The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-01
Admits He Opposed Acquisition of
the Philippines.
HAS BEEN CONVERTED
BUT STILL FAvoRS FREEDOM
FOR THE ISLANDS.
Peace Commissioner Explains His
Position In Executive Session
Money Attacks the Administra-
ton Scheme and Calls 1t a Don
Quixotic Policy.

washington, Jan ol--oeudIOFS tray
and Money occupied the entire execu-
tive session of the senate today in
speeches on the peace treaty, Senator
Gray favoring ratification and Senator
Money opposing it.
Senator Gray was the third of the
Paris commissioners to speak, and
while he gave some attention TO the
published matter bearing upon the
treaty, he did not go into this in such
detail as did Senators Frye and Davis.
He admitted that in negotiations he
had been opposed to the acquisition of
the Philippine archipelago, and said
that he had freely and frankly advised
the president and his fellow commits
sioners of his belief that it would be
unwise to attempt to shape its destiny.
He had used his best endeavors to bring
them 10 accept his views, but had ut
terly failed. He had at last reached
the conclusion that he would either
have to join with the majority or see
the treaty fail, and the war continue.
In the meantime he had been largely
won over by the arguments of his COL
leagues and by the logic of the situa-
ton, and he had at last concluded to
sign the convention.
Having taken his position, he was
clusion of a most delicate diplomatic
undertaking. Many complications had
beset the commissioners in their work,
and while he would not retract what he
had heretofore said as TO the undeiSir-
ability OF acquiring distant territory
as a matter of principle, still there were
times when nation, as an individual,
might have to choose between evils.
There was danger of many cOmplica-
IN,
case the United States should have
elected to pursue a different policy. He
reiterated that the ultimate conclusion
to take the entire Philippine group was
that of the commissioners, rather than
the president, and also went into the dill
ficulties of getting the Spanish commits
sioners to come TO conclusion.
FREEDOM FOR PHILIPPINES.
Senator Gray did not advocate per-
manent occupancy of the eastern is
lands but said that the duration of our
exercise of sovereignty there should be
settled in the future, and not at pres
ent. In reply to a question by Senator
Mason, he said that he would not at
tempt to fix a Jime-that this only
could be done after we mad had an Op-
pOrtunity to study the situation, to
know the people and learn their capac-
tiles. He had every confidence in the
American people, and he believed that
they would not only give the natives
their freedom when they had Shown q
capacity for taking care OF themselves
as a nation of the world, but that they
would manage the affairs of the islands
wisely and we'll while they cOntrCllCd
them. They would give the islanders
a fair start in civilization before turn
ing them loose to shift fer themselves.
% h. -
ton Of the islands as contrary 10 the
spirit Of American institutions, and as
unconstitutional He said the govern
ment OF the United States could not at
ford to put Itself in an attitude of a
Don QuiXote in q vain effort 10 care
for and advance the interests OF every
people on every land that appeared. ac-
cOrding to our standards of civiliZa-
ton. to need our help. He had been an
advocate of Intervention in the case of
Cuba, but from this fact it did not fol-
low that he was willing to transfer the
Philippines from Spanish vassalage to
a dependence Of the United States. He
did not consider that we were especially
concerned as to the future of the Phil
ippines, and so far as he was concerned
he would leave them to work out their
own salvation. This would be far pref
cradle To assuming responsibility for
them and making them cltlzenS OF the
United States. as they would inevitably
come to be if the treaty should be rat
flied. We had made allies of them in
the Spanish war by the acts Of cur own
agents. and in the interest Of fair deal
ing should let them acquire their indie
pendence if they could do so.
Senator Mason. in a few words, en-
dorsed Senator Moneys position that
the Filipinos would be made citizens by
the ratification OF the treaty. and Sena-
tor Teller in a brief rej0inder. contrO-
verified this position, saying that an act
Of congress would be necessary to fix
their status toward the body polite.
Senator Hoar also endorsed Senator
Moneys pOsitiOu