Evening star., 1900-01-20

His Remarks Directed Mainly to War
in Philippines.

The tenth annual banquet Of the ONO So
ciety of Chicago took place last night in the
banquet hall of the Auditorium. The guests
of honor were Gov. George X. Nash of
Ohio and former Secretary of State William
r. Day, president of the peace commission.
Former Secretary Day spoke on THE
Presidents of Ohio" His speech, which
was frequently interrupted by applause
was in part as follows:
From the same regiment which gave
another Ohio President to the Union, and
justice to the Supreme Court of the United
States and many men of distinction to pub
lie life. there came another Ohioan. whose
first term of office is now drawing to
close. At the beginning of his presidential
term he found confronting him the growing
irritation of our relations with Spain, ar1S-
ing from the situation in Cuba.
Seeking the betterment of the condition
of these unfortunate people. the President
bent every effort within his power to
peaceful solution Of the situation. When
war did come. as the constitutional head of
the army and navy. he directed its move
ments that it should be short and decisive.
without seeking it, new responsibility
had been imposed upon the American peo-
pie. and the same nation which had met
and overcome greater difficulties had placed
upon 1t this new responsibility. If Spanish
rule must end, then it was deemed the best
solution of the problem that America take
the title herself. and this was done in the
spirit which showed the American people to
be great enough in the hour of their
triumph to show consideration for a weak
and conquered foe. Had a rupture occurred
between the commissioners of the two
countries. the United States would have
been driven to the dire necessity of a con-
quest Of arms, and the certain en1barrass
meut which would arise from defective
a title. 1t made d demand for the islands.
but accompanied it, not with a naked claim
of conquest, but by generous concessions,
in the same spirit which actuated our con-
duct with defeated Mexico, when We paid
her $4,000 for the territory ceded to us.
by the ceSSion of the treaty We today
have a title which must demand the respect
of the nations of the earth, and which gives
us the same right to control in those islands
that We possess over any other territory
belonging to the United States. That
treaty was ratified by the Senate and by
Congress in the appropriation of the S2U-
8O0, 600 which We paid to Spain: misguided
by evil council even before the treaty was
ratified. an attempt was made by Asuinaldo
on the American troops. In that situation
the duty of the American President was
clear. Force must be met with force. Peace
and order must be restored in every foot of
our new domain. To that duty the eXecu-
tive devoted the army and navy.
Happily, that condition of warfare
seems near its end. and the question is re-
duced to the future policy of the American
people in dealing with this new part of its
domain. Now is neither the time nor oc
caSion for its discussion. | believe | don
pass the line which divides patriotism from
partiSanShip when L say there can come to
these people nothing but good as result of
American rule. To is brought duty
which will never be fully discharged until
American civilization and the blessings of
good government have been given to those
distant islands,