Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-29


ratification of the peace treaty with
Spain in to-day's executive session of
the Senate. He talked for an hour and
a half and again made the only speech
of the days session.
The principal questions under con-
sideration to-day were those relating
to the payment of claims against the
Spanish government, the reasons for
agreeing to pay Spain for the improve
ments 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 Dues
tions In reply to one of these ques-
lions relating to the Presidents in
structions, Mr.. Frye said the commits
sioners were in constant communica-
ton with the President and that the
latter had cabled them on more than
one occasion to use their best judg-
ment in reaching conclusions and re-
s cOrdlng results.
He said that the question of claims
of American citizens against Spain had
occupied much of the time and been
the subject CT much anxious thought
on the part of the commission, but
that there was no other practical solu
ton of the problem in view of the pow
or.fxr nf nd in 70 nth
policy was compatible with the repu-
tation of the United States as a nation
which knows how to be generous as
we'll as just. He said there were about
$12,000,000 of those claims, and posi-
bly, the amount might reach $15,000,-
600. Spain had agreed as an offset to
this concession on our part to pay the
Claims Of Spanish citizens against the
United States government, 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
justified in drawing upon the gener-
osity of this country in agreeing to
pay S20,000,000 to Spain for the i'm
provements made by the Spanish gov
eminent, and in conceding to them for
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 precedents set
bN the most civilized nations. Great
Britain's policy had been in the line
of constant extension of the open
door policy, but whether or not the
United States meant to adopt this
policy upon the whole, he felt sure
that history would commend the
course in the present instance.
In agreeing to pay to Spain 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 pursued 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 s3OO,OO0,O 900, when as was the
case with the United States and Spain
in the matter of the Philippines the
doctrine that might makes right could
have been consulted to the exclusion
of all ideas of fairness and honor and
the territory taken simply as the re-
suit of conquest.
The effect of the American commits
sioners to secure control of the Caro-
line Islands was also explained, Mr..
Frye stating that the Spanish commits
sioners HAD absolutely refused to dis
cuss the proposition. Our offer of
million dollars for the islands had ap-
peared to have no effect whatever.
They had even declined in the most
positive manner to cede one of the
Lion. N'''' 90"
Referring to the present situation in
the Philippines, Senator Tillman ask
ed Senator Frye if he was willing to
have our troops fire dpon the Filipinos,
to which Mr.. Frye replied that the fir
ing stage had not yet been reached and
he hoped that the treaty would soon
be ratified and this stage thus probably
averted for good. In conclusion he re-
ferred to the great improvement in
religious and spiritual way that would
result from American occupation of the
Islands, saying that no man who
would have the gospel preached to all
nations could view with equanimity
the prospect of a restoration of the is
lands to Spain or their partition among
other nations. To reject the treaty
meant the restoration of the status quo,
to give up Manila and all the points
taken after the signing Of the proto-
col, and to lose all the vast advantages
acquired through the war il 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 $40 1000, 900 in
demnity until the United States should
come into the full possession and oc-
cupation OF the country
! want to- know" the Illinois Sem