The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-04

a thoroughfare over which eight million
of American citizens will march into this
| Union. 1t is marriage of nations.
| Henceforth and forever the Eilipinos
and Americans will be one. | trust yet
| before the marriage is consummated the
| spirit of American constitutional
| liberty will arise and forbid the bans.
| What is their relation to us that we
| should set forth knight like with lance
| in rest to rescue them? We cannot
| turn them back to Spain. The American
| people cannot so treat those who were
| comrades on the field of battle. They
| have not yet attained the dignity and
power of a nation. We cannot recognize
| the Filipino Republic, and come away
| from the islands. We have only to look
skyward to see the birds of prey cir
| cling about, ready to descend upon those
| who are weak.
"What next? The face of the treaty
| tells us. Let us treat the Philippines
as we treat Cuba. We are now i'll mill
tary occupation of the islands. Let us
remain in military occupation until we
have assisted them with kindly Offices
and force of arms, if necessary, until
they have established such n govern
ment as destiny may have fitted them
for.
with respect to Cuba the President
could withdraw our forces whenever
his good sense dictates thaC he should
do so. Why not give him the sane lati,
tude with reference to the Philippines.
Contemplating the 125 years of our na-
tons glory, we find but one impedimcnt
to progress and that was found in the
,ffn N int hn Tar
which was not assimilable with the
Anglo-SaXon. This race has been the
fly in our national ointment and the
occurrence has been most sad and tragic.
1t had the effect of turning brother
against brother and was the only ele-
ment that had prevented the Americans
from being a homogeneous people. Now
when we are happily beginning 70 read
Just ourselves to the changed conditions
after the Civil War we are challenged
to go forth and lay the heavy hand OF
sovereignty upon another and GAcr-
ent race. This would be most unwise.
.'You may change the leopard's spots.
Mr. Daniels said, s'but you cannot blot
out race characteristics. The Indian Of
125 years ago is the Indians Of today.
Difference beyond the subtle analysis Of
men UdNe put IEelit dSuHN1E anu tIit9
cannot be assimilated."
Mr.. Daniels also attacked the plan OF
acquisition as unwise strategically. A
separate navy would be necessary, ard
we should have to fortify the / 200
islands This meant millions upon rml-
lions of expense and an era of nf;iitar;sm
for the United States. The policy now
proposed to be entered upon was a call
to arms. A big standing army would
be the inevitable result. Mr.. Daniels
could see no reason for annexation.
Certainly there was no manifestation Of
friendship for the people of the Philip
pines in taking them in. He did not
accept the theory that it would be pleas
anter 10 the Filipinos TO be eaten up by
the big American nation than by any
other outside people
Mr.. Daniels said he never had heard
the Declaration of Independence or the
Constitution run down and belittled so
much as it had been in this debate. In
view of the statements made one might
be inclined to think it was not much Of
declaration or of a constitution after
all. He had never expected to be called
upon to defend the Declaration Of Inde
pendence in this hall, but he felt bound
to do so now. In the course of that
defense he said the Declaration of In
dependence had done more to mould
American institutions and to swing back
our affairs when they went wrong than
any other American utterance.
Mr.. Daniels defended the taking and
holding of Porto Rico, which he held
was one of the natural outposts Of this
country. But, he maintained if there
was a necessity for the taking of the
Philippines nobody had mentioned it.
i1e declared that through all the speech
es in favor of the treaty there runs a
vein of distrust. We are urged to wait
until the treaty is ratified before adjust
ing a policy for the islands, but the
policy he maintained, was wrapped up
in the treaty.
Further along he declared it was not
a question of hauling down the Ameri-
can flag. The flag was not Il fixture in
the Philippines. Once the treaty is rati-
fled the American flag staff would sink
to the center of the earth in those ISL
ands, and the stars as they broke to
the breeze would rise until they mingled
with the stars of heaven.
Peace is in this treaty" continued
Mr.. Daniel. THAT is a pleasing term
10 conJufe W1tn but are our friends who
favor this treaty certain it means
pcace?"
peace with Spain,'' he said, sis
assured of course. But inasmuch as we
We're acting for all time, the treaty ought
to be regarded carefully" He said the
treaty was easily amendable. 1t would
be necessary only to substitute for the
Philippines what had been done for Cuba
To this Spain would consent He main
tanned that if we should not bind the
United States by ratifying the treaty
we might yet do as we please with re-
spcct to the Philippines We would still
he masters of the situation, and the will
of the American people could be work
ed out by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives.
Mr.. Daniel asserted that the ratifica
ton of the treaty would nullify our i'm
migration laws. would admit to this
country as citizens under the Constitu
ton inhabitants Of the Philippine ISL
ands, and put the people and products
of the islands in direct and unrestricted
competition with our own goods and
workingmen
After quoting at great length from au-
thorities in support of his contention,