The record-union., 1899-02-01
This County's Policy to Be Pursued In the
Philippine Islands.
Lively Debate Precipitated by Ba-
cons Attempt to Secure a Vote
Upon His Resolution Declaring
That the United States Will Not
Make War Upon People Seek
ing for Their Freedom.


policy of this country to be pursued in
the Philippine Islands. Berry of Arkan-
sas, in a speech upon the resolution Of
fered by Vest, discussed the policy of
expansion without reference to the con-
stitional point involved in the Vest res
oiutions to the pending treaty of peace.
to place upon amy people a policy
against which Lee fought, and against
which Jackson gave up his life.
An attempt by Bacon of Georgia to
secure a vote upon his resolution,
which, in brief, declared that the United
States government will not make war
upon a people seeking for their free
dom, precipitated a lively debate, which
was participated in by Platt of Connec-
ticut and Teller Of Colorado Bacon
declared he would never vote for the
treaty unless some such declaration
were adopted by Congress. To this
Plat took exception, and delivered a
speech in which he carefully analysed
the situation which confronts this coun-
try in the Philippines. No action on the
resolution was taken.
A bill was passed at the opening Of
the Senate session to-day granting ex-
ira pay to the officers and men of the
temporary force of the navy-two
months extra pay to those who served
beyond the limits of the United States
and one months pay to those serving
within the United States. The provis-
ions of the bill are to- apply to all such
temporary force, whether discharged
yet or not.
At the conclusion of the morning bus
mess, Berry of Arkansas rose to adj
dress the Senate on the Vest anti-ex-
pansion resolution. IF in November.
1885, he began, 'it had been known
that the President at this time, so soon
after his inauguration, would be ask
ing Congress for an army of 100000
men to subjugate and reduce q people
1000 miles from our shore, who were
endeavoring to establish government
for themselves, he would not have re-
ceived single electoral vote in any
State. If Senators on the other side
who are now advocating this policy of
expansion had told them that they
would thus depart from the principles
of the Declaration of independence.
they would have repudiated the idea as
unworthy of them.
THE daily abuse which is heaped up
ON those who are opposing this scheme
of Imperialism and the criticism to
which we are subjected by Senators on
this floor becausel We will not follow the
President in his wild scheme of coloni-
cation, certainly is not the best method
of attaining their ends There are
thousands and tens of thousands of our
people who believe the danger of the
overthrow of our institutions was never
so great as at this time.
Berry said that the opponents of coll
onization We're being urged to vote for
the ratification of the treaty, and that
after the ratification General Otis
might push forward his battahons and
kill those who are fighting him practi-
cally for their freedom.
Plat of Connecticut then addressed
the Senate upon the various resolu-
lions. After analyzing the several
amendments offered and adverting to
the Bacon resolution, he said that it
could mean but one thing, and that was
that if the treaty was ratified it would
be the duty of this government to re-
linquish the Philippines Immediately to
the Inhabitants, without reference to
our rights in the premises.
Plat went ON to say that we had
a war which had ended gloriously for
the country and for the cause of free
government throughout the world, and
now, almost six months since the pro-
tocol was signed, the treaty of peace
which had been agreed upon was not
ratified
THE situation in the Philippines" he
said, SIS critical. Aguinaldo is in arms
He is using arms furnished to him by
the United States That is the situa-
ton. Whom else but the United States
isl hei in arms against? The ratification
of this treaty will give the United
States the right to say to Aguinaldo
We are in control in these islands. At
tack us if you dare In a short time
the defiance of our army will melt
away, and a government will be estab-
lished in those islands immeasureab
superior to any that Auginaldo could
possibly make"
Tillman interrupted to call attention
to a newspaper report of speech at
tributed to General Shafter in which he
was quoted as saying that if he could
exercise his will toward the FiIipinos
he would disarm them all and kill half
of them, asking Plat if he sympa-
thized with those sentiments.
Platt responded that he was not re-
quired to answer the question as neither
General Shafter nor the Senator (Till-
mani was included in the issue in
volyed.
At 2 o'clock the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session on the peace treaty, and
at 5:45 adjourned