Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-29
NO OTHER HONORABLE COURSE
GOOD PREcEDENrs FOR AGREEING
TO PAY s2O,0OO.O00.
Senator Davis Says Spain Has Done
Her Part, and America LIS In
Honor Bound to Pay Wheth-
cr Philippines Are
Kept OF Not.

SAeCuilSe StSStOu VI tlt sSAdtS. tAc ec'hSo
for an hour and a half and again made
the only speech of the days session.
The principal questions under considera-
tion to-day were those relating to the pay
ment of claims against the Spanish gov
ernment, the reasons for agreeing to pay
Spain for the improvements made in the
Philippines. and the reasons for extending
to Spain the benefit of an open door policy
in her former possessions. There were
various interruptions by other senators,
who. however, confined themselves to ques-
tions. In reply to one of these questions
relating to the presidents instructions. Mr.
Frye said the commissioners were in con-
slant communication with the president,
and that the latter had cabled them on
more than one occasion to use their best
judgment in reaching conclusions and re-
cording results.
He said that the question of claims of
American citizens against Spain had oc-
cupied much of the time, and had been the
subject of much anxious thought on the
part OF the commission, but there was no
other practical solution Of the problem. in
view of the poverty of Spain, and. in fact.
no other policy was compatible with the
reputation of the United States as ma
tion which knew how to be generous as
well as just. He said there were about
81. 600 Of these claims. and possibly the
amount might reach 100000. Spain had
agreed. as an Offset to this concession on
our part, to pay the claims of Spanish citi-
Eens against the United States government.
4 but Mr.. Frye admitted that the aggregate
OF these counter claims was not large.
Senator Frye also said that the commits
sioners had felt that they were justified in
drawing upon the generosity of this coun-
try in agreeing to pay $2o,000.000 to Spain
for the improvements made by the Span
ish government and in conceding to them
for a term of years the same privileges as
claimed for the United States in the matter
of trade in the conquered country.
Such concessions, he said. were In the
line OF the pfecedents set by the most CIV
1lized nations. Great Britain's policy had
been In the line OF a constant extension of
the open door policy. but, whether or not
the United States meant to adopt this pol
icy upon the whole, he felt sure that his
tory would commend the course in the
present instance.
In agreeing to pay Spain a lump sum,
We were also following the best precedents,
as we'll as consulting the most generous
national sentiments. Many quotations were
read to show that other nations had pur-
sued this course toward their vanquished
rivals; and especial stress was laid upon
the course of Germany in taking Alsace
and Lorraine from France and paying for
them $500 .000, 900. when, as was the case with
the United States and Spain in the mat
ter of the Philippines, the doctrine that
might makes right could have been consult
ed to the exclusion of all ideas OF fair
ness and honor. and the territory taken
simply as the result OF conquest
The effort Of the American commissioners
to secure control Of the Caroline islands
was also explained, Mr.. Frye stating that
the Spanish commissioners had absolutely
refused to discuss the proposition. Our Of
fer Of a million dollars for the islands had
appeared to have no effect whatever. They
had even declined in the most positive man
ner to cede one of the islands of this group
Referring to the present situation in the
Philippines. Senator Tillmsn asked Senator
G s hs fhs bnos as to to Hsxe %eh os Mr. gs
bss1 reached there. and he hoped ped that hat the he
treaty would soon be ratified, and this
stage thus probably averted for good =
In conclusion. he referred TO the great
Improvement In religious and spiritual
cupation OF the islands. saying that no
man who would have the gospel preached
to all nations could view with equanimity
to Spain. or their partition among other
nations. To reject the treaty meant the
restoration. Of the status quo. to give up
signinE Of the protocol and to lose all the
vast advantage acquired through the war
in the far East.
Senator Davis answered a question put
by senator Mason. The question was
whether it was the purpose of the United
States to pay the SO. 200 indemnity until
the United States should come into the full
II want to know" the Illinois senator
said. whether we are to pay the money
before the goods are delivered"
Mr.. Davis referred Mr.. Mason to the
text OF the treaty for his reply. He said
the Spaniards had shown their good faith
by preparing as speedily as possible to
evacuate ceded islands. They had ceased
to defend them for themselves. and. there
5ore, Spain could not be held responsible
Tor any failure on our part to avail our.
selves OF sovereignty. He understood that
the ratification of the treaty bound us to
the payment of the indemnity. regardless
OF the attitude Of the natives OF the Phil