The Portland daily press., 1899-01-30
SENATOR FRYE ON TREATY.
Makes n Plea For an Early Ratihcs-
ton.


tion Of the Peace treaty with Spain, in
tooay's executive session of the Senate.
He talked for an hour and a hall and
again made the only speech Of the days
session.
The principal questions under consid'
sration today were those relating to the
payment Of claims against the Spanish
government, the resolutions for agreeing
TO pay Spain for the improvements made
in the Philippines and the reasons for ex-
lending to Spain the benefit of an open
door policy in her future possessions.
There were various Interruptions by 9th
Or senators, who, however, confined them
paIves TO questions. In reply to question
relating to the Presidents instructions,
Mr.. Frye said the commissioners were In
CONSTANT communication with the Presi-
lent and that the latter had cabled them
IN more than one occasion to use their
best Judgment in reaching conclusions
and recording results.
He said that the questions of claims Oh
American citizens against Spain had &C.
,upied much of the time and been the
lubject of anxious thought on the part oil
The commission, but there was no other
practical solution of the problem, In view
Of the poverty OF Spain and In fact no
pther policy as compatible with the repu-
tation of the United States as a nation
which knew how to be generous as well
rs just
He said that there are about SIC 200, 600
of these claims and possibly the amount
might reach s. {. 900, 900. Spain had agreed
a. an offset to this concession on our part
TO pay the claims of Spanish citizens
against the United States government,
but MIR. Frye admitted that the aggregate
of the counter claims were not large.
Senator Frye also said that the COM
missioners had felt that they were justi.
fled In drawing upon the generosity Of
this country in agreeing to pay sc, 000,-
600 to Spain for the improvements made
by the Spanish government and In con
eoding to Spain for term Of years the
same privileges as claimed for the Unit
ed States in the matter of trade in the
conquered country Such conces sions
were In the line of presidents set by the
most civilized nations. Great Britain $
policy had been in the line OF constant
extension of the open door policy, but
whether or not the United States meant
to adopt this policy upon the whole, he
felt sure that history would commend
the United States course in the present
instance.
In agreeing to pay spain a. lump sum
we were also following the best policy.
Gh hat
other nations had pursued this course
toward their vanquished rivals and espec-
ial stress was laid upon the German
course in taking Alasce and Lorraines
from France and ling for them $500, :
600, 600, when. rs rs the case OF the
United States aud SPAN in the matter of
the Philippines the doctrine that might
make right, could have been consulted to
the exclusion of all ideas of fairness and
honor and the territory taken simply as
the result OF conquest
The effort of the American commission
ers to secure control of the Caroline isl.
ands was also explained MIR. Frye stat
ed that the Spaniards had absolutely re-
fused to discuss the proposition. Our
offer of million dollars for the islands
had appeared to have no effect what
ever They had even declined in the most
positive manner to cede one of the islands
of this groupe as cable station.
Referring to the present situation in
the Philippines, Senator Tillman asked
Senator Frye if he was willing to have
our troops fire upon the Filipinos, to
which Mr.. Frye replied that the firing
stage had not yet been reached, and he
hoped that the treaty would soon be rati-
fled and this stage probably averted for
good. In conclusion he referred TO the
great Improvement in a religious and
spiritual way that would result from
American occupation OF the islands. say
ing no man who would have the Gospel
preached to all nations could view with
exQuanimity the prospect of restors-
ton of the islands TO Spain or their par
tition among other nations. To reject
the treaty meant the restoration of the
status quo, TO give up Manila and all the
points taken after the signing Of the pro-
tocol and to lose all the vast advantages
acquired through the war in the far east
Senator Mason asked whether it was
the purpose of the United States to pay
the So zoo, OoO indemnity before the Unit
ed States should come into fun possession
And occupation of the country,
Il want to know" he said, whether
we are to pay the money before the goods
ere delivered
Mr.. Davis, replying, referred MIR. Mason
to the text of the treaty. He said the
Spaniards had shown their good faith by
preparing as speedily as possible to
syaouats the coded islands. They had
ceased to defend them for themselves and
therefore Spain could not be held Iespon
sible for any failure on our part to avail
ourselves of sovereignty. lie understood
that the ratification of the treaty bound
us to the payment of the indemnity re.
gardless OF the attitude of the natives of
the Philippines.