The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-03
AGUINALDO CAN FIGHT
HAS AN ARMY OF FORTY THOU
SAND MEN WHO ARE WELL
SUPPLIED WITH ARMS
Mr.. TILLMAN GIVES WARNING

Will Mean Struggle with the
FilipinOs That May Cost Many
Lives and Much Treasure-Sen-
atOr SpOOner Advocates Ratifica-
ton of Treaty In Set Speech.
WASHINGTON. Feb "A notable
speech was made in the senate today
by Mr. Spooner. of Wisconsin. He took
for his text the anti-expansion resolu-
ton offered by Mr.. Vest, but did not
confine himself closely to that proposed
declaration of policy. He discussed the
question Of expansion in all of its
phases, and urged the ratification of
the peace treaty as the best means of
bringing the burning question home to
the people themselves who, he said,
could well be trusted on their sober
second thought to do that which would
be fair, just and generous by the in
habitants of the Philippine archipelago.
Mr.. Spooner spoke for three hours.
MIR. SpOoner maintained that the
United States undoubtedly had the
power. as had previously been shown
in the senate, to acquire territory be-
yond our own domain, and with that
lateral authority to govern that ter
ritory. He knew. he said, Of no rea-
son why the people Of a territory should
not be governed by congress, as every
right of liberty, and trial by jury
would be fully safeguarded. He point
ed out that although the territory Of
Alaska did not enjoy self government,
its rights and those Of its people were
amply safeguarded by congress.
Mr.. Tillman. interrupting Mr.. Spoon
er. inquired: IF we accept the Phil
ippines would the inhabitants Of that
territory have the right to come with
out hindrance to this country"
Mr. Spooner-Yes, for the purposes of
argument. I am disposed to admit 1t.
Mr. Platt Conn. )-They have that
right now.
Mr.. Tillman inquired whether the IN
habitants of a territory could be pre-
vented from entering the states.
Mr.. Spooner said the senator from
Connecticut (Mr. PlatD was inclined to
believe they could be, but he himself
doubted it.
Mr.. Tillman further along pressed his
question as to the right of the Filipinos
to come here, and declared that by ad-
hitting the island by treaty l0,00o,OOO
people of that territory could take the
first ship for this country, and upon
arrival here could enter into competl-
ton with American labor. That was
the reason why he would vote against
the treaty.
Mr. Spooner ridiculed the idea that
distance could affect our right to &C
quire territory. Why was there no Cd
lection to the acquisition of Porto Rico
If there must be so much opposition
to taking the Philippines? The con-
sent of the Porto Ricans had not been
asked.
Mr.. Bacon replied that the circum-
stances were different because OF the
proximity of Porto Rico as the pres
ence of, Spain in either Of the West
Indian islands would be inimical to
the United States.
II thank the senator from Georgia
for the admission ne makes, repiieo
Mr. Spooner 1.-THE declaration of in
denendence is to be suspended in the
West Indies because 1t is in the inter-
ests of the United States
mo. not our interest, replied MT.
Bacon. "Our public safety, which IS
greater thar our interests, is aHecteo.
- FOR NATIONAL SAFETY. %
"O11r interests are included in our ma
tiona1 safety" said Mr.. Spooner. The
senator practically admits we Want
Porto Rico because we need it in our
business"
Mr.. Hale made the point that there
was a very sharp difference between
the two cases. The island of Porto
Rico could be considered as an In
demnity-a land Of some possible value
TO us. and not a detriment-an ever
blighting curse and woe to us, as would
be the Philippines. 1t was not con-
stitutional question, but question or
policy. Did not Mr.. Spooner see the
grave danger?
Responding lacon1cally, Mr.. Spooner
said he saw the danger.
Mr.. Hoar interrupted to say that he
made no distinction In the two cases.
He took the broad ground that we are
not justified in attempting to govern
any people without their consent.
In conclusion Mr.. Spooner said that
the ratification Of the treaty and the
acceptance by this country OF the ces.
sion from Spain was no declaration OF
principles. He declared that the Bacon
resolutions and all other pending reso-
lutions on this subject were rich with
mischief and ought not to be adopted.
T. was the business Of congress to leg
ielate and to follow the lines marked
out by the legislation and the will Of
the people.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Spooner' 8
al gument, MIR. I1llman sabine desired
to incorporate with Mr. Spooner's
speech some statements with respect to
Aguinaldo made in report by Maj. j.
F. Bell, of the engineering corps Of the
army.
Mr.. Spooner gave his assent to the In
sertion of the statements at the proper
place in his speech.
Mr. Tillman, however, insisted upon
reading them. He declared that Agui-
naldo had we'll armed force of 10000
men, and would resist every attempt
to re-establish a colonial government
in the islands
Interrupting Mr.. Tillman, Mr.. Hoar
inquired: Does not Aguinaldo hold
in peace and in order more than fifty
times as much territory in the Philip
pines as the United States?"
Mr.. Tillman replied that Aguinaldo
held all of the Philippines except a
small portion of the island Of Luzon,
around Manila.
In conclusion Mr.. Tillman said that
the ratification Of the treaty could only
inject into this country another race