New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26

some inconvenience and at some threatened neglect
OF public duties somewhat suddenly and on some
what short notice in order that might participate
with YOU in this magnificent banquet
Mr. President you ought 10 very proud OF inns
society citizens by birth OF Ohio. here on the sea-
board and In this great metropolis OF New-forA
20 strong in numbers and In intellect ana III @na'
ac,er We feel--those Of US who have not Una,
privilege those Of us born outside the sacred pare
of Ohlo-that 1t is privilege that does not ore"
come and that must be appreciated when IL docs
come 10 be your guests. When look over 'n's
assembly Of Ohoans and recollect the history Oh
that great central State Of our Union, Kno" 'ha'
you feel as I have just said. just pride IN you.
nativity and in the State TO whlch YOU an WV
the allegiance OF birth
ru, there is another thought that comes win
this that while you are Ohoans ana WINE Sou
have done so much TO illustrate all that Is pes. !"
American history and In American statesrnans'ip'
I also belong 10 your company by virtue oI NV
fact that l. and you, too, are American c''ize"S'
fannlause,. and by that high title claim TO be AZ
home among you tonight .
There is something very grateful TO me always !"
an occasion like this that Is distnctvely one sprns
ing from State pride and from that love OF seH-
government that belongs to our States. something
that illustrates TO my mind the strength OF our
institutions Stretching from ocean TO ocean as
a Nation we yet preserve our loyalty 70 the COM
,nunities that We govern and 10 which we oeioHs'
and that must preserve In the future as II mas
preserved In the past. the true glory OF American
institutions
am always thankful that the map Of this great
country Is not painted over with color: that the
States in every map appear distinctivey as SELF
governed sovereign States, and that from 'hen uP
TO the pinnacle OF National greatness come the
springs OF our greatness and the source OF all 'ha'
we hope for as the strength OF our future
JUST CAUSE TO BE PROUD.
10 m fellOW-Citi
gems from Ohio. in the occasion on which you are
assembled tonight and can speak to-nisht WIFI
out any suspicion imputation OF seif1giorlhca-
ton because IL is for me TO bear witness 10 you 10
the important part that Ohio has performed IN the
great concluding act Of this drama OF the war with
Spain II is a very great honor my friends. that
not only did YOU contribute your citizen sodiery TO
the defence Of our great Republic. but that you
also contributed the character and the statesman
ship and that broad-mnded judgment In the per-
sons Of two who that Peace Commission APP
pointed by the President, also from ONO nave
brought TO a conclusion the war with Spain by a
dehnltive Treaty Of Peace And let me say-oe-
cause It is a pleasure for me TO say II In his ao-
sence-that no State in this Union could nave
contributed 20 that function any other great
diplomatic function Of statecraft MIND ana
character more equpoised, settled. clear and strong
than was contributed by Ohio when she sent that
quiet. sensible. strong statesman. William H. Day
TO Paris conclude the Treaty of Peace Always
self-conained, never seIf-eXpOiatNe, Always sen
suppressed, yet firm and courageous in the per-
Torrance Of duty as he saw It. he has illustrated
the very highest traits of American craftsmanship
and American character in the work that we
brought home with from the other side OF the
ocean.
/ speak Of him first because he was the presi-
dent Of the Commission appointed by the Presi-
dent But Ohio's honors did not cease there. lie
was ably seconded by another son of Ohio, who,
with untiring zeal and devotion to his countrys
interests he them, with the patriotic and
single purpose to achieve and promote the glory
and honor and safety Of his country-your distin-
guished fellow-statesman. the Hon. Whtelaw
Reid who sits at my left-has secured for himself
place In the galaxy Of American statesmen that
must ever remain honor to him and 70 the great
State that gave him birth
NO SECRET TO DISCLOSE.
And now. my friends your president has said
that he hoped TO hear all the diplomatic secrets
with which We were supposed to be surcharged,
and that we were TO display tonight TO you some
thing that would crafty your curiosity and your
patriotism by telling you of things that happened
that you have a right to know. in those negotia-
tons which considered so important and whch
form such epoch in the history Of our country.
Well our great secret is. that we have no secret
20 disclose. Our conduct there was in unison and
in line with American traditions Of diplomacy. We
knew nothing OF intrigue or finance. but we sought
10 meet the trained diplomacy Of Europe by
straightforward and direct methods Of American
craftsmanship and American character. ceres OF
you did II. toor)
We were far away and felt that We five men
felt 1t with an intensity that cannot describe
acknowledgements our country and It's inter
ests it's future. and in a measure Its destiny and
whatever differences we had In our own council
chamber. and We had many. there was but a solid
and single Commission when opposed 10
the enemies of our country We recollected that
whatever differences Of opinion might be, when
we came to deal with the great interests OF the
United States as opposed to those of SPAIN that
political opinion sank into nsignifcance before the
great paramount consideration that We were Amer
leans charged with responsibility for America,
charged with duty 10 our country which we
endeavored humby In the sight Of God to perform
There may have been some questions as TO the
policy Of acquiring the Philippines at all; there may
have been grave doubts 10 whether we should
20 outside OF the declaration with which the wa
was commenced and confined, and extend our view
outside Of this hemisphere TO the distant orient
hut there came a time In the course Of those nego
tations-and this perhaps. is one Of the secrets t
which your president alluded-when after four o
FIVE weeks Of doubt and anxiety II became apparen
that these negotiations must either be broken OF
and your Commissioners return without treat!
at ALL and that we would be relegated to the neces
sity OF taking not only the Philippines. but CUB
and Porto Rico. by the ruthless hand Of mitar
conquest, or by some concessions that comporte
with the magnarimity and greatness and charace
OF this country. gain them by the voluntary cessio
of 4 treaty Of peace. And, therefore, we believed
that II was better for this country strong in IN
hours OF victories. great in the hour OF IL
triumphs that 1t should TO beaten and prostrat
fee exhibit that magnanimity OF which spoke. an
take from them by voluntary cession and by pur
chase so tospeak. those distant islands rather tina
10 expose ourselves in the eyes Of the world TO N
playing OF a role Of barbaric conquest, and b.
military power treading the path of medeva
rapine and warfare
RELUCTANT TO ENTER THIS ROLE
speak as one as my friend my left and col
league on the late Commission will bear me Wit
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