The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-19
PLEA FOR SELF
GOVERNMENT
Bacon Against Force Rule for
The Philippines.
WAR BEGUN FOR FREEDOM
SHALL IT END IN A STRUGGLE
FOR TYRANNY.
OUR OBLIGATIONS TO TIE FILIPlN0S
Colonial Policy Would Lead TO Bloody Wars
and Creation Of an Enormous Stand
ing army. Western Continent
Enough for our Needs,
Enough for our Needs.

Enough for our Needs.
Washington, Jan. 1S-The feature of
to-day's session in the Senate was
speech delivered by Mr.. Bacon (Dem.
Ga), in support of his resolutions declar-
ing that the United States would not
assume sovereignty over the Philippine
Islands Mr.. Bacon is one of the orators
of the Senate, and as he gave himself
free rein, not combining himself to notes,
he spoke strongly and effectively. His
peroration in which he pictured the hor-
rors of some of England's methods of
controlling her colonial subjects was
beautiful and forceful bit of word paint
ing.
Mr. Bacon said in part:
'Of all the great powers of the earth
the Government of the United States is
the only one that contends for .igll-, III
all people, of self-goyernment When
they abandon in practice this principle.
when they impose their dominion on an
unwilling people, in the majestic march
OF free institutions, the hand upon the
great dial of the clock of the world
will have been set back an hundred
years.
1T is not to be believed that the Gov
ernment of the United States will. with
full appreciation of the nature of the
consequences of the act. thus violate the
principle Of the right of self-government.
il is incredible, nay impossible, 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 Il people who
have owed us no allegiance-who are
struggling to be free.
There is not a civil official of the
Government who viii admit that he fa-
vors such an act. There is not a public
man in the country who will admit that
he favors the enslavement of a people
There is not Senator who would not
repel the charge, il made against him.
And yet there are many who are adyo-
eating a course, the inevitable conse-
quence of which, if successfully pursued
is to accomplish the enslavement of the
people of the Philippine Islands,"
He quoted from the speech of Senator
Foraker the statement that it was not
the purpose to hold the Philippines per-
manently, 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 President Of the United States. If
that position can be assured as the one
which this Government will take and
adhere to, there will be little difference
or contention between us. The resolu-
tions which / have introduced, and the
adoption of which | am now advocating
agree substantially with the position an
nounced by the Senator from Ohio
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 substantially the same declaration
relative to the Philippine Islands that
they have made relative to Cuba
Mr.. Bacon declared there was no DIFF
ference in the rights of the Cubans and
iNiIipinos. and they should all be con-
sidered equal under the resolution adopt
ed by Congress, although the Philippines
We're not i'll mind at the time of the
declaration of war. He said our obliga-
tions to the Filipinos rested upon the
alliance of the Americans with the Fill
pinos during the war, and added:
But that alliance and cooperation
did put us under strong moral obiga-
ton, not to make a peace with Spain
which did not include in its terms the
sundering of the bonds which bound TO
her the Philippine Islands. That obli-
CATION did not grow out of the fact
alone that the Filipinos were in rebellion
against Spain, because we did not de-
clare war to correct all the wrongs infiict-
ed by Spain on her colonies. We declared
war only on account of Cuba. and our
obligation to the Filipinos grew solely out
Of the accident of war which threw us
into cooperation and alliance with these
insurgents against the dominion of Spain.
Il am most deeply impressed with the
Importance of the prompt announcement
by this Government of the declaration
contained in these resolutions that the
United States do not intend to establish
ITS dominion over the Philippine Islands.
"One good result from such a declara-
tion will, in my opinion, be the prompt
conclusion of all questions growing ont
OF the war with Spain.
'AnOther and most important result
will be the immediate relief from the
most embarrassing and threatening sit
uation in the Philippine Islands. Ii is
useless Sor us to shut our eyes TO the
fact that the American and Philippina
armies are fronting each other with
danger Of collision. Why is this? IT is
because the Filipinos, who fought Spain
for their freedom do not intend to be.