New-York tribune., 1900-10-25

suance thereof, 1 appointed as Commissioners
the following distinguished citizens to conduct
the negotiations the part Of the United
States: The Hon. William r. Day, of Ohio; the
Hon William P. Frye, of Maine; the Hon.
Cushman K. Davis, of Minnesota; the Hon.
George Gray, of Delaware, and the Hon. White
law Reid of New-York In addressing the
Peace Commission before it's departure for Paris
L said:
1t is my wish that throughout the negotiations
intrusted to the Commission the purpose and
spirit with which the United States accepted
the UnwelcOme necessity of war should be kept
constantly in view. We took up arms only in
obedience to the dictates of humanity and in
the fulflment of high public and moral oblga-
uonS. We had no design or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and
ambition of conquest. Through the long
course of repeated representations which pre-
ceded and aimed to avert the struggle, and in
the final arbitrament Of force, this country was
impeled solely by the purpose of relieving
grievous wrongs and removing long existing
conditions which disturbed it's tranquility,
which shocked the moral sense of mankind and
which could no longer be endured.
1t is my earnest wish that the United States
in making peace should follow the same high
rule of conduct which guided it in facing war.
1t should be scrupulous and magnanimous in
the concluding settlement as it was just and
humane In it's original action.
Our aim in the adjustment of peace should be
directed to lasting results and to the achieve
ment of the common good under the demands
of civilization, rather than to ambitious de-
signs.
Without any original thought of complete or
even partial acquisition the presence and sue
cess of our arms in Manila impose upon US
obligations which cannot disregard The
march of events rules and overrules human ac-
ton. Avowing unreservedly the purpose which
has animated all our effort, and still soIicitous
to adhere to It, we cannot be unmindful that
without any desire design on our mart the
war has brought us new duties and RESPONSE
bi1t1es which we must meet and discharge as
becomes a great Nation on whose growth and
career from the beginning the Ruler of Nations
has plainly written the high command and
pledge Of civilization.
WORK OF PEACE COMMISSION.
On October IS 1S9S while the Peace Com
mission continuing its negotiations in
Paris. the following additional instruction was
sent:
should be governed only by motives which will
exalt our Nation. Territorial expansion shouId
De De our least concern; that we shall not shirk
the moral obhgatlons OF our victory is of the
greatest 1t is undisputed that Spain's autbor-
ity IS permanently destroyed in every part OF
the Philippines To leave any part in her feeble
control now would increase our diffculties and
be opposed to the interests of humanity
Nor permit Spain to transfer aT'y, 90 tbs
Islands 10 another Power: nor can we invite an
other Power or Powers to join the United States
IN sovereignty over them. We must either hold
them or turn them back to Spain
Consequently, grave as are the responsIbiIities
ana Unforeseen as are the difficulties which are
before us, the President can see but one plain
path OF duty-the acceptance OF the archipelago
Greater difficulties and more serious cornnIica-
tlons. administrative and International would
follow any other course. The President has
given TO the views of the Commissioners the
fullest consideration, and in reaching the con-
clusion above announced in the light OF infor-
nation communicated to the Commission and to
the President since your departure he has been
influenced by the single consideration OF duty
and humanity. The President is not unmindf fIl
of the distressed financial condition OF Spain
and whatever consideration the United States
may show must come from its sense Of veneros-
| ity and beneyolence rather than from any real
or technical obligation
Again. on November 13 1 instructed the Com
mission:
From the standpoint OF indemnify both the
archipeiagoes (Porto Rico and the Philippines)
are LhsuInCleht 10 pay our war expenses but
aside from this. do We not owe an Obligation 10
the people of the Philippines which will NOT
permit US to return them TO the soyereigntv OF
Spain? Could We justify ourselves i'm such a
course. or could we permit their barter to some
other PoWerT Willing not we have the re-
sponsiblllty OF duty, which we cannot escana
The President cannot believe anv division
or the archipelago bring us anythine hnt
embarrassment in the future. The trade and
commercial side, as we'll as the Indemnity FOR
the cost or the war nliastions we might