Evening star., 1899-01-03
JUDGE DAY ON THE WAR.
Peace Commissioners Addresses the
Stark County, Ohio. Bar.

A dispatch from Canton. Ohio, last night
says: Judge William R. Day. president of
the peace commission at Paris and late
Secretary of State. received a welcome
home this evening which took thu form
of a banquet at the Barnett House, given
by the Stark County Bar Association.
Judge Day paid a high tribute to the
legal fraternity of Stark county. closing
with an eloquent reference to President
Mckinley, a member of the associa ton,
and reciting his devotion TO the country
during the war and the incidents leading
thereto, He then spoke as follows of the
matters which took himself and his col
leagues to Paris:
Recognizing that there are certain mat
ters which may not properly be discussed
on an occasion of this kind, l think l may,
nevertheless. say SOM thing to my breth-
ren of the bar of the events which have
occurred in the period of our separation.
IF | were called upon TO state the most
gratifying circumstance of our foreign
relations during the war, it would be in
the uniformly cordial and hearty friend
ship Of the English before and during the
struggle. Observing the obligations of neu-
trality, and never stepping outside the
requirements of international law, we had
the sympathy and good Will of that great
power ! don't believe either nation seeks
or would be benefited by a formal alliance.
II have been asked about the work of
the commissioners viewed from a lawyer :
standpoint l think / may say something
to you about it. If in excess of the pro-
preties of the occasion, l shall ask you
to treat it in professional confidence.
Il have often been asked how it was
possible to make progress in a commission
having equal representation from the two
nations. While this fact did not prevent
the fullest discussion. the United States
having made all the concessions which ii
believed Just and fair, was obliged to in
sist that its terms be accepted. Ths pub
locations of the proceedings will show that
nothing be further from the truth
than to assume that the United States
adopted toward Spain a policy of stand
and deliver
The American commissioners heard with
respect and endeavored to answer with
firmnesS every position advanced by the
Spanish commission. For better, for worse
the work of the commissioners is DONE
and needs but the ratification of the Presi-
ate. to become the supreme law in the land.
This is not the time nor place to dis
cuss cur policy in the far east. If this
treaty should be ratified it brings to the
United States title to the archipelago, to
be dealt with the American people in
their wisdom may see fit. In one thing
think We're all agreed, that when the
line Of ou" duty there has been deter
mined it must be discharged as becomes a
great, free and liberty-Ioving nation.
Whether or no we have SO willed, the
days of our international isolation are
past. 1t does not follow that the advice
of the immortal Washington to avoid =n-
tangling alliances is less potent today than
when the words Were written.
The American citizen has a right to go
wherever trade and enterprise may legiti-
mateiy seek an outlet for the product of
American thrift ard industry, and there
must follow, If need be, the overshadowing
protection of the flag"
President Mckinley sent his regrets.