The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-29
BEST POLICY.
Our Agreement to Pay In
demnity to Spain.

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Frye
continued his argument for the ratih-
cation of the peace treaty with Spain,
in today's executive session of the SEN
ate.
He talked for an hour and half,
and again made the only speech of the
day. The principal questions under
ing to the payment of claims against
the Spanish government, the reasons
for agreeing to pay Spain for the i'm
provements made in the Philippines
and the reasons for extending to Spain
the benefit of an "open door" policy
in her former possessions.
He said that the question of claims
of American citizens against Spain,
which claims the United States, by
the terms Of the treaty, had agreed to
pay, had occupied much of the time
and had been the subject of anxious
thought on the part Of the commission.
but that there was no other practical
solution of the problem, in view of the
poverty of Spain; and in fact. no other
tation Of the United States as a ma
tion which knew how to be generous as
we'll as Just
He said there were about So, 100000 OF
these claims and possibly the amount
might reach $15,000,00O Spain had agreed
as an offset to this concession on ot1
part to pay the claims of Spanish citl.
zens against the United States govern
ment, but Mr.. Frye admitted that the
aggregate Of these counter claims was
not large
Senator Frye also said that the com
missioners had felt that they were justi-
fed in drawing upon the generosity OF
this country in agreeing to pay 100000
600 to Spain for the improvements made
by the Spanish government and in con.
ceding to Spain for term of years the
same privileges as claimed for the
United States in the matter Of trade ir
the conquered country. Such concessions
were in the line of presidents set by
the most civilized nations. In agreeing
to pay Spain a lump sum we were also
following the best policy.
Many questions were read to show
that other nations had pursued this
course toward their vanquished rivals
In conclusion, he referred to the great
| improvement in religious and spirit
ual way that would result from Amer
NdH occupation OIL the ISLANDS, saying
/ no man who would have the gospel
preached to all nations could view with
equanimity the prospect of a restora.
| ton OF the islands to Spain or theii
! partition among other nations. To re-
| 1ect the treaty, meant the restoration
or the status quo, to give up Manila
and all the points taken after the sign,
ing Of the protocol, and to lose all the
vast advantages acquired through the
war in the far east
| Senator Mason asked whether it wa.
the purpose of the United States t
pay the $20,000,000 indemnity before tn,
United States should come into the ful
possession and occupation of the coun
try. Il want to know" he said
| whether we are to pay the money be,
fore the goods are delivered"
Mr. Davis, replying, referred Mr.
Mason to the text of the treaty. He
said the Spaniards had shown theil
good faith by preparing as speedily as
possible to eyacuate the ceded islands
They had ceased to defend them foI
themselves, and therefore Spain could
not be held responsible for any failure
on our part to avail ourselves of sover.
eighty. He understood that the rati.
f1cation of the treaty bound us to the
payment of the indemnity, regardless
OF the attitude of the natives of the
Philippines.