The evening times., 1899-01-24
PERISOF Rejecting
FHE PEACE TREATY
Senator Lodge Speaks i'm Favor
of Its Ratification.
No Particular Course of Action Re.
garding the Philippines Involved.
Throwing Ii Aside Would Mean Ma
ftonai Disgrace and Bring Back
a Condition of War.

Mr.. Lodge made a speech in the Senate
today in favor of the ratification of the
Peace Treaty. After discussing ably GER
tain constitutional questions. he said in
part:
The great question now before theAmerican peo-
pie resolves itself, in my mind, 10 of policy
purely. There is only question demanding
actual and immediate decision now before Con-
gress and the people, and that is whether the
Treaty with Spain shall he ratified or not. The
discussion of the Treaty is being conducted, and
90 my snind, properly conducted. behind closed
doors for there is much that must be said affect
ing other nations and other people which could
not with propriety be said in public; but the
Treaty itself has been made public, and the de-
hate upon these resolutions taking a wide range.
has covered far could be fttingly done in
tpen session, the broad question of policy in
Nolued in the ratification Of the Treaty
] desire merely 10 state very briefly, as / un-
deistand il. what that question is. ] have heard
ne opposition expressed TO any part OF the Treaty
except such portion of il as relates 10 the Philip
pines, and That. therefore, is the sole point upon
which ! desire 10 touch In our war with Spain
we conquered the Philippines, or, TO put il more
eNactlE, destroyed the power OF Spain in those
islands and took possession Of their capital. The
Treaty cedes the Philippines to Ii is wisely
and skilfully drawn. II commits us TO no policy,
nc course Of action in RECORD to the Philip
pines When that Treaty is ratified, have full
power and absolutely free 10 do with those
Islands as we please: and the opposition its
ratification may be summed up in a single SEN
tence, that the American Congress are not TO
he trusted with that power and with that free
nom OF action IN regard TO the inhabitants OF
those distant islands. Every one of the resou-
tions thus lar offered on this subject IS an eX-
preston OF distrst in the character, ability, hon
cs;v and wisdom Of the American people and an
attempt To make promise 10 be good and wise
aud honest IN the future and IN our dealings with
ether people. II is a 'Vel-meant effort TO make US
give bonds 10 fate by means OF Congressional
resolution.
We must either ratify the Treaty or reject ii,
for cannot suppose that anyone would seriously
advance the proposition that we should amend
The Treaty in such way as 10 make pledges TO
Spain, and 10 Spain alone, and TO give bonds 10
Spain. and 30 Spain alone, for good conduct
tn matter which viii be wholly our own 10 de-
eide. Let look. then. at the two alternatives.
Suppose we ratify the treaty. The islands pass
from the possession OF Spain into our possession
without committing us % any policy. | believe
can be trusted as a people 10 deal honestly
and Justly with the islands and their inhabitants
tus given 10 our care.
What ouT precise policy shall be I do not know.
because I for one am not sufficiently informed
ss 10 the conditions there TO be able 10 say
what IL will be best to do. nor, ] may add, do
think anyone Is. But believe We shall have the
wisdom not to attempt TO incorporate those ISL
snds with our body polite. make their inhab-
Hsnts farf Of our citizenship. sci their labor
alongside of ours and within our tariff to com
pete in amy industry with American worhmen.
] believe that shall have the courage not to
depart from those islands fearfully. timidly, and
mworthily and leave them to anarchy among
themselves; TO the brief and bloody domination
az seli-constituted dictator, 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 repressive
methods. Il is for us to decide The destiny Of
the Philippines not for Europe and we can do il
alone and without assistance. l believe that we
shall have the wisdom. the selfrestraint. and the
ability TO restore peace and order in those isl
snds. and give to their people opportunity
for seli-goveTnment and for freedom under the
protecting shield Of the Emitted States until the