get of Spain's possessions In
the Atlantic and Pacific. They believe
that the Dons have forfeited all rights
to colonies by reason Of their corruption
and barbarous practices. and that the
people of these islands should be given
a chance 10 tas.e the sweets of liberty
untrammeIed by Spanish authority.
Senator Foraker said Spain has shown
her inability and incompetence 10 rule her
colonies and should therefore be deprived
of them l am in favor of holding on 60
everything we can. get. Nothing can be
be severe enough for the Spaniards for
their horrible treatment OF he Cpbans.
We want a big war indemnity, and the
only sure way of getting IL Is by holding
these islands as security for payment.
But | want to see the Cubans treated
well. They are our allies, and have
struggled for years against Spanish tyr
amy. We want to cooperate with them
as far as possible, and help them 10 es-
tablish a stable republic. The unhappy
island deserves a rich measure of indie
pendence and freedom, and should have
every consideration from us. The condi-
tions of peace should cover all the Span
ish possessions. for in this way only can
we make sure of being indemnified for our
great war expenditure; and nothing in the
course and conduct of the Castilians de-
serves anything but the seyerest terms at
our hands"
Senator Morgan of Alabama, whose
good judgment and foresight have been
more than vindicated by the march OF re-
cent events, had this to say:
There never was a time in the history
of our country when we had so many
difficult and delicate questions to pass
upon as at present. Recent developments
| in the Caribbean and the Pacific have
| thrust upon us a number of perplexing
but none the less profound propositions
as to our future policy. We have come
tC parting of the ways, as regards our
course of empire. Washington advocat-
ed the policy of avoiding foreign entaugle-
ments and keeping ourselves isolated as
much as possible from the Old World
We were then a weak and struggling ma
ton, beset by difficulties within and dan.
( gers without. But a century of growth
has changed all these conditions and new
occasions teach new duties. We have be-
come vigorous and sturdy nation, anG
must be governed by considerations o1
commerce, civilization, and Christianity
Through Spanish mal-administration we
/ have practically secured the greater par
| Of her insular possessions. What shall
we do with then? 2, For my part / am II
| favor of holding on to everything that WI
| have secured so far l know that yol
! must first catch the hare before you at
tempt to cook him: but we have practi
! cally done this all ready. Spain has for
| feited all righteous and just claims to hel
! colonies by her barbarous and inhumar
| treatment of them. l think that we ough
to hold on to them. This does not NEAR
| that we shall assimiliate them, but rathe
! give them chance TO set up for them
| selves stable and civilized governments.
"It Is too early as yet 10 say on what
basis peace negotiations should be con-
Quoted. But public sentiment seems
agreed on one thing, namely-that we
should hold on to every bit of Spanish
territory that has dropped into our lap
We have a great future ahead of US and