The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-15
DOES NOT FEAR
COLONIAL POLICY.
Senator Gray Declares His Confidence
in the Presidents Course.
HAD TO TAKE THE PHILIPPINES.
But the Sovereignty Will be Held in
Trust to be Administered i'm Con-
formity with Our Ideals,
Would Have Been Dcreiicts

WILMINGTON. DEL, January IA
United States Senator George Gray was
rendered a complimentary dinner by the
local Board Of Trade In this c'1y to-
night. President Mckinley, his Cabinet,
and all the members Of the Peace Com
mission, with the exception OF John Bas-
sett Moore, sent letters Of regret DIr.
Moore was the only member Of the com
mission present. There were two hun
dred guests in attendance.
Senator Gray was the chief speaker Of
tho evening. and responding to the toast,
''Our Guests Of Honor" he said:
1T seems to me very commonplace and
cold in response to this generous well
come TO say 1 thank you from a full
heart; and yet what else can 1 say
when one feels deeply? Short words are
best and commonplace phrases take on
q new meaning.
OF have had, as you know, the great
honor Of having been sent by the Presi-
dent OF the United States as one of the
commissioners to negotiate and conclude
a treaty of peace with Spain, and we
lately brought home with us such a
treaty, which, If ratified, will restore
peace between the two countries and
make more secure the peace OF the
world.
NATIONAL CRISIS.
1--WE are now in a crisis Of our national
history. and your hearts and minds as
patriotic citizens OF this great country
are full OF anxiety as to the proper set
tlemeHt Of the mOmentoUs issues which
have resulted from the war with Spain.
While o0r country was iu war with
Spain we We're ready 10 make, I hope
every sacrifice to insure the success Of
American arms and bring victory and
honor 10 the American flag and when
the war was over ] believe the patri0-
tic Instincts Of American citizenshipfde-
mand. as your President enjOined on us
that we would exhibit magnanimity 10
PROSTATE foe and moderation 10 thu hour
Of victory as We had faced the war with !
steadfastuess and courage. In the first !
place I want 20 say 10 you il was my !
pleasure. as well as what ] conceived |
my duty, 30 endeavOr 10 carry out this in |
structi0n 80 credible 20 as a nation, and I
SO worthy of the high civilization Of /
which we profess 10 be leaders. The ac-
luisiii0n of territory by the United States |
was not one Of the objects Of the war,
and we solcmnly declared I'm the resolu-
ion Of Congress that our only object i1 |
the REIMBURSEMENT of Spar
sh sovereignty I'm cuba was that we
would not hold It ourselves. but return
ne island 10 IT'S own people.
"But I'm this. as IN all else man proposes
Ind God dispOsos. and IL is one Of the
hines that make thoughtful men desire
o avoid war. where It can be avoided,
or 30 one can tell what it's consequences !
nay be. ! ardently desired that we
night escape the necessity Of taking the
'huipYine Islands and assuming the bur
en- that heir taking will impose upon
u.s. and : knew that the President of the
lnited St4tes was equally anxious 10 the
anne end. But II became apparent that
lithout seeing. unusual conditions had |
cen created and out Of these conditions
duties had sprung up |
'hich could not be avoided or evaded by
he United States.
a DUTY FACED.
"It was argued that the performance Of
lty is sometimes not only unpleasant.
~ has dangers attendant upon &C. never
leless a brave man and = brave nation ,
IN not shrink from It on that account
q the other hand ~ American senti- .
ent did not justify the return Of the
nihppines 70 Spain, no more could q
gtify leaving them derelict I'm the East I
n ocean the prey OF the first oc ,uD1nt
European rapacity. The powers Of
lrope would acquiesce I'm our taking | I
en- but they would not stand by and S
e them in their helpless condition Of
archy and disorder without selling the I
p0rtunity . sggrandize themselves,
"a so It was thought bezt by the Presi-
mt and his advisers 20 take the cession
their sovereignty from Spain and hold
I'm trust 10 be administered in con- I
rmity with those high ideals. and lib :
-y-loving traditions which animate and 9
)rify the history of our country. Duty !
mot honorably be avoided because IL | y
~ bring pain or danger. nor can re- :
onsibility always be evaded because OF j
burdens
That l sought In Paris by all honest I
ans to escape this responsibility. does
matter now. IL came 10 a point at |
I that We must either leave the islands
Spain. take them as we did. or break {
negotiations. and come home without | G
treaty Of peace. In the last event the D
ice would be broken. and a state or |
Ave war would have been resumed L
, would have no cession oe the soy m
agnty OF ina Philippines and none OF | n