The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-26
Republicans Speak on
Expansion.
BRILLIANT DEBATE.
Johnson and Deliver at Va
rance on the Policy.

Washington, Jan. 25.-Not since the
stirring days before the declaration of
war last spring, has the House wit
messed such an exhibition of excitement
and such scenes of unbounded enthusi-
asm as occurred today, when two re-
publicans-Mr. Johnson of Indiana and
Mr.. Dolliver of Iowa-locked horns on
the question of expansion.
The army bill, which was under de-
bate was swallowed up in the broad
err question of our future national
policy, and the debate was lifted from
the dead level Of mediocrity into alb
solute brilliancy. Mr.. johnson secured
time from the democratic side to at
tack the position of the administra-
ton. 1t was not the first time he had
broken away from his party on public
questions. On past occasions he had
won reputation as a master of invec-
tive, and the knowledge that he was
to speak had attracted an enormous
crowd in the galleries.
Today he added to his reputation.
With satire, irony and wit, the keen
tnrusts OF his logic were driven home.
His words flowed from him in a per-
feet torrent. He denounced the pro-
position to annex the Philippines as
subversive of every tradition dear to
the American heart in the past and the
inauguration of a policy that would
end in the downfall of the republic.
He said that the ratification of the
treaty by the Senate would sound the
death knell of all efforts of those who
were trying to prevent the country
from rushing on to suicide, and de-
clared that if he were a senator he
would rot In his seat before it should
be ratified. He denounced the presi-
dent as the slavish follower Of public
opinion, but warned him that the tide
would recede and the voice of the peo-
pie would In time rebuke him.
Members stood in the aisles ten
deep while he was speaking, but he
tried to stop the. applause which con-
tinually broke out from the democratic
Side. For almost two hours his words
poured forth. When he had finished,
Mr., DoHlyer came to the defense of
the administration. One of the ablest
debaters, and perhaps the most elo-
quent of the HSuse, his reply set the
republicans wild with enthusiasm He
described how the president had been
Ialrly driven into war by those who
now sought to embarrass him before
peace was definitely obtained, and his
eulogy of the presidents patiently
meeting all the perplexing problems
winch beset him. as the great events
OF the last year moved on. aroused
ms side and the galleries to cheers.
Ihese rang out again and again when
US PAID an eloquent tribute to Admiral
Dewey and broke out in renewed VOL
uIne when he declared that the course
OF some members at both ends of the
Gapltol was almost treason" But the
hlghest pitch of excitement was
reached when Mr.. Johnson and Mr..
Dolliyer got to close quarters toward
me END or the latter's speech Mr.
oSnnson pressed the defender of the
auhlinlstrat1on to disclose the presi-
qents ultimate purpose regarding the
Phllippines, but Mr.. Dolliyer for some
Time adroitly evaded a direct response
Al last he contented himself with de-
clarlng that this was not the point at
issue that the first thing was to end
the war by ratifying this treaty. Tho
future of the Philippines was a cues
ZION Tor the future. 1t was in every
respect remarkable debate. The 9TH
er speeches today were completely
oVershadowed by those of Mr.. johnson
- and Mr. Dolliver
mr. Marston (republican) of Ohio
was the nrSt speaker today. He advo-
GATED the passage of the Hull bill. In
me course of his remarks he argued
tlat 1t was too soon to decide uDon a
tppines
Mr.. Johnson (republican) of Indiana
tnen took the floor in opposition to
one Dill. AS he arose the democrats
epplauded, and members squared them
serves around in anticipation of some
sensational utterance.
wine the president, in the presence
~ "1dt ne may conceive to be popu-
ar tar demand, he began, is hurrying
in ,e army and navy across the seas to
naa'14 upon an alien people a govern
3 iassi, AGAINST their will l propose fear
sely, without regard to it's effect up
81 my personal fortunes, to make a
go Lor liberty and an argument
e'I WE the preparation of injustice.
nat meant the hasty disavoWal of
osnator Foraker's statement that the
administration Nv. ~ had no intention of hold
rs tne island permanently? If the
the phi,irlon did not mean to hold
ne rhlllpplnes, what means this clam
VI VI administration press? Why had
al ae Presidents commissioners demand
gu the absolute cession of the islands
instead of simply demanding their
SCvacuauon as proposed in the case OF
~ why did not Senator Davis
VINO was in charge of the treaty. in the
Senate, consent to allow tha MASSAGE of
resolution disavowing the govern.
ment purpose to hold the islands ner-
manently? iSis'iiuS pei
Could 1t be criminal aggression to an.
mex cuba and not criminal Aggression
70 annex the Philippines? It was trus
sne natives were alien in race. Ia ruagf
Mno habits Of thought, and II - afort
sne whole scheme was to hold them az
Dpah mad held her colonies in time,
past' as England held hers now rulet
yer by military satraDs
r, Johnson paid high tribute Il
tAgulnaldo and to Agonciilo, whose let.
Yer yer 10 Secretary Hay had appeared If
the morning papers, ''p4'N''' ~ =
mat letter, he declared. was the let.
Ser OF statesman and worthy of g
Elace IN the archives Of any govern.
nent II William McKinley ever
Shanges his policy regarding the Phil.
sppines, ne declared. he will bend to the
weight or popular opinion, to which he
sVWs' right or wrong.
he denounced the presidents course
a policy Of evasion, and charged
tnat his supporters were conjuring uI
spectres to drive out the opposition
II was declared that our failure tc