The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-19
PLEA FOR FAIR PLAY
MIR. BACON ASKS THE REPUBLIC
ANS TO STAND BY THEIR
PROMISES
FREEDOM FOR THE FILIPINOS
II the United States Does, Not In
tend to Hold the Islands, Urges
the Georgia Senator, There Can
Be No Harm in Congress Adopt
ing Resolution to- That Effect
Canal Bill Vote.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1S.-The feat
ure Of today's session Of the senate
was speech delivered by Mr.. Bacon
(Dem.. Ga) in support Of his resolu-
lions declaring that the United States
would not assume sovereignty over the
4nlllpplne islands. Mr.. Bacon is one
OF the orators of the senate. and as he
gave himself free rein, not combining
himself to manuscript. he spoke strong
ly and pointedly. His peroration, In
which he pictured some Of England'S
methods of controlling her colonial
subjects, was beautiful and forceful
bit OF word painting. Mr.. Bacon said:
VI all the great powers Of the earth the
eovernment OF the United States is the only
self-government. When they abandon in
practice this principle. when they impose
tnelr dominion upon an unwilling people, in
hand upon the great dial of the clock Of the
world will have been set back 100 years. It
Is not to be believed that the government Of
the United States will, with full appreciation
of the nature and the consequences Of the act
mus violate the principle of the right Of
self-government. 1t Is incredible, nay, i'm
possible that the liberty loving people Of these
United States will consent that by power of
arms the dominion of this government shall
be enforced upon people who have owed us
no no allegiance-who are struggling to be free
ment who will admit that he favors such an
act There is not public man in the country
ment of people. There is not senator who
would not repel the charge If made against
him. And yet there are many who are adyo-
eating a course the Inevitable consequence of
which. If successfully pursued, Is to. accomp-
llsh the enslavement of the people Of the
Philippine islands,
He quoted from the speech of Sena-
tor Foraker the statement that it was
not the purpose to hold the Philippines
permanently and said:
Il am especially glad to have the assur-
ance OF the distinguished senator that of his
own knowledge the position thus stated by
nim Is the position of the president of the
United States. If that position can be as
sured as the one which this government will
take and adhere to, there will be little differ
ence or contention between US. The resolu-
IONS which have introduced and the adop-
ton of which I am now advocating agree
substantially with the position announced by
the senator from Ohio What 1 DESIRE how
ever, is that there shall be an avowal
OF this position by the law-making power of
this government in a joint resolution OF
congress approved by the president. If it
islands to our dominion, II on the contrary
it is our purpose, at the proper time to
recognize an Independent government in those
islands, and to leave them to the control of
their own people, SO soon as proper settle
ment can be had. and proper guarantees for
the future be assured, then such purpose
solemn and conclusive manner.
NO WAR OF CONQUEST.
when We declared war against Spain, we
also declared that we did not go to war for
our ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or for the acquisition of
territory. We said that. on the contrary,
we went to war to make good to the people
of Cuba the title to the independence and
freedom which all recognized that as peo-
pie they had already won, and to secure for
them the establishment Of a stable govern
ment. The war has passed, and in a way
almost miraculous we were shielded from
great sacrifice. There has been no foreign
intervention. and there will be none. Not
only has there been no European interference
as to Cuba, but it Is a recognized and con-
ceded fact that we may, without hindrance
from European governments, work cur own
will with the Philippine islands.
Now, what wish to accomplish by these
resolutions is that the United States shall,
in this hour of victory. in this hour of
undisputed physical power, make the
declaration in relation to the Philippines
that they have made to Cuba"
Mr.. Bacon said that the Filipinos
were enormously spoken of in dis
patches as rebels and insurgents, and
declared these were not fit terms, as
they were not rebels against Spain,
and could not be called rebels against
the United States. Mr.. Bacon then en-
tered upon an argument against the
annexation of distant tea itory with a
dense population of an alien and in
ferior race. He urged the point that
the Philippine islands. so far from be-
ing an element Of strength, would,
from their distance, necessarily be the
weakest point if it became part Of the
United States; that in case of war, our
enemy would strike us there, just as
we struck Spain there. because it was
her weakest point. He concluded by
urging that the American people had
10 Io ~,
country. which. exclusive OF Alaska,
was ample for population of 300, 000,-
900, and in developing our own re-
sources there was enough to task the
energies and inspire the hopes Of our
people for centuries to come.
Mr.. Bacon spoke for an hour and q
half. and commanded the attention Of
the senate and a large audience in the
galleries throughout.
Monday next he would address the
senate on the Vest anti-expansion res
olution.
CANAL BILL TAKEN UP.
The Nicaragua canal bill was laid
before the senate, and the substitute
for the pending measure offered yester-
day by Mr. Caffery Na) was read. Mr..
Caffery addressed the senate briefly in
SuppOIl VI Lie substitute.
Mr.. White advocated the passage of
the pending bill. although he favored
the elimination of the Maritime Canal
company from the project. He pre-
sented many arguments i'll support Of
the general canal project, pointing out
many Of the advantages that would
accrue to the people Of California and
of the Pacific coast from the construc-
ton of the canal. He thought that
when the senate sent the Morgan bill
to the house decisive and most adj
vantageous step would have been TAX
en- towards the construction of the en-
terprise.
Mr. Teller said he would vote for the
substitute offered by Mr.. Caffery, as
he believed there was a better pros
pect for the construction of the canal
under the provisions Of the substitute
than under those of the Morgan bill.
He urged. however. that congress wait
until the vast engineering difficulties
presented by the canal were solved be-
fore anything definite was done.
Mr.. Caffery then withdrew his mo-
ton for the indefinite postponement of
the Morgan bill.
Mr.. Morgan moved to lay the CAT
ferry substitute on the table. The mo-
ton was carried. 30 to %. as follows;
Yeas-Aldrich, Allison. Bacon, Berry, Chill
ton. Clay, Davis. Deboe. Foraker. Ga,linger.
German, Gray, Harris, Hawley, Hatfield,
Jones (Ark.), Kenny, Kyle. Mcbride, Morgan.
Nelson, Perkins. Pettus. Platt Comm. Plat
IN. Y.) Pritchard. Ross. Shoup, Simon, Sui
Ivan, Turner, White-32.
Nays-Bates, Burrows, Gallery, Daniel, Ell
kins. Fairbanks Gear, Hanna, Hansbrough,
Hoar. Lindsay, Lodge, McEnery., Mcmillan,
Mason. Money, Rawlins Roach. Teller, Thur
TiI1man V6St-22