New-York tribune., 1899-01-15

SET FORTH BY SENATOR GRAY. OF THE
PEACE COMMISSION. AT DINNER
IN HIS HONOR.

COULD NOT BE AVOIDED WITHOUT RE-
NEwAL OF THE wAR-PRArsE FOR
THE PRESIDENT.
Wilmington, Del. Jan l4.-Unlted States
Senator George Gray was the recipient OF
complimentary dinner In this city tonight
President Mckinley, his Cabinet. and all the
members OF the Peace Commission. with the
exception Of John Bassett Moore. sent letters Of
regret. Mr.. Moore was the only member OF the
Commission present. There two hundred
guests in attendance. Senator Gray was the
chief speaker Of the evening. and responding to
the toast "Our Guests Of Honor" he said:
at seems to very commonplace and cold.
r response to this generous welcome. TO say
Thank you' from a full heart, and yet. what else
can say? When one feels deeply, short words
are best. and commonplace phrases take on
new meaning
Il have had as you know the great honor or
having been sent by the President OF the United
states as one Of the Commissioners to negotiate
and conclude a treaty Of peace with Spain ana
we lately brought home with us such treaty.
which, II ratified. will restore peace between the
two countries and make more secure the peace
of the world.
I'VE are now in a crisis OF our National his
tory. and your hearts and mine. az patriotic
citizens Of this great country ere full of anxiety
as TO the proper settlement OF the momentous
issues which have resulted from the war Win
Spain. While our country was at war WITH
Spain we were ready to make. | hope. every
sacrifice IN insure the success Of American arms
and bring victory and honor TO The American
flag And when the was oversl believe
the patriotic instincts Of American citizenship
demanded as your President entoined upon u.s.
that we should exhibit magnanimity TO pros
trate foe and moderation in the hour or VIC
tory as we had faced the war with steadfast-
ness and courage
''In the first place | want to say to you that
II was my pleasure as well az what conceived
ny duty 10 endeavor to carry out th's
,rstruc,,on SO creditable to us as a ma
t,on and so worthy of the high c1viHza-
tion OF which we profess to be leaders
The acquisition of territory by the United
States was not one Of the objects Of the war,
and we solemnly declared in the resolutions or
Congress that our only object In demanding the
REIMBURSEMENT OF the sovereignty Of Cuba by
spain was not TO hold It ourselves, except that
we might pacify II and ft IL for self-governWent
nv its own peope But In this. az In all else
man proposes and God disposes and that is
one of the things that make thoughtful men
desire TO avoid war. when II can be avoided, for
no one can tell what its consequence may De-
NO DESIRE FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
IT ardently desired that we might escape the
| necessity OF taking the Philippine Islands and
assuming the burden that their taking Will I'M
nose upon us and know that the President OF
the United States was equally anxious TO the
same end But II became apparent that, with
OH, our seeking, unexpected conditions had been
created and out of these conditions unqueston-
able duties had sprung which could not De
avoided or evaded by the United States
"It was argued that the performance OF duty
,s not only sometimes unpleasant, but mas oah-
gers attendant upon II; nevertheless. brave
man and a brave nation will not shrink from II
on that account on the other hand. IL Amerl-
can sentiment did not justify the return OF these
islands TO Spain. no more could II justify ieaVrhg
,hen, derelict in the Eastern ocean, the prey OF
European rapacity
THE Powers OF Europe would acquiesce in our
taking them, but they would not stand by ana
soc them in the helpless condition OF anarchy
and disorder without selling the opportunity 70
aggrandize themselves: and IT was thought
best by the President and his advisers to take
the cessIon of their sovereignty from Spain and
hold II In trust to be administered IN conformity
with those high ideals and liberty-loving tradi-
| tions which animate and glorify the history OF
our country Duty cannot honorably be avoided
| because II may bring pain or danger. nor can
responsibility always be evaded because OF its
| burdens.
THAT | sought In Paris by all honorable
means 10 escape this responsibility does not
| matter now. IT came to a point at last that we
| must either leave the islands to Spain. take
! them as we did or break off negotiations and
come home without a treaty of peace. In the
| last event the truce would have been broken,
| and a state OF active war would have been re-
| sumed We would have no cession OF the SOW
| Areignty Of the Philippines. and none or Porto
| Rico. and no REIMBURSEMENT OF the sovereignty
| Of Cuba
| 1T Is true that In the protocol Of August IL
| Spain had definitely promised that she would
| cedr Porto Rico and relnqush Cuba. but with
| out a treaty OF peace that promise would not be
| performed. What would then have been the exi j.,
! gency Of the situation? Undoubtedly we Wouiu
| have been compelled to go on and seize with the
| strong hand and by military power Doth the
| Philippine Archipelago and the Greater and
Lesser Antilles. taking By ruthless conquest
what Il was far better that we should take by
| the voluntary cession Of treaty OF peace
NOT COMMITTED TO COLONIAL POLICY.
"But now that we have them. IT does not fol-
| low that we are committed TO colonial pohcy
or 20 a violation OF those great principles or lid
erty and self government which must always re-
| main American ideals II our own free institu-
| tIons are to endure No country, and this coun-
| trv least OF ALL can afford to trample on its
! IDEALS I have no fear that II VIII do so
| without assuming for moment any right TO
| sneak for the President i think | can assure
| You with some knowledge whereof speak. that
| he fully appreciates the duties and responsibili-
| ties of the situation. and that he Is committed 10
no policy calculated 10 discourage, much less
| strike down the aspirations OF liberty loving
| people all over m, world. belong to different
political party but should be false TO my sense
| Of Justice and 10 that pride which feel as an
| American II / did not declare my confidence IN
| the patriotism and purity ef purpose or William
| Mckinley He is no usrper OF power, no strah-
ger 10 American institutions. but one OF the
American people called 10 his high office by their
sufrrages and 1t would be strange indeed II ne