The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-03
DISCUSSING hi TREATY


ec4uve Session
Washington, January s1.-senators
CRAY and Money occupied the entire
executive session of the senate today
in speeches on the peace treaty, Sen
ator Gray favoring ratification and
Senator Money opposing it.
Senator Gray was the third OF the
Paris commissioners to speak, and
while ne gave some attention TO the
he did not go into this in such detail
as did Senators Frye and Davis. He
admitted that in the beginning OF the
negotiations he had been opposed to
the acquisition Of the Philippine arch
ipelago and said hal he had freely
and frankly advised the president and
his fellow commissioners Of his belief
that il would be unwise to attempt TO
shape its destiny. He had used his best
e~ndeavors to bring them TO accept his
views, but had utterly failed. He had
at last reached the conclusion that
he would either have TO join with the
majority or see the treaty fail and the
war continue. In the meantime he had
been largely Won over by the argu-
ments of his colleagues and by the
logic Of the situation and he had at
last concluded to sign the convention.
Having taken his position, he was
here now TO defend the treaty as a wise
conclusion of a most delicate diplo-
matte undertaking. Many complica-
lions had beset the commissioners in
their work, and while he would not
retract what he had heretofore said as
to the undersirability of acquiring dis
tant territory as a matter of princi-
pie, still there were times when a ma
ton, as an individual, might nave to
choose between evils. There was dan
ger of many complications of an inter-
national character in case he United
States should have elected to pursue a
different policy. He reiterated tina the
| conclusion to take the entire Philip
!. pine group was hat of the commission
ers rather han of the president, and
also went into the difficulties of get
ting the Spanish commissioners to
| come to a conclusion.
Senator Gray did not advocate per-
| manent occupancy of the eastern is
lands, but said that the duration of
our exercise Of sovereignty there
| should be settled in the future and not
at present.
Senator Money attacked the acqui-
sition Of the islands as contrary to
the spirit Of American institutions and
as unconstitutional. He said the gov
eminent of the United States could
/ 1oI ~ pok No\l1 ~ 1AS
of a Don Quixote in a vain effort to
care for and advance the interests OF
every people in every land hat appear.
ed according to our standards of civ.
ilization to need our help. He had beer
an advocate of intervention in the case
Of Cuba, but from this fact it did moi
follow that he was willing to trans
fer the Philippines from Spanish a
salage to the dependence of the United
States. He did not consider that We
were especially concerned as to thu
future of the Philippines and so far a:
he was concerned he should leave
them to work out their own salvation
This would be far preferable to as.
Stunning responsibility for them anC
making them citizens of the United
States as they would inevitably come
to be if the treaty should be ratified
We had made allies of them in tn
Spanish wal by the acts of u owl
agents and in the interest of fair deal
ing should let them achieve their in
dependence if they could do so.
Senator Mason in a few words en-
dorsed Senator Moneys position tina
the Philippines would be made citizen
by the ratification of the treaty, an
Senator Teller in a brief rejoinder
c~ontroverted this position, saying tina
an act of congress would be necessar.
to fix their status toward the body pc
little. Senator Hoar also endorsed Sen
ator Moneys position.