New-York tribune., 1899-02-07
THE PRESIDENT HEARS THE NEWS.
GRATrFIED BY RATIFICATION OF THE PEACE
TREATY-EFFECT ON THE S1TtA-
TION AT MANILA

Washington Feb. 6-News Of the ratifcatoh
Of the Peace Treaty reached the White House
almost Immediately after the announcement OF
the vote. Postmaster General Smith was with
the President at the time and was the nrst 10
congratulate him. Naturally. the President was
gratihed at the vote. and so expressed hinsef'
Secretary Gage came in soon afterward and
was followed Immediately by Secretary Alger
and Secretary Hay. within forty minutes after
its ratification Mr. Cox the secretary OF the
Senate. appeared with the treaty Itself. when
he promptly delivered into the Presidents hands
and then retired The Cabinet members. as
they left the White House, were jubilant over
the ratification of the treaty. and spoke of " as
a great triumph.
Secretary Hay expressed his qualification that
the treaty was ratified, and said he only re-
GREETED that IT had been found necessary 10 oc-
cupy so much valuable time over IT, He SAID
that the treaty would now be submitted to the
Spanish Cortes at the session which opens this
month and he anticipated no obstruction 10
the final exchanges.
Secretary Long said: IT glad the treaty
IS ratifed-glad from the standpoint Of the anti
imperlalist as wei. as from any other Tne
very height Of Imperialism is to have these ISL
ands now under the control OF one man exer-
cislng absolute military authority The ratlhca-
tion of the treaty transfers the disposition OF
these islands to the American people VINO
through their representatives. can give them
self government or make any other disposition
Of them that our own principles Of govern
ment and ideas Of National welfare require"
Secretary Alger thought that the confirmation
OF the victory at Manila, together with the
ratification Of the Peace Treaty, was sufficient
10 make the day memorable He spoke OF the
perils Of the position which the American troops
have been occupying for so many months. while
the fate of the treaty was at issue, and SAID
he was only too pleased now that these troops
were free to protect themselves.
As 10 the change in conditions TT Manila
wrought by the ratification Of the treaty there
in a variance Of views, and Adjutant-General
Corbn and Second Assistant Secretary Adee OF
the state Department we're giving the matter
attention to-day with the idea Of being able TO
send full instructions for his future guidance
to General Otis Immediately. The extreme view
on one side is that until the Spanish Govern
ment ratihes the treaty it Is not Of legal ef-
feet According 10 that view, therefore, the
United States Government is estopped from
proceeding beyond the lines at Manila Tor the
time Rv the other extreme view the United
states Government is free to do Just as IL
pleases in the entire group Of Islands, ana VIII
therefore proceed at once 10 complete the MILL
tarv occupation of the archipelago Perhaps
there IS Justification for this view In the
fact that the Fpnos were Spanish subjects
nomnay when they broke the terms Of the
protocol and thereby released the United states
from its observance.
The medium view and that which is likely
to be followed. is that General Otis is JUSTIFIED
in doing anything that is necessary to protect
his army and all American and foreign inter-
ests In Manila even though this obliges him TO
assume the offensive and 10 go outside OF the
Old lines in pursuit Of the insurgents, who may
be seeking to reOrganZe and recover from their
late defeat with an intention OF attacking again
or even threat ling the Americans