The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-25

eral discussion of the policy of
the Government relative to the
Philippines and several notable
speeches were made, particularly that
of. Settle Cd of Kentucky. The gen.
eraI debate on the bill closed to-day,
and tomorrow will be taken up for
. amendments under the five minute rule.
When Johnson rose for his remarks
he ar once attrscted the attention of
the House.
IA few evenings ago" he began, "the
Home Market Club of Boston gave q
banquet at which the President was the
principal guest. From the newspaper
accounts of the affair it was an exceed
fngly elaborate one. The Secretary Of
War was in attendance. he whom the
Boston populace had Kissed upon the
street a few hours before, ere they
turned to greet with rapturous ap-
plause the chief who had bestowed
upon him his official character.
I'VE can hardly blame them, though.
for this. Mr. Chairman, for they were
only following the precedent set them
by some of the leading Republican
newspapers of the country, which for
months past have been fercely attack
ing the Secretary and yet have lacked
the courage to lay their ak to the root
of the evil and censure the gentleman
who. to reward him for his political
services ard disbursements in the cam
paigu of 80, appointed him to his pres
ent position and has maintained him
there ever since. Notwithstanding his
tncompetency and against the righteous
complaints that have been made
against him.
."The Secretary of the Navy also
eraced the occasion with his presence.
and so far forgot his usual courtesy, SO
far belied his New England training
. and associations. as to repeat the stale
and untruthful charge that those who
opposed the ratification of the inta-
nous treaty Of peace with Spain were
responsible for the bloodshed that oc<
Cured in the Philippines
:: When the Chief Magistrate had
ceased speaking another member OF the
: official family, the gentleman who pre-
sides over the Postoff1ce Department,
arose in his place and proceeded to load
his chief down with a euiogy so full
some and extravagant, so absolutely
. given over to hyperbole that no indi-
,.yidual not wholly eaten up with vanity
dould possibly have endured it without
,. nausea and disgust.
ID. 1.-The newspapers further inform US
. that among other decorations. there
were suspended over the entrance TO
the banquet hall three portraits, one
of Washington, one of Lincoln and one
of +he President himself, and that be-
meath this the word Liberators. Now
George Washington fought with his
sword for eight long and bloody years
+o establish the right of people to
govern themselves, and in his farewell
address he counseled his countrymen
to live on terms of amity with all ma
+tons and to enter into entangling al
Hances with none.
Abraham Lincolns whole political
life was a contention for the rights OF
men. and it was his kindly hand which
,enned the immortal emancipation
proclamation that struck the shackles
from the limbs of millions of bonds
mon One would think. sir. that the
gentleman who was just then engaged
in the prosecution of a bloody war
AGAINST a poor and defenseless people
In the Orient, engaged in the unsavory
task of Christianizing them with the
Sword and civilizing them at the
mouths of cannon, would naturaily
have felt some little embarrassment as
he gazed upon these portraits and read
the significant inscription below POS
'silsly his excellency did not see them.
He may have turned his back upon
them just as he has turned his back
upon the declaration of independence.
J. Be. this as it may. sir. the President
does not appear to have been at all
abashed by this incongruous circum-
stance. but he arose from his seat and