New-York tribune., 1899-02-05

THE COMMISSIONERS EULOGlLED
After briefly reviewing the results Of the war
and the NEGOTIATIONS which led 10 the appoint
ment Of the Peace Commission, Mr.. Wolcott
continued: The Commissioners appointed by the
President were men eminent In character and
ability We may judge something Of the Com
mission by the members OF it that were selected
from this body. Not one man here is there who
would not trust to any Of them the most in
tricate and delicate matter They have brought
back here treaty with Spain by which we may
deal with the Fihpinos as Congress hereafter
may wisely determine. Yet stand here day
after day wrangling over resolutions OF no
force and effect, and which serve only 10 emhar-
rass our own people in the Philippines and ar
ford comfort 10 our opponents on the islands.
There is not one Of these questions raised which
may not properly he dealt with after the treaty
is ratified.
However much we may differ among our
selves upon questions Of internal policy. we
ought 20 stand as one before a foreign foe. J.
for one recognize a great difference between
treaty establishing commercial relations with
another nation and a treaty bringing to con
clusion a successful 1t is important that
we should present an unbroken front in meeting
a question Of this kind. We owe debt to our
brethren across the sea. We had their unquali-
fed moral support and the influence Of their
trained diplomats throughout the war. Had il
not been for England should not have
emerged from the late war with colors flying so
high To-day We have among the nations OF
Europe only one friend-Great Britain. The
other nations stand with rapacous hate, hoping
that may encounter some repulse"
POLITICAL TRICKSTERs DENOUNCED.
AIuding to the attitude Of the opponents OF
the treaty in endeavoring to inject politics into
tn, consideration Of the pending question and
10 force out Of it an issue for the next Presiden
tial campaign Mr. Wolcott said: But IT is de-
plorable that in formulating such issue and
ir pursuit Of such policy these leaders should
find it necessary n seek 10 dishonor this Gov
ernment and the Administration which guided
US so wisely through the troubled sea Of inter
national complications and brought US TO the
threshold Of an honorable peace. that they
should dishonor us in the face OF the nations
IF the world and that they should seek 70
bring about some fanced political advantage 10y
an atten1pt 10 defeat the ratification Of a treaty
which If unratifed. must bring back a condl-
tion Of war as il existed before the report Of the
mmissioners-passive. il may be, but full OF
uncertainty and full Of disaster TO the interests
ana The welfare ~ our country. ! cannot ne-
Heve such tactics win There are men
enough On both sides Of this chamber who VIII
stand 10y the Government. not because il is
Republican Government, but because il is an
American Government
The results Of the war have left us charged
with A duty 10 eleven millions Of people We
found them under the dominion OF spain. No
body wants To- turn them back 20 that nation.
We know little about them. but We do know
there exists a condition on the islands which
would result IN internecne strife among people
who NAV or may not be ftted for selfgovern-
ment
If we should abandon these Islands as
derelict it is certain that they would become
a prey 20 Europe. For one, am certain that
the ratification Of the treaty would ameliorate
the conditions there and advance the interests
Of the Fnipinos We shall not put our hands
on those people except 10 bless them and our
efforts Will be to lift them up 70 the standards
Of civilization and Christianity"
FAITH IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Referring to the charge made on the Senate
floor tina, the taking Of the Philippines by the
United States would result in scandals of Office
holding and Office holders. Nj Wolcott repu-
dated the idea with scorn and declared that
the American people would see 10 II that, al
though they had had H,tle experience in the
/ rnanaeernent of such territory. IL would receive
proper and careful attention.
our relations with the inhabitants Of those
islands" he went on. are certain 10 be fair
honest and JUS We may make mistakes We
have made mistakes In the past. But with our
protecting hand over them those people VIII find
/ themselves more secure in their lives. property
and happiness than they have ever been before
In answer to the charge that the ACQUISITION OF
the islands would he contrary 10 the spirit Of
the Republic he said this Government was the
first experiment of It's kind ever made. Every
year" he continued. has brought US additional
burdens and with them has come added great
ness And who shall say that in the development
Of this Republic with its Anglo-SaXon strength
and energy il will not increase until We have
/ planted our institutions and principles in that
! far-of archipelago? Time alone can make clear
our duty 70 the people of the Philippine Islands
To-day we face the proposition Of emasculaung
/ or destroying the Peace Treaty. For me there
is but one path marked out. That is the path
/ Of duty. the path Of honor"