The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-15

the Guest of Honor at Banquet.
Wilmington, Del, Jan. 14-United
States Senator George Gray was ten
dered complimentary dinner by the
board OF trade in this city
tonight President Mckinley, his
cabinet, and all the members of the
s peace commission, with the exception
af John Basset Moore, sent letters OF
regret. Mr.. Moore was the only mem
her OF the commission present. There
We're 260 guests in attendance.
Senator Cray was the chief speaker
OF the evening, and responded TO the
toast Our Guest of Honor. IN the
course OF his speech. he said;
We are now in a crisis Of our ma
tional history, and your hearts ana
minds, as patriotic citizens OF this
great Country. are full of anxiety as TO
the proper settlement OF the momen=
tous issues which have resulted from
the war with Spain. While our coun-
try was in war with Spain, we We're
ready to make, / hope, every sacrlhce
to insure the success of American arms
and bring victory and honor TO the
American naE. And when the war was
OF American citizenship demanded, as
your president enjoined 13on Us, that
We would exhibit magndninity to
prostrate foe; and moderation in the
hour Dt victory, as We had raced the
war with steadfastness and courage.
In the first place, L want to say TO you
that il was my pleasure, as well as
what 1 conceived my duty, 10 endeavor
tc carry ouS this instruction, 50 cred
liable 10 us as a nation, and worthy Of
the high civilization Of which We pro-
fess II be leaders.
The acquisition of territory by the
United States was not one of the OBJ
jects Of the war. and we soIemnly de-
clared in the resolutions of congress
that our only object in demanding the
reiincuiShment OF the sovereignty Of
Cuba by Spain, was not TO hold it our
selves, except that we might pdcify it
and ft it for self-goVernment by its
own people.
But in this. as in all else, man pro-
poses and God disposes, and it is one
Of the things that make thoughtful
men desire to avoid war where il can
be avoided, for no one can tell wha0
its consequences may be. 1 ardently
desired that we might escape the neces-
sity cf taking the Philippine Islands
and assuming the burden that their
taking viii impose upon us; and l know
that the president of the United States
was equally anxious to the same end.
But 1t became apparent that, without
our seeing, unexpected conditions had
been created. and out of these cOndi-
which could not be avoided or evaded
by the United States.
WHY THEY WERE HELD.
ct vas argued that the performance
of duty is sometimes not only unpleas-
n hsIf 10 otr
it. Nevertheless, a. brave man and a
brave nation viii not shrink from it on
that account On the other hand. il
American sentiment did not justify the
return of these islands 10 Spain no
more could it justify leaving them dere-
hct IN the eastern ocean the prey Of
the ilrst occupant OF European rapa-
city. The powers Of Europe would ac-
quiesce IN our taking them, but they
would not stand by and see them in
their helpless condition Of anarchy and
disorder without seizing the opportu-
nifty to agSrandize themselves, and so
it was thought best by the president
and his advisers to take the cession of
their sovereignty from Spain and hold
1t in trust, to be administered in con-
fornity with those high ideals and
lberty-lOVing traditions which animate
and Slorify the history OF our country. !
Duty cannot hOnorabiy be avoided be- /
cause II may DIlllS pam or danger, nor !
can responsibility always be eVaded be- !
cause of its burdens.
That / sought in Paris, by all hon |
orable means, to escape this RESPONSE J
bility does not matter now. 1t came |
TO point at last that we must either
.SeaVe the islands to Spain. take them
asNwe aid, or break off negotiations
andS come here without a treaty Of
pea6. In the last event. the truce
would be broken and a state of active
war {wCuld have been resumed. we !
wouH have had no cession Of the SOW
ereisnty of the Philippines and none Of
Puerto Rico and no relinauishment of
the sovereignty Of CUBA.
1T is true that in The protocol of
Aug. l., Spain had definitely promised
that she would cede. Puerto Rico and
Cuba, without a treaty. of
peace. that promise would not be per
formed What would then have been
the exigence Of the situation? ITndoubt-
edly we would have been compelled 10
go on and seize with the strong hand
and by military power both the Philip
pine archipelago and the greater and
lesser Antilles, taking by ruthless. con
quest what it was far better that we
should take by the voluntary cession
Of a treaty OF peace.
NO COLONIAL POLICY.
aBut, now that we have then, it does
not follow that we are committed to a
colonial policy or to q violation of those
great principles of liberty and self gov /
srn1nent which must always remain !
s ,rerican ideals. II our own free insd-
-lltions are to endure
eNo country and this country least
# all, can afford to trample on its
Fesfs. [ have no fear that it will do So
Cvstsouf assuming fer a moment any
.ie71t to speak for the president, l think !
oan assure you, with some knowledge I
tt.sreof ] speak, that he fully appreci- T
,4,.s the duties and responsibilities of [
'1s situation and that he. is committed /
= no policy calculated 10 discourage,
,Qc less Selhe Sin nov Dso, n ahe aspsrau9hs p,
! 800 i belons TO a different political s
I. Atx but shopid'be false to my sense c
z ',ssst.oe and to that pride which feel \