Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-08
Shapinq the Democratic Policy.

evaded because of it's burdens"
"That l sought in Paris. by all hon.
Orable means, to escape this RESPONSE
hility does not matter now. 1t came to
a point at last that we must either
leave the islands to Spain. take them
as we did, or break off negotiations
and come home without a treaty of
peace. In the last event the truce
would be broken, and a state of active
war would have been resumed. We
would have had no cession of the SOW
erejgnty of the Philippines. and none
of Puerto Rico. and no REIMBURSEMENT
OF the sovereignty Of Cuba. 1t is true
that in the protocol of August 18th
Spain had definitely promised that she
would cede Puerto Rico and relinquish
Cuba, but without treaty of peace
that promise would not be performed.
What then would have been the
exigence Of the situation? Undoubted-
ly we would have been compelled to go
on and seize with the strong hand. and
by military power, both the Philippine
archipelago and the Greater and Less
err Antilles. taking by ruthless con-
quest what it was far better that we
should take by the voluntary ccssion
Of a treaty Of peace"
So spoke Senator Gray. the Demo-
cratic member of the peace commits
sion, in an address at Wilmington,
Delaware, the 18th of last month. AS
the above extract of his address in
dicates, he is not a believer in expan-
sion or colonial policy, but by reason
of his responsibilities as peace COM
missioner he was placed in a situation
where Il man Of his eminent character
could do no otherwise than act. re-
garlless OF partisan considerations, for
that which. with his intimate knowl-
edge Of the conditions confronting us.
he saw to be for the best welfare Of all
concerned.
Contrast his attitude with that of
Senator German, who. in the opposition
to the treaty, saw an opportunity to
further his own political ambition by
organizing the opposition, in the hope
to thus become the recognized national
leader of the Democrats.
1t is not our purpose to impugn the
motives of all the Democrats in opposi-
ton to ratification. We have no ques-
ton of the honesty Of some of them,
but whereas in this antagonism Demo
cratic senators have been encouraged
by their partisan feeling of hostility to
the success of the present administra-
ton, their Republican associates in
opposition have been embarrassed by
the fact that the largely predominant
sentiment Of their party and the great
majority of their constituents, regard
less Of party, favored ratification.
Moreover the quasi association with
German, into which they We're forced
by the situation, was of a nature likely
to expose them to unpleasant criticism,
and instead of being an honest ally or
loyal supporter he has proved neither,
as might have been expected.
1t is but fair to assume that the as
tute trickster in his endeavor toward
the last to prevent the adoption of any
modifying resolution, had for a pres
ent purpose the deterring of any Dem
ocrat who might vote for ratification
with such declaratory resolution, and
for future master card the assump-
ton that ratification without such
resolution meant the committing Of the
administration and the Republican
party to a policy of criminal agrees
sfon." And right here it is timely to
refer back to that speech delivered by
Senator Gray. in which among other
things he said: But now that we
have them it does not follow that we
are committed to a colonial policy or
to violation Of those great principles
Of liberty and self government which
must always remain American ideals,
il our free institutions are to endure
that German has manoeuvered solely
with view to personal political adj
vantage, whereas we know from the
nature of things if not from the records
Of the men themselves. that some OPP
ponents have sacrificed personal ad-
vantage in maintaining their opposi-
ton. Moreover the logical inference to
draw from the Maryland senator's
constituencies tactics. encouraging, rs
they undoubtedly have been to the
Filipino malcontents. responsible ir
large degree for their mad assault OF
the American forces, endangering alike
our peace and our prosperity is thai
he has entered upon the policy of ham
pering in every possible way, both fol
the present and for the future, al
efforts of the administration to estab
lish on the Philippine islands that pro
lection to life and property. which il
nothing short Of our manifest duty
Indeed the contrast is a striking one
on the one hand a Democrat actin,
under sense of duty to country ant
responsibility to civilization, refusin,
to make political capital out of a stua
Nos ttr-g -