The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29
Failure to Ratify, MIR. Frye Says, May
Mean Abandonment of Manila and
War with FiIipinOs.
PROCEEDINGS OF SENATE
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR APPRO-
PRIATION BILL PASSES.
Amendments Providing for Increase
of SaIaries-Speeches Charging
Uncle Sam with stinginess.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Frys
continued his argument for the ratification
of the peace treaty with Spain in to-days
executive session of the Senate. He talked
for an hour and d half and again made the
only speech of the days session. The prin-
cipal questions under consideration to-day
We're those relating to the payment of claims
against the Spanish government, the reasons
for agreeing TO pay Spain for the improves
ments made in the Philippines, and the rea-
sons for extending to Spain the benefit of an
open door policy in her former possessions.
There We're various Interruptions by other
Senators, who. however, confined them
selves to questions. In reply to one of these
questions relating to the Presidents instruc-
uons, Mr.. Frye said the commissioners were
in constant communication with the Presi-
dent. and that the latter had cabled them
on more than one occasion to use their best
judgment in reaching conclusions and re-
cording results. He said the question OF
claims of American citizens against Spain
had occupied much of the time and been
the subject of much anxious thought on the
part of the commission, but that there was
no other practical solution of the problem,
in view Of the poverty Of Spain. and in fact
no other policy was compatible with the
reputation of the United States as a nation
which knew how to be generous as well as
just He said there were about $1200O,OO0
of those claims, and possibly the amount
might reach $15,O0OD00. Spain had agreed as
an offset to this concession on our part 10
pay the claims of Spanish citizens against
the United States government, but Mr.. Frye
admitted that the aggregate of these coun-
ter claims was not large.
Senator Frye said that the commissioners
had felt that they were justified in drawing
upon the generosity of this country in agree
ing to pay $2O,0O00OO to Spain for the inn
provements made by the Spanish govern
ment and in conceding to them for a term
OF years the same privileges as claimed for
the United States in the matter of trade in
the conquered country. Such concessions,
he said, were in the line of the precedents
set by the most civilized nations. Great
Britain's policy had been in the line of a
constant extension of the open-door policy,
but whether or not the United States meant
to adopt this policy upon the whole, he felt
sure that history would commend the course
in the present instance.
In agreeing to pay Spain lump sum.
Senator Frye said, we We're also followirfssaE
the best precedents as well as consulting
the most generous national sentiments.
Many quotations were read to show that
other nations had pursued this course
towards their vanqushed rivals and espe-
cial stress was laid upon the course of Ger
many in taking Alsace and Lorraine from
France and paying for them $500, coz, 600.
when as was the case with the United
States and Spain in the matter Of the Phil-
ippines, the doctrine that might makes right
could have been consulted to the exclusion
of all ideas Of fairness and honor and the
territory taken simply as the result of con-
quest.
The effort of the American commissioners
to secure control of the Caroline islands
was also explained, Mr.. Frye stating that
the Spanish commissioners had absolutely
refused to discuss the proposition. Our offer
Of q million dollars for the islands had ap-
peared to have no effect whatever. They
had even declined in the most positive man
ner to cede one of the islands of this group
as a cable station
Referring to the present situation in the
Philippines Senator Tillman asked Senator
Frye if he was willing to have the troops
fire upon the Filipinos, to which Mr.. Frye
replied that the firing stage had not yet
been reached there, and he hoped that the
treaty would soon be ratified and this stageN
thus probably averted for good. In con-
clusion he referred to the great improves
ment in a religious and spiritual way that
would result from American occupation OF
the islands, saying that no man who would
have the gospel preached to ali nations
could view with equanimity the prospect OF
a restoration Of the islands to Spain or their
partition among other nations. To reject
the treaty meant the restoration OF the
status qou, to give up Manila and all the
points taken after the signing Of the pro-
tocol and to lose all the vast advantages
acquired through the war in the far East.
Senator Davis answered a question put by
Senator Mason. The question was whether
it was the purpose Of the United States to
pay the $40 900 indemnity until the United
States should come into the full possession
and occupation of the country.
L want to know" the Illinois senator
said, whether we are TO pay the money
before the goods are delivered?"
Mr.. Davis referred Mr.. Mason to the text
of the treaty for his reply. He said the
Spaniards had shown their good faith by
preparing as speedily as possible tG evacu-
ate the ceded islands. They had ceased to
defend them for themselves and. therefore,
Spain could not be held responsible for any
failure on our part TO avail ourselves OF
sovereignty. lie understood that the ratin-
cation OF the treaty bound us to the pay
ment Of the indemnity, regardless OF the
attitude of the natives of the Philippines.
WORK OF THE SENATE.