The record-union., 1899-02-28

diih, pay IlO AllUWdlcGS OIL a O0fO4ici,
ten Veterinarians, each with the rank,
pay and allowance OF a First Lieuten-
ant in the cavalry, and twenty Veter-
inarians, each with the rank, pay and
allowances of Second Lieutenant OF
the cavalry.
Vest antagonized the bill. He said
he did so with hesitation because Of It's
strong advocacy by his colleague, Cock
rell. He declared his belief that tne
war in the Philippines was not being
conducted with the idea of freeing the
Filipinos
Il believe" he said, "that this Gov
eminent is to take the Philippines as
an indemnity. It has been SO stated IN
the imperialistic press. But ask now
whether it is true that the President
photographed to our Commissioners 10
take nothing less than the island OF
Luzon, as Porto Rico was worth only
$40, 100000, and would not be a proper
indemnity for the, war. l now ask
whether such a dispatch was sent.
Frye-There was not.
Vest-Is the statement true or false
Frye-It is not true.
Vest-Was no dispatch to that ell
feet sent by the President to the Com
missioners?
Frye-Not to that effect.
Vest-Was there not a dispatch sent
that nothing less than the island OF
Luzon would be accepted?
Frye-The instructions of the Presi-
dent when we started out was to take
Luzon.
Vest-Was there not a dispatch that
Porto Rico was worth only S4O,OO0,OOO,
and that we must have Luzon for an
indemnity for the war?
Frye-Not a thing of the kind.
Vest-Was no mention made Of Porto
Rico not being a sufficient indemnity for
the war?
Frye-Not at ALL The Senator has
heard read in executive session every
telegram, cable and letter of instruc-
ton that passed between the President
and the Peace Commissioners.
Vest-The statement I have made was
published in the imperialistic press OF
the country, and it has never been con-
tradicted until the Senator (F'rye) con-
tradicts now.
For the purpose of my argument,
continued Vest, II content myself with
the statement that we were to take
nothing less than the island of Luzon-
If that be true, how is it that the Pres
ident said in his Boston speech that
this contingency has come upon us by
the act of Gcd? He says there has bean
no disposition to exercise the power OF
conquest; that the people of the United
States are called upon now under an
on,rlipotent providence to dispose of the
responsibilities placed on them by acct
dent of battle. If the island was to be
taken, why does he tell us that he is an
instrument of providence? I know OF
but one parallel of this scheme of Chris
tan philanthropy. 1t is to be found in
one of Dickens novels (Bleakhouse).
An eminent divine lays his hands upon
Poor Joe and says to him, Young man,
come with me and I will do you good
Let me alone cries the vagrant. Let
me alone Take your hands off me-
Tn solemn and sepulchral tones,
equal to those of my friend from Mon
tana Garter the reverend Mr.. Chad
band replied: Young man, I will not
take my hand from your shoulder. l
am a toiler and a moiler, and / intend
to do you in spite of yourself
49," continued Vest, sit is with the
President He places a hand on the
shoulder of the Filipinos, and says: I
am toiler and a moiler and l intend
to save you in spite of yourself and
he wants 100000 missionaries with
rifles to shoot his good resolutions into
them"
Vest said that all those who were OPP
posed to the plans of the Administra-
ton were denominated as traitors. but
he repudiated the charge with scorn.
IF spoken" he said, 'it is SANDER;
if written, a libel"
White of California spoke against the
bill and against the present policy in
the Philippines. To-day, he said, the
guns Of the Fflipinos were pointed
against us, and our guns We're pointed
against them. The President recog-
nized, he said, the seriousness of the
situation, as all thoughtful persons did.
It seemed that the Filipinos had been
saved from Spain only to be turned over
to another master. The principal ground
of their resentment was that no policy
had been outlined to them; an assur-
ance given them Of fair and just treat
ment.
White said he could not contemplate
the situation in the Philippines with
any other feeling than that of shame.
There was no possibility of assimilating
the Filipinos. The outlook was very
gloomy. He advocated the freedom OF
the people of both Cuba and the Philip
pines He agreed with Sewell that war
was likely with Cuba. Why, if we
were to give the Cubans their freedom.
were our armed soldiers anchored on
that island, how vain and visionary the
theories of men when behind it all is
the grim spectre of lucre?" he ex-
claimed Even this great republic
might reverse itself.
He had felt from the beginning that
the country was on the verge of ruin,
and he found in the pages of history
Justification for this apprehension, I'VE
claim" said he, '.to be a Christian,
civilized and progressive people, but are
we in earnest? Are we not about to
discard the emblems of peace and enter
upon the an era of contest? War may
come, but if it does come, it must be
freedom, to defend liberty and not a
war for conquest, if it is to receive my
yote?'
An amendment of Thurston striking
out the paragraph relating to the age
limit for the appointment of officers in
the provisional regiments was agreed
to.
Hawley offered as an amendment a
proviso of the fifteenth section author