The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-31
ONE SENATOR OPPOSED
PEACE COMMISSIONER GRAY Pho.
TESTS AGAINST TAKING THE
PHILIPPINES
1T WOULD BE INCONSISTENT

Those Were the Arguments Ad-
vanced by Mr.. Gray I'm Opposition
to Purchasing the ArchipeIaro
From SpaiR-Spanish Commits
100000 Was offered.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The presI-
dent today sent to the senate correspon-
dence on file in the state department
bearing upon the peace treaty, and 1t
was read in today's executive session.
Inc correspondence WIS sent in re-
spouse to the resolution introduced by
senator Hoar, and includes most of the
letters and cablegrams from the COM
1nissloners to the president and from
the president to the commissioners. in
the way of instructions in return. The
documents are numerous, as there were
kilograms, letters and reports for al
most every day the commissioners
were in Paris. One Of the first cable
grams from the president instructed
them to demand the cession Of LuZon
island only of the Philippines. and he
told them that full sovereignty should
come with it. The reading Of the cor
respondence received the closest atten-
ton from senators.
In submitting the papers the
president sent brief message saying
that he transmitted them in accord
ance with the resolution.
The reading consumed the entire
time Of the executive session, lasting
from to $3.50 D. M, except a few min
utes at the close. Much Of the matter
covered the same ground as that al
ready covered, but it was presented in
form that the proceedings outlined
from day to day, the cable correspond
ence between Secretary Hay, as the
presidents representative on one hand.
and Commissioner Day, as the chair
man OF the peace commission, on the
other. The principal interest among the
senators attached to the presidents in
structions to insist upon the cession Of
the island Of Luzon, and after that in
the decision to take the entire group of
islands. This latter developments ap-
peared from the correspondence to be
a growth, and the suggestion was made
by the commissioners to the president
as the result Of the conferences at
Paris after the arrival there of the
commissioners. In a dispatch concern
ing Luzon. Mr.. Day said there was but
one alternative: The United States
must either take the islands and as
sumo sovereignty or return 1t to Spain.
and of the two courses he preferred
the former.
SPAIN WANTED INDEMNITY.
Spain was generally unwilling to dis
pose Of the Philippine islands; she
| made especial objection to letting go
of Luzon alone. The commissioners
with the exception Of Senator Gray,
| urged that to take Luzon and leave the
other Islands of the archipelago in the
hands OF the Spaniards would be to
! invite tnnumerab1e complications with
other nations, and especially with Eu-
rope and Spain. Much stress was laid
| upon the probability Of future trouble
with Spain. With Luzon under Amer
lean authority there would soon ba
such a vast Improvement, they wrote
that the other islanders would grow
more and more rebellious, and with
SPANS oppressive methods of govern
ment We would soon again find that
we had another Cuba at the other door
Furthermore, there would be constant
fllibustering, and we should find our
selves spending millions to preserve
state Of neutrality, just as we did In
the case Of Cuba, prior to our declara-
ton OF war, on account of that island
Gen. Merritt's testimony on this point
was cited. and made the reason for
| much Of the argument in favor of TAX
Ing the entire group. The president
does not appear to have at any time
SAfOA SApi2SiI TO cOnSOTQ-
mate the bargain by taking all the
Philippines, but, rather, after hearing
a full explanation, to have left the mat
ter to the discretion Of the commission
ers. The entire controversy was prac-
tfcally over the Philippines, and the
question of assuming responsibility for
the payment Of the Spanish bonds. for
which the Cuban revenues were
pledged
The Spaniards from the first insisted
upon an indemnity for the Philippines.
and the correspondence shows that.
after the proposition to pay $40, 0O0. 900
was made, the negotiations proceeded
much more smoothly and were soon
brought to a close.
SENATOR GRAY PROTESTED.
The American commissioners appear
to. have been Of one mind as to the
wisdom of taking over the whole of
the Philippines with the exception Of
Senator Gray, who, notwithstanding
he signed the treaty, held out to the
last against the policy of acquiring
these islands. In one noteworthy dis
patch he pleaded zealously against the
policy as unpatriotic, un-American
and inconsistent with probity ard good
craftsmanship.
After a brief debate the senate re-
fused to print the correspondence.