Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-24
TRUSTS THE PEOPLE
Senator Lodge Urges Ratification of
the Peace Treaty.
TAKE THE PHILIPPINES FROM SPAIN
Their Future Can Be Determined
Later.
y QUESTION OF POLICY

As Mr. Lodge (Nazs) about to take
tL,. floor to deliver his speech upon the pol
icy of expansion, in the Senate this after
noon his colleague, Mr.. Hoar, noted the
absence of a quorum. a roll call developed
the presence of forty-seven senators.
Mr.. Lodge began:
Mr.. President in connection with these
solutions. and others which have been
introduced two questions have been raised
one of constitutional law and one of public
policy. 1t is not my purpose to enter at
any length into the former discussion.
Constitutions do not make people; peo-
PIE make constitutions. Our Constitution
i great and admirable, because the men
who made it were 50. and the people who
ratified it and have lived under it were and
are brave intelligent and lovers Of liberty
There is a higher sanction and a surer pro-
lection to life and liberty. to the right of
speech and trial by jury. to justice and hui
mainly. in The traditions, the beliefs, the
habits of mind and the character of the
American people thar any which can be
afforded by any constitution. no matter
how wisely drawn. If the American peO-
pie were disposed To tyranny, injustice and
oppression a constitution would offer but
Il temporary barrier to their ambitions. and
the reverence for the Constitution and for
law and justice grows out of the fact that
The Anne rican people believe in freedom and
humanity in equal Justice TO all men. and
in equal rights before the law: and while
they So believe the great doctrines of the
Declaration of Independence and of the
Constitution will never be i'll peril.
Holding these views as to our constitu-
tinraI powers. the great question now be-
fore the American people resolves itself in
Ey mind. to one policy purely. There is
uuly one question demanding actual and
immediate decision now before Congress
aud the people. and that is. whether the
treaty with Spain shall be ratified not.
Il have heard no opposition expressed to
any part of the treaty except such portion
az it as relates TO the Philippines. and
that, therefore. is the sole point upon which
! desire to touch
Rejection of the Treaty Supposed.
Mr.. Lodge continued: Suppose we re-
iect the treaty or strike out the clause
lating 10 the Philippines. That will hand
the islands back to Spain: and 1 cannot
conceive that any American should be will
ing - do that. Suppose we reject the
treaty: what follows? Let us look at it
practically We continue the state of war,
and every sensible man in the country, ev-
cry business interest. desires the re-estab-
li~hment of peace in law as well in fact.
Al the same time repudiate the Presi-
dent and his action before the whole world,
and the reputation of the President in
such matter as this is. to my mind, the
humiliation of the United States in the
tNr~ OF tlNllZet MANKIND. ana brdnuS Us
as a people Incapable of great affairs or
rf taking rank where we belong. one
of tn, greatest Of the great world powers.
The protocol is but the agreement of
tho man1Fr-in-c When the treaty
tails. it could be torn 10 pieces. But
whether it is thrown aside or not, still We
are III sta-e OF war. and the subjects of
81 ain. among whom are numbered today
the FiiipinoS. would be the enemies of the
United States by all the laws of nations.
There. then would be the President with
the country at Wai with Spain. armed with
the war power. which he can use uncheck-
al a. the -chief of the army
ana navy The treaty commits the DISPOSE
tiuu oI the Philippine Islands 70 Congress
and To the ways and practices of peace.
It's rejection leaves them in the sole power
cf the President. subject TO the usages
and practices of war alone.
The Declaration of Independence.
There has been a great deal said Mr..
President. about the Declaration of indie
r-uIeuce and its principles and about con-
science and morality. I am sure, Mr..
President. that there is n senator upon
this f1or no matter what his views on
jEi- question may n, who would not cut
oft his hand sooner than I've false TO the
principles of the Declaration Of Indrpen-
nee and 70 the great traditions and ideals
DT American history. but / do not believe,
Mr.. President. that devotion to the Decla-
ration Of independence is confined 10 the
minority of this chamber any more than
believe that they have monopoly of con-
science or Of morals
To the American people and their gov
,rumcl.J | am ready 10 intIust my life my
liberty. my honor; and what is far dearer TO
mo than anything personal To myself. the
lives and liberty of my children and my
cljIdryu's children If | am ready thus
To trust my children to the government
which the American people create and sus-
Tain, am | to shrink from intrusting to
that -.tmr people the fate and fortune OF
The Inhabitants Of the Philippine Islands?
4 can look at this question in only one
- ay. \ great responsibility has come to
us II Ne are unfit for it, and unequal to
s.. then We should shirk il and fly from
f. But I believe that We are both fit and
'fDai'le. and that therefore We should meet
j. and take 1t up-
Commerce and Trade.
There is much else involved here. COM
mvreial and trade interests. which 1 be-
love we have a right TO guard and duty
q foster. But the opponents Of the treaty
have placed their opposition on such high
AMI aliruistic grounds that 1 have pre-
ferred 10 meet them there. ard not to dis
cU>s The enormous material benefits to our
tTtd' our industries and our labor depend
cnt upon a right settlement OF this question
both directly and indirectly.
Future of the Philippines
Il want to get this country out of the
var and back to peace. l want to take the
disposition and the control Of the Philip
pines Uut of the hands Of the war power
.,"' place them where they belong, in the
hands of the Congress and of the President
! want to enter upon a policy which shall
'...aHf' rs To- give peace and self-g0vern-
mont 4" the natives Of those islands The
t']"cH"n 81 the treaty makes all these
lh'iEs impossible ana the delay in its rati-
hHtiipu retards them II | did not have
latin ~ the American people and this gov
eminent. | would do my best to prevent
iH' ratification of the treaty and | can
81" other ground Of opposition. But as I
nave a profound faith in both 1 want To
TAX" those islands from Spain in the only
NsN Whlca II can be done by the ratifica-
l."H or the treaty. and then leave it TO the
fir~itfnt-wise, human, patriotic-to the
American COngr ess. and to the America n
lF"p-'r VINO have never failed in any grea I
ouiy or feared TO face any great respon-
stIhtH 10 deal with them in that spirit
a. Justice. humanity and liberty which has
ii'"l'su us all that We are today or can ever
hop" To be
Mr. Lodge spoke for only half an hour.
ltlS delivery was forceful and earnest and
ms address held the attention of both SEN
ai'rN and occupants OF the galleries
throughout.
Mr. Teller on the Constitution.
h