The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-25
TREATY MUST Be RATIFIED.
oniy Ose Dfgniaea Coarse Left oPen
10 acknowledgements Able to
Cope With the Problems Of the
PhifipPiaes-No Backing Out

WASHINGTON. Jan. 4-Tso notable
speeches were delivered 70 the senate to-
day. one by Lodge OF Massachusetts, ard
the ether ay Clay of Georgia while TIE
fwo senator's differed diame;rscaity as TO
tie policy % expansion. us2n which they
assi;, both are 10 favsr Of the Immediate
Ratification Of the pending peace treaty
They contend that once tue treaty is rait-
fed. congress Will have full power 10 deal
with conditions respecting the territory ac-
CURED during the war with spain. and not
before Lodge particularly argued for
formal declaration % peace, wnsca could
be had only By the ratification Of the
treaty Lodge spoke In part as follows.
There Is only ere question demanding
actual and immediate decision now before
congress and the people. and that is wneth-
er the treaty with Spain shall be ratified
or Eot. I have heard no opposition ex-
pressed 10 any part OF the treaty except
such portion OF it as relates 10 the PHI
ippines. and that. therefore. is the sole
poin. upon which ! desire 10 touch. In cur
war with Spain We conquered the Philip
plnes. or, to put 1t mere exactly. We de-
stroyed the power of Spain ia those ISL
andx and to1k possession OF their capital
The treaty eedss the Philippines to Us. II
Is widely ard skiIlfuliy drawn Il com
raits Us 10 no policy, 10 no course Of ac-
ton whatever. IL regard to the Philippines.
power. and are free 10 do with those ISL
anGs a. we please and the opposition 20 its
ratification may he summed up In a single
sentence, that the American people aad
the American congress are not 10 be trust
ed with that power and freedom Of action
IL regard TO the inhabitants OF these dis
iant islands We must either ratify the
treaty or reject IL. Fer / cannot suppose
that anyone would seriously advance the
proposition that we should amend the
treaty In such a way IS TO make pledges
TO Spain and to Spain alone. and 10 give
bond 10 Spain and 10 Spain alone. for our
good conduct in a matter which viii be
wholly oar own TO decide
Two Alternatives Presented.
Let US look. then. az the two alserna-
tiyes. Suppose We -atlfy the treaty. The
islands pass from the possession OF Span
into cur possession without committing
US to any policy. l believe We can be
trusted as a people 10 deal honestly and
justly with the islands and their inhaoi-
tsnis thus given TO our care. What our
precise policy shall be / do not know. be-
cause l, for one. am not sufficiently In
formed az 70 the conditions, there to BE-
able TO say what 1t VIII best TO do. nor,
may add. do 1 think any one is. But be-
tese that We shall have the wisdom not
10 attempt To incorporate those Islands
within our body polite, or make their In
their labor alongside of ours, ard within
our tariff TO compete In any industry with
American workmen. / believe that We
shall have the courage not 10 depart from
those Islands fearfuIiy. tinidiy and I'M
worthiiy, and leave them to anarchy
among themselves, to the brief and bloody
domination OF some set-constituted die
tator and TO the quick conquest of other
powers who will have no such hesitation
as we should feel in crushing them into
subsection by harsh and represslve meth
DDS.
sit IS for US 10 decide the destiny OF the
Philippines, not for Europe. and we can
do IL alone and without assistance. / be-
iieve that We shall have the wisdom. the
seif-restraint and the ability 10 restore
peace and order In those islands, and give
70 their people an opportunity for sesfgov-
eminent and for freedom under the pro-
lection Of the shield Of the United States
Until the tine shall come when they shall
be able TO stand alone IL they do not them
selves desire to remain under our pro;ec-
tion.