The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-16
g, 9, \ . , }, y, !, 2. , :, : :.
GRAY 6 ! r l 4 |,
\ For the Presidents Motives In
S Philippine Question.
THE PEACE COMMISSIONER
says,thatt the Commission was Forced
70 Accept die Only Solution Open TO
! TJiem--,rhcrc was no Idea ofa Per.
manent Occupation Of The Archl-
{ neutrality-suspicious. TO be Utti.
Smatciy Assured the Fiiipinos.

u matcly Assured the Filipinos.
III sByfiLafINGToS. Del, Jan. ,l5;---Unl;fa
q States senator George Gray, ofSthe |
K peace commission, WAS rendered q com. |
splImentaty dinner In this, city lastynight
Prcaident Mckinley, his cabinet and all |
Ssthe, members OF the peace commission.
with the. exception OF John Bassett
y Moore, sent letters OF regret Mr..
Il Moore was the only member ofS@the
4 corimlssIon present. There were 200
Il guests; IN attendance. Il; Mr.. Gray was
the chief speaker OF the evening, and
Il responding TO The toast, Our Guests OF
H HOMO. he said Y il7lj 4
u I've are now In a crisis OF our nation-t
I ai'tistdry, and your hearts and mine, as
y patriotic citizens OF this great country,
+ are fult OF anxiety as to the proper set
q Element Of the momentous issues which,
y have resulted from the war with Spain.
While Sour country was in war with
4 Spain we were ready to make, / hope,
EVERY sacrifice to Insure the success OF
\ Amcrfcan arms, and bring Victory and
Il honorSto the American flag. And when
d the wart was over, ! believe the patriotic
s8instinct OF American citizenship de-
n 1nnnded, as your President enjoined up 4
Il ondus,t that we should exhibit magnan-il
NJ Unity to a PROSTATE foe and moderation I
4 IN the hour OF victory. as we had faced
x the war with steadfastness and cour-
II age..l III a SS5il,.. + 4. ~
lin the first place.-I want 10 say 10 /
4SydfYW n INV t1Ian 4 u.aiI n d
y what I conceived to be my duty, to en-
Il deavort to- carry out this instruction, 80
ss!creditably given TO us as n nation. and
y worthy Of the high civilization OF which
4 we profess to be leaders.
.s45tll The acquisition OF territory by the
.gIUnited States was not one OF the OBJ
::1ects OF the war, and we solemniy de-
,clared In the resolution of /. Congress
that our only object In demanding THE
w rslinrutshment OF the sovereignty OF
a Cuba was not to hold 1t ourselves, ex-
v icept that We might pucify It and fit Il
\ for self-government by Its own people.
VIZ But In this, as In all else, Man pro-
and God dlsposes,' and 1t Is one
XII Of the things that make thoughtful men
Is desire to avoid war where 1t can be
l3 avoided. for no one can iell what Its
consequences may be. I artlently de-
Oh Llltkt We tofEp kllI llCGCoo'lS
& ot taking the Philippine Islands, and
& assuming the burden that their taking
" will impose upon US. and know. tina,
81 the president OF the United States was
81 sequally anxious to the same end. But
WI tsbecame apparent that, without our
SseeeinS. unexpected conditions had been
created. and out OF these conditions tn-
5Sanestionahle Duties had sprung which
,8could not be avoided or eyaded by the
SSSUnited States. It5 r.
SIT was argued that the performance
Sioft duty IS sometimes not only 'unpfeas-
SSfent, but has dangers attendant upon It:
4 brave man and brave
nation will not shrink from 1t on that
y 1account. On the other hand, Il Ameri-
F1canEsentiment did not Justify the return
m of these Islands to Spain no more could
q Justify leaving them derel!ct In the
Eastern ocean,4a victim of European
capacity. ~
The powers OF Europe would acqul-
$Eesce in our taking them, but they would
,S notstand by and see them In their help
iF}SlesS( condition OF anarchy and disorder
y without selling the opportunity to ag-
II ErandiZe themselves: so 1t was thought
best by the President and his advisers
- TO take the cession Of their sovereignty
IA from Spain, and hold 1t In trust. 10 be
Ill GhllUIUlltS WIN THOSE
~ nigh ideals and llberty-lovlng traditions
which animate and glorify the history
OF our: country. Duty cannot honorabIy
s. be avoided because It may bring pain;
y Or danger. nor. can responsibility al
ways be eraded because OF its burdens.
That sought in Paris by all honora-
81 Bile means to escape this responsibility
z does not natter now. It came to a
n point at last that we must ether leave.
b the Islands to Spain. take them as we
.fS did or Break them off and come home
without treaty OF peace. In the last
IS event. the truce would be broken, and
&c, state OF active war would have been.
rasttmed We would have no cession
SNor the sovereignty OF the Philippines and
sg none OF Porto Rico. and no rellnquisn-
ment OF Cuba. &.
SILT ,is' true that In the protocol OF Au-
IS gust u Spain had definitely promised
that she would cedc Porto Rico and re-
&$ linquish Cuba, but without treaty OF
q peace that promise would not have been
y performed. What would then have been
X the eXigence OF the situations? Nm
Z doubtedly we would havr been compelled
" TO go ana seize with the strong hand of
4 military power both the Philippine arch
1pelaSo and the Greater and LesserA n
titles, taking by ruthless conquest what
& 1t, Is far better We should take by the
* entire cesston Of treaty OF peace
iI3 But now that we have them It does
Il not follow that We are committed to
III colonial policy or violation of those
q great principles OF liberty, and self
II government which much always remain
American ideals. II our own free insti-
tunons are to endure. .,Iy,
No country, and this country least
" or all. can afford to trample on Its
IDEALS have no fear that It will do
y so. without assuming for a moment
II any right to speak for the President,
can assure you with some knowledge
y whereof speak that he fully anpreci-
atestthe duties and responsibilities OF
q the situation, and that he Is committed
1 TO no policy calculated to DISCOURAGE
much less strike down the aspirations OF
lioerty-loring people all over the world.
7 belong to different political party
Is put should be false TO my sense Of 1us-
3 tice and to that pride which feel os
" an American II did not declare my
\ confidence In the patriotism and purity
" OF william Mckinley. He Is no usurp.
FL tfr OF power no strangetl to American
institutions. but one OF the A.rerIcnY
people, called to high ot,ice by their sur.
4 TRACES. and It will be strange indeed II
he does not share to tho fullest ertnnt
\ In the love Of our constitution and tho
4 principles that underlie It.
sy3''What less than this can be- truth.
1ully said Of an American President?
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