Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-12
JUDGE DAYS LETTER
First Public Utterance on. Treaty Of
the Chairman Of Paris Peace
Commission.
Purchase Of the Philippines Gave
Title to the Archipelago in
Fullest Sense.
Islands Not Taken by Right Of Con-
quest-News Of the
Day.

lay
Columbus, O., Oct. 12.@The first pub
lis utterance Of Judge William r.. Day,
was president of the American peace
commission, concerning the delibera-
tions of the commissioners at Paris. is
contained in letter written to former
Congressman d. K. Watson, of this
city. and read by him at republican
meeting last night.
Judge Day sets forth the reasons
which in his mind justified the payment
of s20OOO,0OO for the Philippines, declar-
ing that it was never commended by the
American commissioners that the
United States had right to the Philip
pines as matter Of conquest. He says
the subject is made plain in the printed
protocol of the joint commission pub
lished last winter after the treaty was
submitted to the senate. He states
that the subject was first brought to
the attention of the Spanish commits
sioners in proposal that Spain should
cede to the United States the archipel-
ago known as the Philippine islands,
with stipulation for the assumption
by the United States of any existing in
debtedness of Spain for public works
and improvements of pacific charac-
ter in the Philippines" This proposal
being rejected by the Spanish commits
sioners, the American commissioners
made their final proposition for the
sake of immediate peace" Offering 500
900 for the cession OF the islands.
Continuing. the judge says:
You will observe that in making this
proposal it is distinctly said that it
embodies the concessions which, for
the sake of immediate peace, the Amer
lean government was willing to make.
There We're doubtless other reasons ac-i
tuating the commissioners in making
this proposal, though l think the chief
one is embodied in the statement above
written. 1t was not claimed that the
United States had a right TO the Phil
ippine islands as matter of conquest.
The United States had never undertake
en-, so far as | know, to wrest from
fcreien country lands or possessions
simply by right of conquest, had we
been disposed to do 50. 1t must be re-
only of the city, bay and harbor of
Manila, under protocol of August IL,
1898, providing that the United States
should occupy and hold the same pend
ling the conclusion of a treaty of peace
which should determine the control,
disposition and government of the Phil
ippines. The capture after the signing
lof the protocol, by Gen. Merritt and his
II sc.
have been, included no more territory
! than We We're entitled to hold under
the protocol. In addition to the hope of
accomplishing immediate peace, which
! 1 need hardly say was of great import
lance at that time, there was n strong
| lesire to treat Spain with a degree of
| magnaninity consistent with our ma
tional honor and prestige. following our
national precedent in the treatment of
4 Mexico for the cession of territory to
us at the close of the Mexican war. BY
1.-the cession, for consideration, we OBJ
ltained an indisputable title which must
be respected by all other nations. Ii
4 must be remembered, too, that the
/ American commissioners had constant
Ily refused to assume any of the out
lstanding obligations or debts which
4 Spain had undertaken to fasten upor
the Philippines. Notwithstanding oul
i offer to pay for pacific improvements
4 Spain had not undertaken to substanti-
/ ate any claim upon that ground. Oh
course speak only for myself and
write these views without opportunit,
to consult with my fellow commission
ers. In my Judgment the concession
I referred to was effectual in bringing
about an acceptance of our proposals
which resulted in the making of tn
y treaty"