Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-27
SSH CONGRESS-.
to be free and Independent said

(COntlnueQ from page ~
to be free and Independent said
Grosvenor
Grosvenor declared that the founda-
ton of all our trouble originated, May
/, 1898. He mentioned the desultory
discussion. in the press of Admiral
Dewey as the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency in 1900. And yet,
he said, it was Dewey who had got the
country into all this trouble. AT that
time, he continued, there was not
thought of the Philippines; there was
not one on this floor who knew within
a thousand how many islands were In
the archipelago. At that time, when
we had no thought of the philippines,
Dewey was instructed to find the Span
ish fleet and destroy or capture 1t.
The most brilliant page in our history
was the answer that splendid officer
and his men gave to these instructions.
But when he had executed his orders
he found himself powerless to get out
of Manila bay. Was there, he asked.
any one who would undo Manila and
tear those shining pages from the his
tory of his country.
our soldiers and sailors. officers and men.
and said that no one should stain, with
his consent their honor until proofs sr Were
tions of duty. (Applausel. He spoke feel
ingly of the Presidents difficult task dur
ing the III days of war and defied any
duty that he might have discharged; He
described his sleepless vigil with Adju-
tant General Corbin at his side. and paid
Gen. Corbin an exalted tribute which was
fad nv nOOr.
After the protocol was signed. Grosvenor
said, the President had sent to Paris a
peace commission which fully and grand
iy represented the best type of American
manhood. What had that commission
done which it should not have done?
The President had been criticized tor
purpose regarding the Philippines. Inc
President had never sought and never
would seek to usurp the authority l, 90 OF
matter for Congress to DECIDE: me
blood Of those who might be sacrificed q
the Philippines now: ne charged, would
the Presidents policy. The President had
nobly discharged his duty. when he found
himself by the accident of war in possess
sion of the Philippines.
IF we were in possession of the Philip
pines asked Terry, Dem. Ark, why
should we pay Spain $40 900 for them"
Grosvenor. "did We give to Mexico 3d.
100000 when she lay crushed under our
power?"
ANSWER my question"
my question answers yours
Proceeding, Grosvenor charged that the
present strained relations between the
American armies and the insurgents in
the Philippines was due to the moral sup
port they were getting in this country:
He described how Aguinaldo had burned
the proclamation of the President of the
United States and had shot to death those
who sought to print il.
"Aguinaldo was our ally, a few months
ago. interposed johnson, Rep, Ind.
''Why did he not remain our ally?" re-
piled Grosvenor. Benedict Arnold was
our ally also before he became a traitor
But for the course of events here. be-
campaign. continued Grosvenor. there
would, today, be peate and cooperation
In the Philippines. The expressions or
those who were supporting the admins,
tration encouraged the resistance Of
Aguinaldo and Ibis gang at Iloio, while
here in this Capitol Agoneillo was insult
ingly demanding of the President that he
define his position. He mad seen a letter
from Dewey read in New lork few
days ago in which Dewey said that if the
treaty was ratified. the insurgents Were
taught that they were not supported by
a great party in the United States, there
would be an end of strife and peace would
be established. CiroSVenor challenged any
one to deny: First, that the President had
not deviated from the course mapped out
10y Congress- second. that he had not
usurped any authority he was NOT COM
PEELED to assume: third, that the settle
ment Of the Philippines was II question
for the future
Hepburn, Rep, Ia, advocated the bill.
He said FIAT If the army was Increased TO
1000 it would not now be larger the
area. population and necessities OF the
United States considered. than the stand
ing army which Thomas jefferson sup
ported. He defended the course OF the
President relative TO the Philippines, ar
guing that we were now dealing with
situation created by Dewey, May ]. 1898.
He claimed there was no justification for
the reckless assertions that the admins
tration desired to permanently hold the
Philippines. They would be treated as
Cuba was to be treated. When the islands
were pacitied. when anarchy had been ex-
PEELED when the inhabitants had had an
opportunity to express their wishes ana
form government, then would be the
iime to SAIL away -,
Jet. Dem. Ill. a member of the mill
tary committee, vigorously attacked the
ity substitute. He was unalterably OPP
posed to the annexation OF the fhillp-
pines.
The other speakers at the afternoon
Simms, Dem. Tenn. in opposition to the
bill. an. Bromwell, Rep. Ohio. Tongue,
Rep. Ore, and Stewart. Rep, \. j.. in
support of it. AT o'clock, the House re-
cessed until o'clock.
At the night session the feature was an
hours speech by White Rep. n. G, the
only colored member of the House.
against election methods in the South.
Connolly. Rep, III, spoke in support OF
Vincent, Pop, Kan. Bartlett. DEM, Ga,
Lewis Dem, Ga, Kitchen. DEM. n. c..
Lamb, Dem, Va, and Maxwell: Pop
Neb in opposition to the bill At 1l.l3,
the House adjourned.
80 IN THE SENATE.