The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-12
We BOUGHT THE ISLANDS
We Did Not Claim Them by
Right of Conquest.
THAT'S WHAT DAY SAYS
For the Sake of Securing Immediate
Peace the American Commission
ers offered Spain $40, 100000.
The Offer Was Accepted.

Columbus, Ohio, Oct 1.-THE first pub.
was president of the American peace COM
mission concerning the deliberations of
the commissioners at Paris is contained
in a letter written to Former Congress
man D. X. Watson of this city and read
by him at a republican meeting in this
city tonight Judge Day sets forth the
reasons which, in his mind, justified the
payment of s2oo0o,0oo for the Philippines,
declaring that it was never commended
by the American commissioners that the
United States had a right to the Philip
pines as matter of conquest
In this letter. after reviewing at length
the long negotiations between the Spanish
and American peace commissioners, recit-
ing the several propositions submitted to
the Spaniards for the cession of the Phil
tppines and the final offer for the sake
of securing immediate peace to pay an
indemnity OF s20,0000 600, Judge Day says:
ION the 2Sth day of November the
Spanish commissioners accepted the
terms offered by the representatives of the
United States. You will observe that in
making this proposal it is distinctly said
that it embodies the concessions which,
for the sake of immediate peace, the
American government was willing to
make. There were doubtless other rea-
sons actuating the commissioners in max
ing this proposal, though I think the chief
one is embodied in the statement above
written. 1t was not claimed that the
United States had a right to the Philip
pines as a matter of conquest. The
United States has never undertaken, so
far as l know, to wrest from a foreign
country lands or possessions simply by
right Of conquest. Had we been disposed
to do so, it must be remembered that We
were in possession only of the city and
bay and harbor of Manila under the pro-
toco of Aug. H. 1888, providing the United
States should occupy and hold the same
pending the conclusion of u treaty of
peace which should determine the con-
troll and government of the Philippines.
The capture, after the signing of the pro-
tocol. by General Merritt and his forces,
whatever its legal effect might have been,
included no more territory than We were
entitled to hold under the protocol.
I'm addition to the hope of accomplish
ing immediate peace, which ] need hardly
say was Of great Importance at that time.
there was a strong desire to treat Spain
with a degree of magnanimity consistent
with our national honor and prestige, fol-
lowing our national precedent in the treat
ment of Mexico for the cession of terri
tory to us at the close of the Mexican
war. BY the cession. for a consideration,
we obtained indisputable title, which
must be respected by all other nations,
1t must be remembered, too, that the
American commissioners had consistently
refused to assume any of the outstanding
debts or obligations which Spain had I'M
dertaken to fasten upon the Philippines.
Notwithstanding our offer to pay for the
Pacific improvements, Spain had not I'M
dertaken to substantiate any claim upon
that ground.
"Of course. l speak only for myself and
! write these views without opportunity
to consult with my fellow commissioners.
In my judgment the concession referred
to was effeetual in bringing about an &C
ceptance of our proposals, which resulted
in the treaty.