The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-25

free people, who are beginning to move in
defense of their cherished traditions and their
violated honor
we have been told, further, that the presi-
dent yielded up his first blush Impressions
at the importantly of Admiral Dewey who
urged that the Philippines shold be retained
Mr.. Chairman the chief executive cannot
screen himself behind the gold lace of the
hero OF Manila. No one can honor more
profoundly than do the officers of our regu-
lar army and navy, but their predictions
are naturally for arms. They have imbibed
of course the prejudiees and the preferences
or their calling. We cannot blame them
for desiring to magnify the size and impor-
tance Of the army and navy, for advocating
expansion and taking on of colonial policy
Again we have been assured that the de-
mand Of our peace commissioners at Paris to
mold the Philippines is what induced the
president to yield. So far as one of the COM
missioners is concerned, we know that this
IS false. But even If this statement were
true, the constitutional power to negotiate
treaty was his, not the commissioners They
were simply his instruments, appointed to
carry out his will. No, Mr.. Chairman, this
plea, like all the others will not avail. The
truth Is that the commissioners got their
inspiration and their instructions from the
White house. Those instructions once chang
cd, the action of the commissioners would
have been different The wrong was with
the chief executive. He and he alone ia
responsible.
PROBABLE MOTIVE.
Mr. Chairman, in my humble opinion. the
reason for the change in the presidential
poHcy was his concession to the selfish cap
ltal1stS OF the country his surrender tn their
demands These are the gentlemen who fur,
nlsned the money for his nomination and
election, and who, 1 doubt not have pledged
nlm denomination and Reelection
Ihese are the gentlemen who are already
seizlng upon valuable franchises In China
IN connection with the English syndicate with
member Of parliament from Wales at it's
head. These are the gentlemen whom ord
Beresford has in mind in his cordial but not
wholly disinterested invitation to an alliance
In China with Britain, Germany and Japan
against Russia and France, the ofd-time enc
mics OF his country and the old-time friend
or ours. These are the gentlemen who are al
ready grasp1ng after special privileges In the
philippines, in Cuba and Porto Rico.
II was, L imagine, for their special benefit
that the president created his advisory board
! to the war department. composed of three
american citizens, their object being to farm
out valuable privileges and immunities which
should belong to the people of those islands
| themselves, and in whose disposition they
should have a voice If their government is
to be free and their rights maintained
L nave no fault to find with the spirit of
legitimate American commerce Nv conten
ton is against the spirit of American greed
which cares nothing for the spirit of Ameri-
can liberty.
And what do these gentlemen propose? To
amass colossal fortunes in the islands by vir-
tue OF their franchises, and upon the CHEAP
labor OF the native population, not one dol
lar OF which will ever find it's lodging-pIace
IN the pockets of the American people To en-
able them to do this our whole population is
to purchase their field of operations for them
in the Philippines for the round sum of 500
| 100000, and is to be taxed interminabIy and
| excessively in the creation and maintenance
of a great army and navy which is to conquer
and hold the Filipinos in subjection and de-
fend the islands after they have been ex-
pensively fortified against the assaults of the
| great European nations with which our new
foreign policy will be certain to bring US into
| frequent contention.
! What else is upon the programme of these
| gentlemen? The open door in the Philippines.
| making it totally impossible ever to dis
criminate in tariff duties there in favor of
] the products of the American farm and the
American shop.
! What is the other sacrifice that is required
| That the annexation of Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines absolutely sure to come at
| an early day, for they have registered 1t in
their vows, shall precipitate the sugar, to-
bacco, hemp and other cheap products of these
| islands and Hawaii upon the American mar
ket in free and unrestricted competition with
the agricultural and laboring elements of our
| own country.
| This policy, sir, would have been free trade
| in William Jennings Bryan. What is 1t In
| William Mckinley?
Lands ANSWERS JOHNSON.
| Mr.. Landis, one of his Republican colleagues
from Indiana, briefly stated to the house that
Mr.. Johnsons constituents had repudiated
| him, and the two members had wordy duel
| The army appropriation bill was lost sight
Of in the general discussion of the policy OF
| the government relative to the Philippines.
! The general debate upon the bill closed to-
day and tomorrow the bill will be taken up
! for amendment under the fve-minute rule.