The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-26
viii be Taken on Monday
Sixth of February.
ARMY BILL IN THE HOUSE
JOHNSON'S SPEECH AGAINST
EXPANSION.
WILDLY APPLAUOeO BY DEMOCRATS
Mr.. Johnson Compares Phi ippine Struggle for
independence With Our 0wa During
the Revolution. Points out tvilS
of Colonial System.

the Revolution. Points out tvils
of Colonial System.
Washington, Jan. 25.-The Senate
consumed forty-five minutes in execu-
tive session today in arriving at decis-
ion to vote on the Peace treaty. As soon
as the doors were closed Senator Davis,
chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, announced that he was au-
thorized by the committee to accept the
proposition made in executive session
by Senator German yesterday to vote
on the treaty within ten days. He there
fore asked for unanimous consent that
the vote should be taken at 3 o'clock
on Monday, February 6, saying that eX-
actly ten legislative days would inter-
vene between this time and that. He
intimated that if there were any OBJ
iections to this date he would like to
hear them, but none We're heard, and
the hour and the day were unanimously
agreed to. There was an agreement
that the Senate should go into execu
tive session each day between this time
and February 9th for the discussion of
the treaty.
The opposing Senators made no obJec
tion to the date. neither suggesting an
earlier nor later one.
MIR. JOHNSON'S SPEECH.
Washington, Jan. 25.-The House to-
day resumed the debate on the army
reorganization bill.
Mr. Gibson, rep. Tenn), was tlle
first speaker He advocated TIE passage
of the Hull bill.
Mr. Johnson, (ReD. Ind). than took
the floor in opposition to the BILL As
lie arose the Democrats applauded and
members squared themselves around III
anticipation of some sensational utter
ance
while the President, in the presence
Of what he may conceive to be popu-
lar demand" he began, i'is hurrying the
army and navy across the seas to IN
fict upon an alien people Government
against their will. | propose fear'essly
without regard to its effect upon MY
personal fortunes to make a plea for
liberty and an argument against the
perpetration of injustice.
I'VE were on the verge of crisis.
said Mr.. Johnson, those who failed TO
rush forward in support of the schemes
of the imperialists were being denounced
here and in the public press as Span
iards' and men who failed in their duty.
His answer was that if the Chief
Executive would break his silence and
openly state that we did not propose 10
enslave the people of the Philippines,
his word for it, the present strained re-
lations in the islands would cease. those
who were but yesterday our allies would
return to their homes and there would
be no necessity for this proposed in
crease in the standing army. No, this
would not be done. What meant this
hasty disavowal Of Senator Foraker's
that the Administration had no inten-
ton of holding the islands permanently! !!
Ii the Administration do not mean to
hold the Philippines what meant this
clamor of the Administration press?
Why had the Presidents commissioners
demanded the absolute cession of the
islands instead Of simply demanding
their evacuation as they did in the ease
of Cuba? Why did not Senator Davis,
who was in charge of the treaty in the
Senate agree to allow the passage of
resolution disavowing the Governments
purpose to hold the islands permanently
These were patent facts which could
not be lodged They must be faced
squarely. Everything pointed in one di-
rection-the purpose to annex the Phil
ippines?."
Continuing. he drew a parallel between
orr revolutionary struggle and the struS-
gle the Filipinos made for independence.
He argued that to-day they had stable
Government, Republican i'll form, n
President, a Vice President and Con
grcss, the whole founded upon the free
consent Of the governed. To attempt to
subyert that Government he charged.
would be an "unspeakable crime thar
should bring the blush of shame to the
cheek Of every free born American.
Proceeding he denounced the Presi,
dents course as a policy of evasion
and charged that his supporters were
conjuring up specters to drive IN the
opposition.
If we set the example and withdraw,
recognizing the independence of the
Fiipinos, others would do likewise But
if other countries did pounce upon the
islands. let them DO it, We We're not
expressly or impliedly responsible. If
there was To be n European war let MS,
in Gods name, keep out of it. The cry
went up, 'ratify the treaty and stop
the war" The President arrogated to
himself the right TO speak for 10000. 900
people Il thank Cod shouted Mr..
Johnson, "for the spirit of independence
in the Senate of the United States, irrc-