The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-11
SENATOR MASON OF ILLINOIS,
THE CHAMPION OF LIBERTY

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator
Mason of Illinois occupied the attention
of the Senate for nearly an hour and
half to-day with a speech in support of
his resolution declaring that the United
States would never attempt to govern
1.-The people of any country without their
consent. In many respects the speech
was one Of the most notable utteranceS
in the Senate thus far this session.
Rugged in language, pointed and effect
i've in illustration, Mr.. Mason com
manded the attention of the Senate and
galleries from the first sentence of his
speech to the apostrophe to liberty
which formed his peroration. Several
times shouts of applause swept the gal
leries, but under the stringent rules of
the Senate it was quelled quickly. He
began:
1t is easy to drift with the tide, but
It is rot always safe. The simple reso-
luton l have introduced has nothing
necessarily to do with any treaty, nor
do l intend TO speak Of any proposed
treaty.
ton of law, but it is a question as to the
future policy of the republic. l am will
ing to trust the people, and | want the
people to hear both sides of the case be-
fore the verdict is rendered. Do you say
am speaking for the Filipinos? Yes;
one word for them and two for ourselves,
The Filipino is beginning to treat with US
as TO his own land. He acknowledges
our gallant services; there is no honest
commercial treaty that an honest nation
could claim that they are not willing TO
consent to. They want liberty as we
did, and when 20 600 people have heard
their cry for mercy and independence the
father in New England Will plead Ior the
father in Manila, the mother In illnois
will pray for the poor mother IN the ISL
That we have so far assisted the Fill
Cd +n f1i
from them is true, but that taking pos
session in stress of war of part OF the
islands and driving the Spaniards out has
placed certain responsibilities upon US
cannot be denied. But L contend that
there is no more right or necessity OF
governing the Philippines than there Is
.araglla or any other South American
state, without the consent of the people.
Referring to the statement that the
Americans intended to give the Fill
pinos liberty, Senator Mason said:
How is liberty to be established? Is it
10 be done hypodermically with 13-inch
gun? Are not our men and shlps lying
off uoilo? Did not the natives who have
been our allies drive the Spaniards out!
Are they not in possession of their own
land? Their own homes! Are they guilty
country? Having worn the Spanish YOKE
so long do you wonder at their fear OF
ours? Shall we shoot them and burn their
homes because God Almighty has planted
in their hearts and to their lips the sweet
song of liberty? Forbid it. Almighty God
Gentlemen, you may say | belittle our
attention to the beam in our own eye to
prevent if possible, our breaking our
neck irving to find the mote in the eye
of the Filipinos, 10000 miles away.
Mr.. Mason occupied the attention OF
the Senate an hour and twenty min
utes. His keen sallies and unconven-
tional but forceful style Of oratory held
the attention of his hearers throughout
.. At the conclusion of Mr.. Mason's
speech he was accorded the unusual
compliment in the Senate of cordial
CONGRATULATIONS from many Of his col
leagues and members of the House OF
Representative who had heard the
speech Mr.. Kyle Of South Dakota Sc
cured the passage of a bill for the con-
struction of a bridge across the Mis-
souri, River at Oacoma, S. D.
At the request of Mr.. Morgan the
Senate unanimously agreed to the limi-
tation of the debate on the Nicaragua
canal bill to fifteen minute speeches
after 8 o'clock next Tuesday.
Mr.. Turpie was then recognized tC
speak on the Nicaragua canal bill. He
announced himself as an advocate Of
a canal but said that he was opposed tC
the pending bill. He based his objec
tions largely upon the fact that the
Clayton Bulwer treaty was in full force
at the present time.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Turley'!
speech a bill was passed directing thu
President TO appoint Paymaster Gen
eral H T. Stanton a major general anC
retire him at that grade.
The Senate then, at o'clock, on mo
'tion Of Mr.. Morgan, went into executive
session. At Ais adjourned.