The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-15
GRAY ON THE PHILIPPINES
Delaware Senator Speaks to
Wilmington Business Men.
OUR RIGHT TO THE ISLANDS
Duty Cannot BE Avoided Because 1t
May Bring Pain or Danger Re
sponsibility Cannot BE Evaded
Hccnusr oT Its Burdens-Intercst-
Conference.

Wilmington. Del, Jan. 14.-At a dinner
in his honor tonight, given by the vii
mington Board of Trade, Senator George
Gray. of the Peace Commission, delivered
the principal address. In part he said:
We are now in a crisis Of our national
history and your hearts and mine, as
patriotic citizens of this great country, are
full of anxiety as to a proper settlement
of the momentous issues which have re-
suited from the war with Spain. While
our country was at war with Spain we
were ready TO make. | hope, every sacri-
flee to insure the success of American
arms and bring victory and honor to the
American flag and when the war was over
| believe the patriotic instinct OF American
citizenship demanded. as your patriotic
President enjoiped upon us that we should
exhibit, magnanimity to PROSTATE foe
and moderation in the hour OF victory. as
we had faced the war with steadfastness
and courage.
IN the first place | want to say to you
that it was my pleasure, as we'll as what
l conceived my duty, TO endeavor to carry
out this instruction so cTeditab!c to us as
a nation and so worthy of the high civil
ization of which We profess to b. leaders.
The acquisition of territory by tie United
States was net one of the objects OF the
war and we solemnly declared III the Ieso-
luticns OF Congress that our only object
in demanding the REIMBURSEMENT of The
sovereignty OF Cuba by Spain was not TO
hold it ourselves. except that we might
pacify It and fit it FOR self government by
S;ts own people. But in this, as in all,
man proposes and God disposeS. nd it
was one of the things that make thought
ful men desire to avoid war, where 1t 'an
be avoided. for no one can tell what the
consequences may be. / arcenuy desired
that we might escape the necessity Cf TAX
ing the Philippine Islands and assuming
the burden that their taking will impose
upon us, and l know that the President OF
the United States was equally anxious to
the same end. But it became apparent
that without our seeking unexpected con-
ditions had been created and out of those
conditions unquestionable duties had
sprung which could not be avoided or
evaded by the United States.
NO one claimed that the people of Cuba
are in a condition toAealize those ideals
at the present time. No more are the Phil
ippines capable now. unaided, OF achieving
self government and a stable condition of
liberty regulated by law To take from
Spain the titular sovereignty will not pre-
vent. but will rather promote, a disposi-
ton of the whole question in conformity
with the patriotic impulses OF the Ameri-
can people. That We have the right TO ac-
quire territory by conquest or treaty un-
der the Constitution and that uncondition-
ally, cannot be successfully disputed. No
more can il be denied that the Constitu
ton has left TO Congress the power and
authority to govern territory so acquired.
That the fathers in framing the COnstitu
tion left this great power of national SOW
ereignty almost without restraint to the
10 NIT tf,ptt
significance.
In addition to such scant restraints in
the exercise OF those powers as may BE-
found expressed in the Constitution or its
amendments they manifestly trusted TO
the wisdom. patriotism and high sense of
public morality Of the American people to
deal with each case as the occasion re-
quired. Neither the President nor the
treaty made by his authority trammels
the freedom of action of the American
people or of the Congress in administering
this high trust on the lines prescribed By
righteousness and honorable observance
of the great and fundamental principles OF
the Government enunciat-d in the Dlclara-
tion of Independence.
Duty cannot honorably be avoided be-
cause it may hiring pain or danger. Nor
can responsibility always be eyaded Da-
cause of its burdens. That | sought in
Paris by all honorable means TO escape this
responsibility does not matter now. 1t
came to point at last that we must either
leave the islands TO Spain. take thea as
we did or break off negotiations and come
home without treaty of peace. In the
last event truce would be broken and d
state Of active war would have been re-
sumed We would have had no cession
Of tne sovereignty of the Philippines ans
none of Porto Rico and no relnQuishment
of the sovereignty Of Cuba. II is true that
in the protocol of August Is Spain had
defnitel, promised that she wCl.i cede
Porto Rico and relinquish Cuba. but with
out a treaty OF peace that promise could
not be performed. What would then have
been the exigencies Of the situation Tn
doubtedIy We would hayr been compelled
to go On aIi seize with ,ne strong hand
and by int. tary power hplh the Philippine
archipelago and the greater and lesser An
TILES, taking by ruthless con luest what il
was far better that we should take by tine
voluntary cessiOn Of treaty If peace. But
now that we have them. it does no. follow
that we are committed to colonial policy
or TO a violation of those great Er'L' les
of liberty and self government. which must
always remain American Ideals ii ou" own
ions