Evening star., 1899-02-01
SENATOR GRAYS POSITION
Was at First Opposed to Taking the Philip
pines.
Was Wen over by the Arguments of
His Associates and the Logic
of the Situation.

Senator's Gray and Money occupied the
entire executive session Of the Senate yes
terday in speeches on the peace treaty,
Senator Gray favortng ratification and Sem
at0r MoEey opposing it.
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 as did Senators Frye and
Davis. He admitted that in the beginning
Of the negotiations he had been opposed
To the acquisition Of the Philippine archipel-
ago. ana said that he had freely and frank
iy advised the Pre- sideut and his fellow com
missioners of his belief that it would be
uuwise to attempt to shape its destiny. He
had used his best cndsavors TO bring them
10 accept his views, but had utterly failed.
He had at last reached the conclusion
that h. would either have to join with the
majority OF 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
convention.
Won Over by Argument.
Having taken his position he was here
now 10 defend the treaty as wise conclu
sion of most delicate diplomatic under
taking. Many complications had beset the
commissioners in their work, and, while
h would not retract what he had hereto
fore said as 10 the undesirability Of acquir-
ing distant territory as matter Of prin-
Clp!e, Stiil there We're times when a nation
a-s an individual might have to choose be
tween evils. There was danger Of many
complications Of an interna Cional charac cter
in case the United States should have
elected to pursue different policy He
reiterated that the ultimate conclusion to
take the entire Philippine group was that
o. the commissioners rather than of the
if-S-tsnt- and also went into the difficult
ties OF getting the Spanish commissioners
10 CoE4e 20 a conclusion.
Senator Gray did not advocate permanent
occupdncy Of the eastern islands, but said
that the duration OF our exercise Of sover-
eighty there should be settled in the fu-
tUre and not at present.
In reply To a question by Senator Mason
he SAID tEdt he WUulG not attempt to fix A
time; that this could be done only after we
had an opportunity 10 study the situation
TO know the people and learn their capaci-
ties- lie mad every confidence in the Amer
lcdh people, ana ne believed that they
would not only give the natives their free
dom when they had shown a caDacirv far
taxing care Of themselves as nation of
the world, but that they would manage the
affairs Of The islands wisely and well while
tHey controlled them. They would give the
Islands a fair start in civilization before
turning them loose 70 shift for themselves
senator Moneys Opposition.
Senator Money attacked the ACQUISITION
OF The Islands as contrary 10 the spirit of
American Institutions and as unconstitu-
uona- lie said the government Of the
United States could not afford 10 put itself
in the attitude Of Don Quixote in a vain
effort to care for and advance the interests
of every people in every land that appeared
according lu our standards Of civilization to
need our help. He had been an adyocata of
Intervention in the case Of Cuba. but from
this fact it did not follow mat he was
Wiling 10 transfer the PHILIPPINES from
Spanish Eassalage 10 dependence OF tn.
United States lie did not consider thar we
were especially concerned as To the future
Of The IIlIpInOs. and far as he was con-
cerned, ne should leave them to work out
their own salvation. This would be far
preferable To assuming responsibility for
them ald making them citizens of the
United States, as they would Inevitably
come 10 be If 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 dealing should LET them
achieve their Independence ir they could do
SO.
Senator Mason in a few words indorse1
Senator Moneys position lnat the FiIfpinos
would he mace citizens by the ratification
of the treaty. and Senator Teller in a briaf
re1Oinder cOutruverted this position SAVING
that al act of Congress would be necessa rS
to fix their status toward the body polite
Senator Hoar also indorsed Senator No
nRy'S position.