The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-19
BACON WANTS A DECLARATION
Continued from First Page.

principle of the right of self government.
II is incredible, nay. impossible, that the
hberty-loving people of these United
States viii consent that by power of arms
the dominion of this government shall be
enforced upon a people who have owed
us no allegiance-who are struggling to be
free.
There is not a civil official of the gov
eminent who will admit that he fayors
such an act. There is not public man
in the country who will admit that he
favors the enslavement of a people. There
Is not a senator who would not Iepel the
charge if made against him. And yet
there are many who are advocating
course. the inevitable consequence OF
which, if successfully pursued, is TO ac-
complsh the enslavement of the people of
the Philippine Islands"
Wants an AvOwaI of 1t.
He quoted from the speech of Senator
Foraker the statement that 1t was not the
purpose to hold the Philippines permanent
ly. and said:
Il am especially glad to have the as
surance of the distinguished senator that,
of his own knowledge the position thus
stated by him is the position of the Presi-
dent of the United States. If that position
can be assured as the one which this gov
eminent viii take and adhere 20, there
will be little difference or. contention be-
tween us. The resolutions which / have
introduced, and the adoption of which /
am now advocating agree substantially
with the position announced by the sena-
cor from Ohio. What l desire, however,
IS that there shall be now an avowal of
this position by the law-making power
of this government in a joint resolution
of Congress approved by the President.
Pledges Were Made.
when we declared war against Spain
We also declared that we did not go to
war for our aggrandizement or for the
acquisition of territory We said that, on
the contrary, we went 80 war to make
good to the people of Cuba the title to
the independence and freedom, which all
recognized that as a people they had al
ready won, and TO secure for them the
establishment of a stable government. The
war has passed, and in a way almost mi
raeulols we " ere shielded from the great
sacrifice. There has been no foreign in
terventiOn, and there will be none. Not
only has there been no European inter-
ference as to Cuba, but 1t is a recognized
and conceded fact that we may without
hindrance from European governments
work our own will with the Philippine ISL
ands.
Now, what I 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 sub
stantially the same declaration relative
to the Philippine Islands that they have
made relative to Cuba"
Rights of the FiIipinOs.
Mr.. Bacon declared there was no diff
ference in the rights of the Cubans and
Filipinos and they should all be consid-
cred equal under the resolution adopted by
Congress, although che Philippines were
not in mind at the time of the declara-
ton OF war. He said our obligations to
the Philippines rested upon the alliance
of the Americans with the Filipinos dur
ing the war and added:
''But that alliance and cooperation did
put us under a strong moral obligation
not to make a peace with Spain which
did not include in its terms the sunder-
ing of the bonds which bound to her the
Philippine Islands. That obligation did not
grow out of the fact alone that the Philip
pines were in rebellion to Spain, because
we did not declare war TO correct ali the
wrongs inflicted by Spain on her colonies
We declared war only on account of
Cuba, and our obligation to the Philip
pines grew solely out of the accident of
war which threw us into cooperation and
alliance with these insurgents against the
dominion of Spain.
Islands should BE Free.
again we hear frequent and earnest
assertions that it is our duty to see TO
it that European nations do not appro-
pirate the Philippine Islands. Well, sir,
do not wish to see these islands be-
come the prey of the land grabbing ma
tons of Europe. l wish and hope to see
the inhabitants of the Philippines a free
and Independent nation They have the
territory and the population sufficient for
nationality. and they have shown their
readiness 10 fight for their freedom. I
hope that by negotiation or otherwise il
rnay be arranged and agreed among the
leading nations that they may remain a
free nation.
II am willing that the United States
shall through peaceful measures endeavor
to accomplish this result. But 1 am not
willing that the United States shall GO
TO war to protect the Philippines from he.
ing despoiled and appropriated by one or
more European nations No Asiatic com
munity is the ward of the United States
and TO no Asiauc community do the
United States owe the obligation of GUAR.
dianship. l am not Indifferent to the
welfare Of such communities. but am
unwilling that the treasure OF tbis GOV.
eminent shall he consumed ana the blood
of the American youth be poured ONT fo,
their protection. We have nobler uses
both for tho treasure and the young man.
hood of this country
Early Action Important.
81 am most deeply impressed with H.,
importance of the prompt announcement,
by this government of the declaratior
contained in these resolutions, thar tbe
United States do not intend to establtst
its dominion over the Philippine Islands
zone good result from such a deciora.
ton will, in my opinion, be the pronnn,
conclusion of all questions growing AM 81
the war with Spain.
Another and most important result will
be the immediate relief from the most m.
barrassing and threatening situation in IN,
Philippine Islands II is useless for ne ~
shut our eyes to the fact that the Ar,ari.
can and Philippine armies are confrontino
each other with danger of collision WIZ
is this? 1t is because the Fiipinos n,hy
fought Spain for their freedom do NOT IN.
tend to become the vassals of the Trnifed
States, and while senator's announce ON
this floor that there is no intention 10 i'm
pose this government upon an unwilIine
people, there are other utterances which