Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-01
BECAME CONVINCED. OF WISDOM OF
PEACE TREATY.
HELD OUT FOR A LONG TIME
STILL OPPOSED, HOWEVER, TO AN.
NExATION POLICY.
In Case of Philippines, Acquisiti0n
Was the Least of Two Evils
Senator Money Attacks the
Annexation of the
Islands.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l.-Senators Gray
and Money occupied the entire executive
session of the senate to-day in speeches on
the peace treaty, Senator Gray favoring
ratification and Senator Money oppos-
ing II.
Senator Gray was the third OF the Paris
commissioners to speak. and while he gave
some attention to the published matter
bearing on the treaty, he did not go into
this in such detail did Senators Frye
and Davis. He admitted that in the be-
ginning of the negotiations, he had been
opposed to the acquisition of the Philip
pine archipelago, and sai0 that he had
freely and frankly advised the president
and his fellow commissioners of his belief
that II would be unwise to attempt to
shape its destiny. He had used his best
endeavors 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 arguments of his colleagues
and by the logic of the situation, and he
had at last concluded to sign the con-
vention.
Having taken this position, he was here
now to defend the treaty as a wise con-
clusion Of most delicate diplomatic un-
dertaking. Many complications had beset
the commissioners in their work, and while
he would not retract what he had hereto
fore said as to the undesirability OF ac-
quirtng distant territory as a matter of
principle. still there were times when a
nation, as an individual, might have to
choose between two evils. There was dam
ger Of many complications Of AN interna-
tional character in case the United States
had elected to pursue a different policy.
II raifa Al x1,a% ,,1t;v ctr
to take the entire Philippine group was
that of the commissioners rather than of
the president, and also went into the diff
cuities Of getting the Spanish commission
ers to come to a conclusion.
Senator Gray did not advocate per,la-
nent occupancy Of the eastern islands, but
said that the duration Of our exercise of
sovereignty there should be settled in the
future. and not at present. In reply to a
question by Senator Mason, he said that
he would not attempt to fix time-that
| this only could be done after we had an
opportunity to study the situation, to know
the people and learn their capacities. He
had every confidence in the American peo-
pie. and he believed that they would not
only give the natives their freedom when
| they had shown capacity for taking care
of themselves as nation of the world.
but that they would manage the affairs of
inc lSianQS wisely ana Well Wnlle tney con-
trolled them. They would give the island
ers fair start in civilization before turn
ing them loose to shift for themselves.
Senator Money attacked the acquisition
| of the islands as contrary to tho spirit of
| American institutions and as unconstitu-
| tional. He said the government of the
| United States could not afford to put itself
in the attitude Of Don Quixote in q vain
effort to care for and advance the in
| terests of every people in every land that
appeared, according to our standards OF
He had been an advocate OF Intervention
| In the case of Cuba, but from this fact
| it did not follow that he was willing to
transfer the Philippines from Spanish vas
salage to a dependence Of the United States
He did not consider that We were especially
concerned as to the future of the Fflipinos
ard. SO far as he was concerned. he should
leave them to work out their own saliva
suming responsibility for them and making
them citizens of the United States. as they
would inevitably come to be IL the treaty
should be ratified. We had made allies OF
them in the Spanish war by the acts of our
own agents. and in the interest of fair deal
| ing should let them achieve their independ-
ence If they could do so
Senator Mason, in a few words ipdorsed
Senator Moneys position that the F'ilipinos
would be made citizens of the United States
| by the ratification of the treaty. and Sem
ator Teller. In a brief rejoinder, contro-
Verted this position. saying that an act
of congress would be necessary to fix their
status toward the body polite. Senator
t!oar also indorsed Senator Moneys posi-
| tiOn.