The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-25
The Missouri Senator Attacks
the Administration.
HOLDING PROVIDENCE RESPONSIBLE
For Forcing Our Government
Upon the Filipinos.

The following abstract of Senator
Vests speech on the army rcorganiza-
ton bill is taken from the Congressional
Record:
MIR. President, | have tried to bring
myself to the conclusion that il is my
duty to vote for an increase oi the army.
| have argued faithfully and earnestly
with myself upon that subject, and am
compelled to say that I do not believe
this war in the Philippines is for the
purpose OF enabling their people at any
time to determine the form of their own
government.
! believe as much as | believe am
now in the senate OF the United States
that the Philippines are being taken as
indemnity for the expenses OF this war.
and that they are to be held as the all
soutc property of this government. !
make no assertions upon my personal
knowledge; know the rules OF the sen
ate and the duties OF Il senator: il | do
not know them. never WILL but ask
the friends of this bill and the advocates
OF expansion to state now whether the
assertions in the public press, repeatedly
made by newspapers, which have never
agreed with me in regard to territorial
expansion and have, on the contrary.
assailcd me most bitterly for my posi-
ton, are true, that the president of the
United States tclegraphcd to Our com
missioncrs at Paris to take nothing less
than Luzon; that Porto Rico was worth
only $4ooooooo, and would not pay for
the expenses OF the war, and that it was
necessary to take the Philippines in or
der TO settle the account. Is it true or
is it false?
Mr.. Fryc-1t is not true
Mr.. Vcst-Was there not a dispatch
sent that nothing less than Luzon must
be taken?
Mr.. Fryc-Thc instruction OF the pncs-
iGcnt when we started was to take Lit
zon.
Mr.. Vcst-To take Luzon; was there
not a dispatch to the effect that Porto
Rico was worth only $4,000 600, and
would not pay the expenses OF the war?
Mr. Fryc-Thcrc was not, or any
thing OF the kind
Mr. Vcst-Was no mention made Of
Porto Rico in connection with indem-
nifty?
Mr.. Fryc--Not at ALL The senator
will pardon me. The senator has heard
read in executive session every telegram,
every cable, and every letter of instruc-
ton that passed between the president
OF the United States and the commits
sioncrs.
Mr.. Ncst--Mr. President, | make no
issue as to what | heard in executive
session. | stated what was published in
the impcrialst press OF this country, and
ii never has been contradictcd until the
senator from Maine says now that moth
ing was said in regard to any indemnity
in connection with the Island of Porto
| RicO. AS to what occurred in executive
session il can only be settled in one way;
that is, by making public to the people
of the United States what those dis
patches were. For the purposes of my
argument | content myself with the ad-
mission Of the senator from Maine that
the president did instruct his COM
mlssioncrs not to take anything less than
LuZon.
If that be so, then how does the prcsi-
dent in his Boston speech say that this
contingency has come upon lis as the
act OF God; that there has been no dis
position TO exercise the power of con-
quest; that the people of the United
States are called upon under an over
ruling Providence to dispose of rcspon-
sibilitics placed upon them by the acci-
dent OF battle? Why was nothing less
than Luzon to be taken? Why was
Luzon to be taken? If not as ndcm-
nifty, for what? II it was not to be the
property of the United States in any
contingency, why did the president in
struct the commissioners not to take
anything less than Luzon?
His cxcellcncy tells us now in his
Boston speech that he is mere instru-
mcnt OF Providence; that he cannot re-
strain himself in discharging the duty
which the fortune OF war has placed
upon him; that he, as the representative
OF this great republic, must deny to the