The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-15
ON THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
RESOLUTION INDICATES WHERE
DEMOCRATS STAND.

willing to Give FiIipinos Indepen-
dence, If They VIII Establish n
Firm Government and Pay Back
the 100000. .OO0-NIust Also Give Us
a Naval Station-PrOtectIon for Ten
Years, IL They win Pay All the
Expenses.
Washington, Dec. 1.-two Joint resolu-
tlons were introduced in the House to-day
by Representative Williams of Mississippi
which are the result of consultation
among a number of Democratic leaders
in the House, and are understood to be
expressive Of their general position on the
Philippines.
The text of the first resolution is as fol-
lows
Whereas. the hope has been held out
that the Filplnos, now waging war
against the forces of the United States in
the Island of Luzon, would lay down their
arms, If authoritatively assured that It
was the intention of the government and
the people of the United States ultimately
to grant to the people of that island their
independence and the absolute control of
their domestic affairs; and
Whereas, such is the intention of the
government and of the American people,
who do not believe IN wars of conquest or
criminal aggression against other peoples,
and have frequently declared their horror
thereof, now, therefore, be 1t
Resolved, by the Senate and House Of
Representatives in Congress- assembled:
Section /. That II has always been our
intent and purpose to recognize the In
alienable right of the Filipnos 10 self
government and national independence, and
that in pursuance thereof, we shall make
formal recognition of these rights and
withdraw our land and sea forces upon
the establishment of peace and the inau-
guration of constitutional government,
or governments, by the people of the ISL
ands or any OF them, provided, the sad
government agrees, or the said govern
ments agree, TO refund the $50 O0O 900 which
was paid by us TO the Queen of Spain; to
give us in fee simple with right Of SOW
ereignty vested in us, a place suit able for
a naval station and other places fitted
| for coaling stations and TO grant the
| American people in perpetuity the right
| OF free access to all of their poris for
goods, merchandise and persons bent on
peaceful or missionary pursuits
Sec. 2. We pledge our friendly assist
ance and counsel In their work or in
augurating such a government.
Sec. 9. We pledge ourselves to treat as
an uhfrendly nantes ation towards the
| United States any foreign interference or
| aggression for the period of ten years
| from and after the establishment of such
| a government, provided, that the govern
mcnt ard re0ple Of sad is.an9s shaH sur
render into our keeping, dur ng thai pc
rod the entire question of their relations
and shall pay the expense to which we
may be put for such troops as shall. at
| the request of said government be kept on
| Philippine territory and of such ships and
naval forces as may be kept in the Phil
| ipp nes or adjacent waters fer the purpo. es
of the protection herein promised"
The other resolution recites the constl-
| tuticnal provisions against slavery and in
voluntary servitude, asks for Information
relative to the conclusion Of IA treaty
with The Sultan Of JoIo and provides for
an inquiry by the judiciary Committee as
! to whether The constitutional proVis ons
| against slavery and the statutory provs-
| ions against polygamy apply 10 the Sulu
people.