Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-27
CONGRESS TO DECIDE
What Is To Be the Policy Regard.
ing the Islands Where the
Filipino Dwells.
GROsVENOR TALKS OF THE ISSUE.

Declares Dewey Got Us into All the
Trouble; Went to Manila and Couldn't
Get Away-Calls the First Cuban Reso-
lution of Last April Absurd Cause of
Aguinaldo's Bum mptiousness-Talk in the
senate of States Rights
Washington, Jan. 27.-The president
talked with a number OF callers from
congress yesterday about the peace
treaty. The president told his callers
there was need for prompt action and
said that the present situation was one
that should not be prolonged.
At this writing there is no official in
formation as to the truth of the Manila
cable stating that the Filipino congress
has given Aguinaldo the authority to
declare war against the United States
whenever he deems II advisable.
Washington. Jan. 27.-The third day
Of the debate upon the bill for the re-
organization and increase OF the regu-
lar army passed without notable incl
dent, except an hours speech by Gros-
venor whose utterance, rightly or
wrongly. are frequently supposed to
reflect the views Of the president. He
announced that the future OF the Phil
ippines was a matter for congress to
decide. and that for the president 20 an
nounce a policy would be for him 10
usurp the authority Of congress. AT
first Grosvenor confined himself 10 the
bill under consideration and antagonizsd
the idea of danger to the republic from
a large army. But twice in the history
OF the country had the regular army
been used save in war. He recalled the
action os President Cleveland during
the Chicago riots in sending troops
there upon the advice of Secretary
Olney. saying that that act commended
itself To him more than any other OF
the Cleveland administration.
Replies to Johnson's Speech.
He characterized Johns0n's speech eS
the fiercest and most vindictive attack
upon the administration he had heard
on the floor of the house. The trouble
was that the foundation upon which
the whole magnificent superstructuTe
was built was false. The argument he
had made answered itself as soon a S
the intelligent MIND recapitulatsd the
history Of the past few months. Gros-
venor contended that the purpose of the
administration had never deyiated from
the time the declaration Of war was
adopted with the absurd provision in IL
which no one here would support now.
From that day to this this govern
ment, under the guiding hand Of the
administration. had never deviated from
its purpose and stood today simply ex-
ecuting the orders and DEGREES of con-
gress. of civilization and of Almighty
God.
Provision He Calls Absurd.
Does the gentleman mean the Teller
provision as the absurd provision in the
declaration of war;" asked Dinsmore.
Il mean the provision that the peo-
PIE of Cuba were. and Of right ought to
be. free and Independent" replied
Grosveror. He mentioned the desuItory
discussion in the press OF Admiral Dew
ey as the Democratic candidate for the
presidency in 1900. And yet he said. it
was Dewey who had got the country
into all this trouble. At that time. he
continued. there was not a thought OF
the Philippines: there was not one on
this floor who knew within a thousand
how many islands were in the archi-
pelago. Dewey was instructed to find
the Spanish fie Z and destroy or capture
IT. But when he had executed his or
ders he found himself powerless to get
out OF Manila bay.