The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-26

had not waged war for a change of
masters. They had rejected with scorn
the high sounding manifestoes of the
president of the United States. They
preferred to be free. and they now
stood with arms in their hands un-
daunted, standing against the United
States for independence and liberty, as
they had stood against Spain.
A people with such stamina were
worthy of their freedom. Could it be
criminal aggression" to annex Cuba
and not criminal aggression" to annex
the Philippines? 1t was true the ma
tires were alien in race, language and
habits of thought and. therefore, the
whole scheme was to hold them as Spain
had held her colonies in times past, as
England holds hers snow-ruled over by
military satraps. They might not be as
capable as we for self-government said
Mr. johnson with biting sarcasm. They
might not be able to corrupt legislators
in order to hold dshonored seats in the
senate as we were. They might not be
able to decide contested election cases
according to the party considerations IN
stead of their merits. as we were. They
might not be able to practice fraud in
elections; they might be lacking in all
these essential attributes of republican
ism. but they were capable of CONSTITUTE
own ideas. All governments We're pro-
gressive and in time they would rise
on their dead selves to higher things
Mr.. johnson paid a high tribute to
Aguinaldo and to Agoncillo. whose let
ter to Secretary Hay had appeared in
the morning papers. That letter, he de-
clared, was the letter of statesman
and was worthy of a place in the arcn-
ives of any government. He referred
tn the 1ic Sinr7 r,raSi1art hoo
pointed to go to the islands and report
on the situation. 1T was not enough.
he said, that the commissioners should
be of high character, but they must be
without preconceived prejudices if the
truth was to be obtained.
>- Swayed by Opinion.
''If William Mckinley ever changes
his policy regarding the Philippines"
he declared in stentorian tones, "he will
bend to the weight Of popular opinion,
to which he bows, right or wrong
This utterance raised a storm of ap-
plause from the democratic side. Mr..
johnson requested that such interrupt
tons cease, as they took up his time.
Several times before he had made
similar request. t..
Il should imagine the gentleman
could tolerate democratic applause" in
terrupted Mr.. Henderson, rep, Iowa.
THE gentleman can always tolerate
the applause of honest men, no matter
whence it comes," replied Mr.. Johnson,
quickly.
AS the applause which greeted this re-
joinder died away, he added: "And
he can also tolerate the narrow censure
of those of his own party, as he has
done frequently in the past. He has
never been SO well satisfied with himself
as when his narrow colleagues We're cry
ing him down"
II pride myself. Mr. Speaker" he con-
tinued, drawing himself up to his full
height. that I have broadened since
entered public life. My party is q
means. not an end, with me: and when
believe my party is wrong. nothing
can make me abate my independent
convictions" (Great democratic APP
plause).
A Policy of Evasion.
Proceeding, he denounced the presi-
dents course as policy of evasion"
and charged that his supporters were
conjuring up spectres to drive in the
opposition. 1t was declared that our
failure to take the Philippines would
precipitate general European war,
that all the nations of Europe would
scramble for what we left, if we with
drew. He said he had seen no such
disposition except on the part of Ger
many, and she was actuated by the
example of our greed. If we set the ex-
ample and withdrew, recognizing the
independence of the Filipinos. others
would do likewise. But if other coun-
tries did pounce down upon the islands,
let them do it. We were not expressly
or implicitly responsible. If they did,
they would be but pursuing their ira
dltlons. Let us see that we do no
wrong. The evil was theirs. If there
was he said, to be a European war
let u.s. in Gods name, keep out of it.
The cry went up. "Ratify the treaty
and stop the war;" The president ar
rogated to himself the right to speak
for 100000 people.
Il thank God,' shouted Mr. johnson.
''for the spirit of independence in the
senate of the United States prospect
i've of party. Bryan never made a
greater blunder than when he said the
treaty should be ratified and our policy
determined afterward. Andrew Carne-
treaty should be fought in the dark.
not in the open. I say we should fight
it from start to finish. We should
meet this whole question at the thres-
hold and strange it to death. Public
sentiment should be aroused. 1t is be-
ing aroused, as evidenced by the great
public meetings in New York and Phil
SANAphio oAies AeaAS my WIN loI H. IL
will not be many months before the tide
of public sentiment which the president
vainly imagines Is now carrying him to
a second term will recede and leave him
high and dry. The voice of the people
will rebuke the spirit of commerce
which has supplanted the spirit of lib
erty.
"If the treaty is ratified without be-
ing coupled with resolution declaring
for the ultimate independence of the
islands, it will be the death knell of all
our efforts to stop the torrent"
He would vote for bill to reorganize
the army, but before God he would
never vote for standing army of
100000 men whose ultimate object was
to establish colonial system.
IF I were in the senate" he said, IT
would rot in my seat first; I would
scorn the demands of state legislature
and the clamor of the press. I would
let them malign my character and mis-
represent my motives-but / would
never swerve from what I believed to
be right"
The Cost of Expansion.