The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-26
johnson Pours Hot Shot Into the
Administration.
THE PHILIPPINE POLICY
Everything Pointed to Annexation-A
High Tribute to Aeuinaldo and
Agoncillo-McKinley the Play
thing Of Public Opinion

such an exhibition of excitement and
such scenes of unbounded enthusiasm
as occurred to-day, when two repub-
fcans, Mr.. johnson, the Indiana MEM
Der, and Mr. Dolliver of Iowa locked
horns on the question of expansion
The army bill, which was under debate,
was swallowed up in the broader 1ues-
ton Of our future national policy and
the debate was lifted from the dead lev
Ell of mediocrity into absolute brilliancy.
Mr.. johnson secured time for the DEM
ocratfc side to attack the position of
the administration. 1t was not the first
time he has broken away from his par
ty on public questions. On past occas-
IONS he has won a reputation as mas
ter of invective and the knowledge that
he was to speak had attracted an enar-
NOUS crowd to the galleries. To-day
he added to his reputation With satire,
1rony and wit, the keen thrusts IF his
logic were driven home His words
flowed in a perfect torrent. He de-
nounced the proposition to annex the
Philippines as subversive of every ira
ditlon dear to the American heart in
the past and in the Inauguration of a
policy that would end in the downfall
of the republic. He said the rati;ica-
ton of the treaty by the senate would
sound the death knell of all the efforts
of those who were trying to prevent the
country from rushing on to suicide cnd
declared that If he were a senator he
would rot in his seat before it should
be ratified He denounced the presi-
dent as the slavish follower of public
opinion, but warned him that the tide
NIni fla
pie would in time rebuke. Members
stood in the aisles 10 deep while he was
speaking, but he tried to stop the APP
plause which continually broke out
from the democratic side. For almost
two hours his words poured forth
When he had finished Mr.. Dolliyer
came to the defense of the admins
tration. One of the ablest debaters and
perhaps the most eloquent member of
the house, Mr.. Delivers reply set the
republicans wild with enthusiasm. He
described how the president had been
fairly driven into war by those who
sought to nlbarrass him before peace
was definitely obtained, and his eulogv
OF the president patiently meeting all
the perplexing problems which besat
him as the great events of the year
moved on, aroused his side and the gal
1erfes to cheers. These rang out again
and again when he paid an eloquet rib
ute to Admiral Dewey and broke out
in renewed volume when he declared
that the course of some members at
both ends of the capitol was almost
reasonable"
But the highest pitch of excitement
was reached when Mr.. Johnson and
Mr.. DolliVer got to close quarters to-
ward the end of the latters speech
Mr.. johnson pressed the defender of
the administration to disclose the pres
Is nj fir1on 10
Philippines, but Mr.. Dolliver, for some
time, adroitly evaded direct response.
At last he contented himself with de-
clarlng that this was not the point at
issue, that the first thing was to end
the war by ratifying the treaty. The
future of the Philippines was a aues-
ton for the future. 1t was in every re-
spect a remarkable debate.
The house to-day resumed the de-
bate on the army reorganization bill
Saturday, Feb. IS, was set aside for the
delivery of eulogies on late Representa-
tive Northway of Ohio. Gibson, rep,
Tenn, was the first speaker to-day
bill.
In the course of his remarks he ar
gued that it was too soon for us to
decide upon permanent policy re-
garding the Philippines. Our present
policy should be delayed until we had
Aioi ou5liiS liSSSllSdteu the S1tudt1On
Mr.. johnson, rep, Ind, then took the
floor in opposition to the bill. AS he
arose the democrats applauded and
squared themselves around in antici-
patton of some sensational utteranees.
While the president in the presence
OF what ne may conceive to be pop
ular demand" he began, sis hurrying
the army and navy across the seas to
lnf1ict upon an alien people a govern
1nent against their will, I propose fear
lessly. without regard to its effect upon
my personal fortunes, to make a plea
for liberty and an argument against the
perpetuation of Injustice
We were on the verge of a crisis,
said Mr.. Johnson Those who failed
to rush forward in support of the
schemes of the imperialists were be-
ing denounced here and in the public
press as 'Spaniards' and men who
failed to do their duty
His answer was that if the chief
executive would break his silence and
openly state that we did not propose
to enslave the people of the Philip
pines, his word for it the present
strained relations in the islands would
cease, those who were but Yesterday
our allies would return to their homes
and there would be no necessity for
this proposed increase in the standing
army.
Patent Facts.
No. this would not be done. What
meant this hasty disavowal of Sena-
tor Foraker's statement that tho ad-
ministration had no intention of hold
ing the islands permanently? If the
administration did not mean to hold
the Philippines what meant this clam
or of the administration press. Why
had the presidents commissioners de-
manded the absolute cession of the ISL
ands instead of simply demanding their
evacuation, as he did in the case of
Cuba? Why did not Senator Davis,
who was in charge of the treaty in the
senate, agree to allow the passage of
resolution disavowing the govern
ment's purpose to hold the islands per-
manently? These were patent facts
which could not be lodged. They must
be faced squarely. Everything point
ed in one direction-the annexation of
the Philippines. Continuing, he drew a
parallel between our revolutionary
struggle and the struggle of the Fill