The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-20
OUTLOOK FOR THE TREATY.
IRA OPPoNENT rs MAY PREVENT RATT-
FICATION AT TINS SESSION.

They Urge an Amendment Providing Aaains
Interference with the Government o
the Filipinos-Friends of the Treat,
refuse to Consider Any Amendment
WARRINGTON. Jan. 1a.-Senators who are or,
posing the ratification OF the peace treaty are
now cndeayorinR to convince its advocates that
It will be the part of wisdom for them to accep,
an amendment providing against inter.
ference by the United States with tho
Government OF the Philippines. With such
an amendment the twenty-four Democrats.
two Republicans. Hale and Hoar. and
the two Populists. Jones and Pettigrew,
will be entirely satisfied. and will stand ready
to guarantee 10 votes for the treaty after the
adoption OF such an amendment. Failing 10
have this proposition accented. they are willing
to compromise on the passage OF a Joint reso-
luton pledging the United States not to hold
the Philippines as colonies. or to assume In
any way the government OF the people OF the
islands.
To these and all kindred propositions the
friends of tho treaty reply that they will not
for a moment consider the adoption OF any
amendment to the treaty at any time. or Of the
passage OF any declaration OF purpose prior to
the ratification Of the treaty. After that Is &C
complished they may be willing to listen to
hlkuihcLb III luNoI VI bullltie vi TpCoIu
some expression OF opinion rs to what the
future policy Of tho Government should or
should not be with regard to the Philippines.
Such a resolution could be passed at any time
by o majority vote. but the possibility OF its
adoption would not, tho friends OF the treaty
think, stand In the way OF the prompt %ratiflca-
ton Of the peace convention. But OF course no
such resolution can got the necessary majority.
Two;-thirds OF the senate are advocates Of ratl-
~fcation, and all of these Senators would be on
posed to tying tho hands OF the Executive by
declaring in advance what he can and cannot
90 with tho territory OF which the United
states has come into possession as q conquest
of war.
Under the astute leadership Of Senator Cor
man, the opponents OF the treaty are taking adj
there niSsH is no nc DOUBT Of ott their TT ABILITY to oG Postpone ONE
It. II is their only hope. however. They cannot
defeat the treaty outright, and they know 1t. and
tdee not sf FmU% fbns' Will Il H 1nIS + IntE Eerh1bns w thfy
ing days Of this session left, It will be an easy
mater ma e Tor the n opp2.S7ition to a9 ! out IL they
ing M't the face sS .@ OF pubic afG rv oppinion. Il they Il = s Gs-
ceed in their threatened Obstructive tactics an
meet soon alter March I and tho treaty will
then be, promptly ratified. What the opposl-
ton TO- y VIII have gained r. n . ian + a question to which
delay while the Nicaraguan Canal bin and the
public opinion to be brought to bear in favor
OF the ratification Of q. peace treaty that will
won by the valor OF American soldiers and
sailors. Senator Gray. the Democratic mem
Der of the Peace Commission. who IL also a
member. of the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, said:
Il believe the treaty will be ratified. | can
not see the value OF amendments now. There
is plenty OF time to declare the position OF this
country as to the. Philippines. We cannot
afford to commit this country yet. We do not
yet know what we may want 10 do about the
islands. We do not even know whether the
people are capable of self-goyernment. /
was not In favor of taking the Philip
pines. but the country demanded that the
islands SHOULD not be left In the possession
So did nearly every man now. opposing. the
treaty. What else were we to do under these
circumstances? We certainly could not have
taken the islands from Spain and at once
turned them overtothe people. leaving anarchy
been lust TO the TiIipinos. ourselves. or to the