The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-03-06

Cincinnati, March 5-Ths Commitment
Sry dinner given to-nieh. at the O1,oen
ClJy Club to Judge William II. Taft. the
recently appointed president of the Phil
/ lppine Commission, by his friends and
neigh0ors. was unique IN its eleeance and
IN us good will. The hundred substantial
citizrnS who took this method of bidding
Iare"eH 10 their friend included the rem
resent3uve men OF Cincinnati.
NJ. l.. Ingalls, president Of the Big Fou-
i'diiroai Company. presided IS toast
master. After reading letter Of regret
Irom Secretary Of War Root. who was IN
ahie 10 attend, and after speaking. in =
hsPpy VEN Of Judge Taft and his Craar
mission, he introduced judge william, p
Day, late Secretary OF State, who enoLa
OF the negotiation Of the treaty of nea,e
with Spain
1uuse Day was followed with the closest
Ili'e'eS'' The heartiest applause was
sven TO MS assertion that the aim Of the
n = iIIeu ,,I states Is not to exploit trade In
Ine philippines. but 10 serve the interests
ol the people OF those Islands.
1'IoN' -Htorge Is. Nash followed JudE.
g LAY speaking pleasantly of Judge Taft
- "a e. ana judge.
Surprised His Hearers.
Judge JudsOn Harmon, VINO was attor-
ney general under the last Cleveland ad-
ministration. and whose association with
Judge Tart AZ the Cincinnati bar has been
cohtemporaneous, created a sensation in
HIS opening sentence. IF you mad met 10
approve the general course of the gov
ernment with respect To the Philippines -
Il In
here For a hundred years We contented
ourselves with words of sympathy for
peoples struggling as We once struggled
Tor freedom and independence
Here for the first time an OppOrtunity
came to help in such a struggle without
breaking our settled policy. We ioiued
ranks with the native patriots against the
common enemy. Whether any one made
or was authorized 10 make promises 10
thtm Is Of no consequence. Our history
anC principles are a perpetual promise:
and no one Will deny that when the Fill
pin0S Joined forces with us they believed
ard we knew they believed. that success
would mean the fulfillment of their hopes
Nnen We came TO terms OF peace 10 was
our duty 10 put an end to the claims o.
Spain. As TO all the territory. except 4
Few square miles. these We're the barest
of pretenSons, but Spain's need and
others greed might make a speculative as
This was the only possible justification fer
the direction To our Commissioners 10 pur-
chase those claims, and We naturally ex-
pected some declaration Of trust So did
our 9illes. But It soon turned out that In
stead of buying on the King of Spain. the
government bought him out. and proposed
TO realize on the investment
Never Too Late to Undo Wrong.
I'VE now hear the usual plea OF the do
ers Of doubtful things-the deed is done.
il is too late TO discuss II. 1t is never too
late to retrace a misstep. to right or undo
a wrong. If the people shall decide that
no nation is good enough to rule another
nation without that other nations con-
sent; if they shall remember what il costs
IA 70 cast out the heresy that the great
principles of liberty did not apply to
black men, and shall refuse to re-embrace
L as TO brown ones; If they shall conclude
hat this country cannot long exist part
Sassal and part free. as they found IL
,ould not part slave and part free; then
here will be no difficulty IN doing what
pc ought 10 have done in the beginning
cave the FilipinOs TO manage their own
iffairs, and serve notice on the world that
hey are now under our protection
Judge Harmon, after asserting that
While the Presidents right 10 make regu-
atons in the nature OF laws is doubtful.
did Ms il5Ht ana duty 10 pIOVide agencies
or enforcing the laws re clear. He dis
ussed most fOrcibly and at length the
Ireat work before the new Filipino com
mission. aud IN most eloquent eulOgy
N Judge Taft declared that no man in
he whole country could have been Sc
udge William III. Taft for the great mis-
ion that awaits him.
The silence which marked the opening
emarks b. Judge Harmon was intense.
ie hinted that one OF the best qualfca-
ions Of Judge TAFT for this mission was
ne fact that he was not an expansionist.
Judge Tait's Response.
Judge William II. Tart, who followed,
aid. in part:
Tine commission IS not organized. Its
members have never conferred togeth-
r. ! speak, therefore, for myself alone
Ike Judge Harmon and unlike Chairman
ingalls, / am not now and never have
cen an expansionist. have always hoped
hat the jurisdiction Of our nation would
OF extend beyond territory between th-
wo oceans. We have not solved all the
roblems Of popular government so per-
Getty as 10 justify our voluntarily seek
1g more difficult ones abroad.
WITH Difference 10 Judge Harmon I
o not think m this instance that we
ave voluntarily sought them. Circum-
ances beyond our control. the sequel OF
le Spanish war have thrust upon IA re-
for The future government Df
be Philippines The proposition IS Wig
rOusiy denied by high-miuded and con-
,leUtlOus men, and by some with a fury
7 supcrlatlVe and cDthet that Is hardly
Jnsste1t with a judicial attitude or an
npartidl consideration Of the .guestfou
IS conviction is that the calm inVestiga-
on 81 the future historian into all the
jnduons existing ~ the time Of taking
lCn step toward the present situation
the Philippines will ieac MIN % con
ude that President Mckinley and hi4
selected iu each crisis the
Ily alternative which a due regard 10
Ir national and International Obllg4-
ons would permit.
The Pre-ideni'- Good Intentions.
Il have 70 deal with the situation as Il
and, whatever the cause Of T.. the
lssti0n nov Is what are We 10 do 20
eet the present needs. The high and
striotic purpose OF the Presideu, IN the
resent jUncture Is 10 give the people %
e Philippine Islands the best civil gov
nment which he can provide with the
rsest measure of self-goyernmcnt con.
stent with stability. he seeks only the
elfare OF the Filipino and the better
ent Of mis- condition.
The incid-HssI benefits % the trade or
~ country arising from the nov rotation
ust be made 1lDseryient 10 the inter
q 81 thoss who have become our Ha-ds
ais is his charge 20 his new c0rl.uIaefan
ith MS purpO4e thus defined / have the
Fp@st sympathy. when. Therefore. the
resident did Ine the honor 20 ak rlc 10
sist him ~ one Of the cOfnu1l lszio, la
TrylnE 81 out could rot uTge a. "A rea-
n for declining that ! sfid nOf az.re. ,,ttb
: pDlicy and ifs object"
The Judge spoke % the necessity for
'rfal system Of primary and secondary
Icatlon. of internal improvements. of
9 adjustment ~ the tarin, of The reform
the currency. OF the new criminal code
the Initiation Of the popular rnifoictoai
yernInent, and ~ many other problems
! The consideration Of the commission.
Judge Iaft was frequently interrupted
IN anD!ause, which Was especially Wig
Gus when he announced the charge Civ
oy the President 10 the new commits
IN. and when he spoke of the necessity
enforcing civil service 10 the PaliiD-
nes.