The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-26
The Indianian Declares Against Ex-
pansion with Great Vehemence.

exhibition Of excitement and such scenes
of unbounded enthusiasm as occurred to-day
when two Republicans-Mr. johnson, an In
diana member, and Mr. Dolliver, of Iowa
locked horns on the question of expansion.
The army BILL which was under debate was
swallowed up in the broader question of our
future national policy and the debate was
lifted from the dead level of mediocre into
absolute brilliancy Mr.. Johnson secured
time from the Democratic side to attack the
position of the administration. It was not
the first time he has broken away from his
party on public questions. On past occasions
he has won a reputation as master of in
vective, and the knowledge that he was to
speak had attracted an enormous crowd to
the galleries To-day he added to his reputa
tion. With satire, irony and wit, the keen
thrusts Of his logic were driven home. His
words flowed from him in a perfect tor
rent. He denounced the proposition to annex
the Philippines as subversve of every tradi-
ton dear 10 the American heart in the past
and the Inauguration of policy that would
end in the downfall of the republic. He said
the ratification of the treaty by the Senate
would sound the death knell of all the eff
forts of those who were trying to prevent
the country from rushing on to suicide, and
declared if he were senator he would rot
in his seat before it should be ratified. He
denounced the President as the slavish fol-
lower of public opinion, butNwarned him that
the tide would recede and the voice of the
people would in time rebuke him. Members
stood in the aisles ten deep while he
speaking, but he tried to stop the applause
which continually broke out from the Demo-
cratic side. For almost two hours his words
poured forth.
DEMOCRATS APPLAUDED.
When Mr.. Johnson arose to speak the
Democrats applauded and members squared
themselves around in anticipation of some
sensational utterance while the President,
in the presence of what he may conceive
to be a popular demand" Mr.. Johnson be-
gan, lis hurrying the army and navy across
the seas to infiict upon an alien people
government against their will, ] propose
fearlessly, without regard to its effect on
my personal fortunes to make a plea for
liberty and an argument against the perpe-
tration of injustice. We were on the verge
of a crisis" continued Mr.. johnson. Those
who failed TO rush forward in support of the
schemes of the imperialists were being de-
nounced here and in the public press as
"Spaniards" and men who failed in their
duty. His answer was that if the chief
executive would break his silence and open
ly state that we did not propose to ensave
the people of the Philippines. his word for
it, the present strained relations in the ISL
ands would cease, those who were but yes
terday our allies would return to their
homes and there would be no necessity for
this proposed increase in the standing army.
No, this would not be DONE What meant
this hasty disavowal of Senator Forakers
statement that the administration had no
intention of holding the islands permanently?
II the administration did not mean to hold
the Philippines, what meant this clamor
of the administration press? Why had the
Presidents demands requested the absolute
cession of the islands, instead of simply de-
handing their evacuation, as he did in the
case Of Cuba? Why did not Senator Davis
who was in charge of the treaty in the SEN
ate, agree to allow the passage of a reso-
luton disavowing the governments purpose
to hold the islands permanently? These
were patent facts which could not be lodged
They must be faced squarely. Everything
pointed in one direction-the purpose to an
mex the Philippines.
IAN UNSPEAKABLE CRIME"
Continuing the Hoosier orator drew
parallel between our revolutionary struggle
dIAd lll6 SlIuSSt6 the lipltlOS IndQG IOf III
dependence. He argued that to-day they
had a stable government, republican in form,
a President, Vice President and Congress,
the whole founded on the free consent of
the governed. To attempt to subvert that
government, he charged, would be an 'un-
speakable crime that would bring the blush
of shame to the cheek of every free-born
American" They had not waged war for
change of masters. They had rejected with
scorn the high-sounding manifestos of the
President of the United States. They pre-
ferred to be free, and they now stood with
arms in their hands, undaunted, standing
against the United States for independence
and liberty, as they had stood against Spain.
A people with such stamina were worthy of
their freedom.
Could it be criminal aggression" to an
mex Cuba and not criminal aggression to
annex the Philippines? said the Indianian.
1t was true, the natives We're alien in race,
language, habits and thought, and therefore
the whole scheme was to hold them as Spain
had held her colonies in times past, as
England held hers now, ruled over by mill
tary satraps. They might not be able to de-
eide contested election cases according to
party considerations. instead of their merits
as we were; they might not be able to prac-
tce fraud and chicanery at elections; they
might be lacking in all these essential at
tributes of Republicanism, but they were
capable of constituting government ac-
cording to their own ideas. All government
was progressive, and in time they would rise
on their dead selves TO higher things.
Mr.. johnson paid high tribute to Aguin-
aldo and TO Agoncillo, whose letter to Sec
rotary Hay had appeared in the morning pa
pers. That letter, he declared, was the let
ter of u statesman and was worthy of
place in the archives of any government. He
referred to the committee the President had
appointed to go to the islands and report
on the situation. 1t was not enough he
said, that the commissioners should be men
of high characters, but they must be with
out preeonceived prejudices if the truth were
to be obtained.
IF William Mckinley ever changes his
policy regarding the Philippines, Mr. John
son declared in stentorian tones, "he will
bend to the weight of popular opinion, to
which he bows right or wrong"
This utterance raised a storm of applause
from the Democratic side. MIR. johnson re-
quested that such interruptions cease, as
they took up his time. Several times be-
fore he had made similar request
Il should imagine the gentleman could
tolerate Democratic applause" interrupted
Mr.. henderson (Rep., Ia)
REPUBLICANS SCORED.
THE gentleman can always tolerate the
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