The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-11
Consent of People
Necessary.
Mr.. MAS0N'S CLAIM.
A Notable Speech in the
Senate Yesterday.

Washington. Jan. Ex-senator Mason
of Illinois occupied the Senate for near
ly an hour and a half today with a
speech in support of his resolution de-
claring that the United States will
never attempt to govern the people of
any country without their consent. In
many respects the speech was one of
the most notable utterances in the Sen
ate thus far this session. Rugged in
language, pointed and effective in il
Illustration. Mr.. Mason commanded the
attention of the Senate and of the gall
leries from the first sentence of his
speech to the close. Several times
spontaneous applause swept over the
galleries, but under the stringent rules
of the Senate, 1t was quelled quickly. |
It was several minutes after the con- |
clusion of the speech before the Senate
could proceed with its business, on
account of the confusion incident to |
the congratulations which many of Ma |
sons colleagues fastened to extend to |
him. The Nicaraguan canal bill was
discussed by Mr.. Turley of Tennessee, |
who opposed the pending measures.
An agreement was reached to consider |
the bill on Tuesday, with Is minutes |
to discuss each amendment.
At the beginning of the session of the |
Senate, Mr.. Chandler of New Hamp- |
shire introduced Senate resolution for
the distribution of the appropriation |
bills. He stated that the text of the |
resolution was the same as that now
before the Senate committee on rules. |
He therefore asked that the presenta- !
ton be placed on the calendar, stat
Montana would move to take it up at
an early day.
Senator Mason then took the floor |
for his announced speech upon his res
olution declaring that all just powers |
Of the government are derived from the |
consent of the governed, and that the |
United States will not attempt to gov
eTn any people against their will. He |
said in substance:
For over 100 years every lover of lib |
erty has pointed to this sentence of the
Declaration of independence: That all |
just powers of government are derived
from the consent of the governed
In the light of this sentence crowns
have fallen into dust and the founda-
tons of republics have been laid. You
ask for expansion. See how we have
expanded in the time since this SEN
tence was written. Not only have re-
publics started up in place of monar-
chies, but monarchies have themselves
gradually broadened into constitution
al governments, getting nearer and
nearer to the voice of the people Our
own was the first greet republic, and
| in the better and broader sense our
| flag floats from the dome of every re-
public.
The other day, when the distinguished
senator from Massac husetts asked the
senator from Connecticut (PlatD what
he was going TO do with the sentence:
THAT all Just powers Of government
are derived from the consent of the
governed, he answered: From the
consent of some of the governed"
Mr.. President, when any great cause
which Is agitating the minds of the
people, needs for its defence such shall
low and un-American ones. it will not
live long in the minds of intelligent
people
The Philippine islander is begging to
treat with US for his own land. He ac-
knowledges our gallant service; there is |
no honest commercial treaty that an
honest nation could not ask that they
are not willing to consent to. They
want liberty, as we did, and when 7Ol
million people have heard their cry for
mercy and independence, the father
in New England will plead for the
father in Manila, the mother in Eli
| nois will pray for the poor mother in
the islands, brothers will vote as the
mothers pray, the poisoned views of sell
tishness will have had it's run, and God
help the party that urges war on the
native who defends only his liberties
and his home
Mr.. President have we got to fight
and plead for these people as we did
for Cuba? Are we to hear Aguinaido
and his followers called robbers and
cutthroats, as we heard of the brave
Garcia and his followers within the last
II months in this chamber? WHY not
make them our friends for ever, instead
of our enemies
But, Mr.. President We are told that
we must civiliZe them Which part of
our civilization shall we give them
first? Shall we show them how to run
municipalities with Doodle aldermen? T
see the chief of that great ethical So
ciety known as Tammany Hall saws
keep the islands: shall we send him TO
teach the untaught Filipino cleanliness
in municipal politics? Shall we teach
them 10 worship money or the man who
has it? Shall we have special instruct
ors to teach them to kill postmasters
and their wives and children because of
their compilations? Shall we have il
lustrations showing in large pictures
The works Of our mobs within the last
/ 20 days in North Carolina, South Caro-
| ma and Illinois? Shah we teach them
| now to organize trusts, so that one or
two men can raise the price of the
| necessities of life to all the people?
Shall we amend and print Lincoln's
| Gettysburg speech so that it will read
| "A government of all or the people. by
a part OF the people, FOR the few of
| the people,"
Gentlemen may say 7 belittle our
own institutions. Oh, no; l simply call
attention to the beam in our own eve.
to prevent, If possible, our breaking
our neck trying TO find the mote in the
eye of the Filipino, 10000 miles away.
| rave we the right to purchase SOW
! ereignty? And if we have such a rieht