New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-16
TRIBUTES Of PRAISE AND
REGRET IN LONDON PRESS
Continued from first page.

| gathered around him In TINS COUNTY,
| but as heavy and irreparable loss TO
all who have the best interests OF this
country at heart. To Whitelaw Reid
more than any other man the latest
| rapprOchement between ourselves ana
| our American cousins is due. Were II
! not that ties of blood and language
seem on the face Of them to make any
other relation than amity impossible
| the work done by the late Ambassador
! would be received with more attention
than has been the case. More striking
ententes between ourselves and France
and ourselves and Russia have natur-
| ally captured public attention for their
| very contrast to the mutual disquiet
and suspicion which they displaced, but
the steady and cordial ties that now
bind us to the United States are per-
! haps of greater value to US and to the
worlds peace than either of the other
two, and in building up this great and
lasting sympathy Mr.. Reds work has
been greater than that of any other
| man.
There were many other sides to his
character, many achievements that
might well constitute the entire output
of another mans energy, but the
greatest though not the most conspic-
uous achievement of a noble and busy
life has been the silent cementing of
the twin branches of the Anglo-Saxon
race. and it is that aspect of Mr. Reid's
| life work that Englishmen will bear
in mind as we stand in thought beside
| him in his last sleep and offer To Mrs.
| Reid the deepest and sincerest sympa-
thy the British people can extend TO
any one whose privilege and pain il is
to feel as bitter personal bereavement
what all the world grieves for as an
| international loss.
His Great Title to Fame.
I'm 1897 Mr.. Reid came to London as
/ special envoy Of the United States at
the Diamond Jubilee Of Queen Vic
toria, and in 1898 he was engaged upon
the task that probably will be the
+, longest remembered in connection with
his name. He was one OF the Eve
American representatives intrustel
with the task Of making an honorable
and lasting peace with Spain after .he
/ brief and completely successful war
There were many matters upon which
grave disagreements had been recon
ciled, but the most important point II
all, and that with which Mr. Reds
name was and always will be con-
nected, was the annexation by the
United States Of the Philippines.
He determined to play broader
and deeper game than at the time was
entirely understood by the ordinary
American politician. He insisted that
the United States must annex the Phil
| ippines. No doubt Aguinaldo helped
| him to some extent. but the credit Of
forcing Americas hand in this matter
belongs to Whitelaw Reid He won a
reluctant assent from President Nc
Kinley and included in the treaty the
formal taking over of the islands by
the United States. 1t was not until n
later date that the latter realized that
| they had in fact taken over "A very
much larger amount Of territory than
| the Spaniards had ever dared or cared
to administer themselves. Spain con-
| trolled merely the coast line. but
America with characteristic thorough
ness insisted on enforcing law and or
der TO the very tops OF the jungle clad
mountain crests of the Philippines, and
| in doing so spent many millions OF dol
lars and lost many thousands Of valu-
able lives.
| TT was this misunderstanding Of the
real issue that since provoked some
criticism of Mr.. Reid's policy yet II
was clearly a right one. Given the
complications. commercial or interna-
tional, that might arise I'm the Far East
affecting American interests, there was
no other course for the United states
| than to hold Manila Bay against all
corners, and it would have been COM
promise little creditable TO the solid
methods of American business manage
ment not TO have done the work thor
ouehly when once the country's MIND
was set TO IT, but Mr.. Reid had critics
| for n long time against him. There
have been grumblings in the United
! states about the cost and unprOduc-
| tIveness Of these first American col
onies. and on a somewhat higher plane
| il has been objected that their acqui-
sition and retention are contrary to the
| traditional policy of America. II that
| IL the case, Mr. Reid must be credited
not only with a foresight that made an
nexation a wise move. II judged merely
| nv the most recent history or the Pa
cific. but also with the courage To break
off a bad old custom, courage that ~
more required in democratic and up
to-date America than in the nominally
more conservative atmosphere OF the
old country.
Concerning Dorchester House.
"Some comment was caused before
bis arrival in London by the knowledge
| that he had decided to make Dorches-
tor House. Captain Holford's magnih-
cont paIace In Park Lane, the Aneri-
can Embassy during his term OF oiiice'
| II WAS a departure from the customs OF
Ambassadors from the United states
that was only rendered possible by the
coalition, nf SuuUlNing no