The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-03

country and upon arrival here could enter
into competition with American labor. That
was the reason why he would vote against
the treaty.
No Doubt of Constitutionality
Mr.. Spooner said he had no doubt about
the constitutionality of the cession of the
Philippines or our right to accept them or
of the presidents authority to govern in
those islands until congress should provide
proper government for them. He referred
to the character of Havana by the Brit
ish and the subsequent transfer of the con-
troll of the city back to Spain, and main
tanned that although Spain may have gov
erned the colony by tyrannical methods, it
still had complete sovereignty
Mr.. Tillman again interrupted Mr.. Spoon
er with the statement that if Mr.. Spooner
had been present at yesterdays session
he would not have made certain state
ments He then proceeded to cite from
the reports of the United States consul at
Manila certain facts concerning the prog
ress of the revolution against Spanish rule
in the islands.
''Is not the senator making public" re-
piled Mr. Spooner, smiling, "some informa-
ton concerning the executive sessions of
the senate?"
Eyes, 1 am replied Mr.. Tillman, "but the
information 1 have (hoding aloft printed
documenO is contained in this book, which
has been made public and l will therefore
be excused from violating faith with my
brethren of the senate"
MIR. Spooner said that no government, as
had been contended on the floor of the sem
ate had been established in the Philippine
islands. 1t could not be seriously regarded
as a government, as it was nothing more
than a tn-horn affair at best
Another interruption
Mr.. Tillman, again interrupting the Wis
consin senator and again holding aloft the
document which he held said: UNLESS
the senator withdraws his imputations
against the good faith and honesty of
Aguinaldo, will read what 1 have here"
Mr.. Spooner: 81 have made no reference
| to Aguinaldo."
your remarks about Aguinaldo," re-
torted Mr.. Tillman, "were made in sheer
ing and airy manner, indicating no re-
spect"
| Aguinaldo will permit me to pursue my
argument III my OWN way, L Will Dc SldlS-
full. have said nothing about Aguinaldo
| and do not care to have my speech antici-
pated."
Mr. Spooner then explained that he had
| not been present yesterday on account of
| illness, and was anxious on account of his
| physical condition to complete aTgu nent as
| soon as possible.
Mr.. Tillman: I'm the circumstances
| will not again interrupt the senator, and
will even endure the sneer about my being
a senator for Aguinaldo."
Mr.. Spooner promptly withdrew his ref
erence to Mr.. Tillman and then proceeded
with his discussion of the so-called Filipino
republic.
! Mr.. Spooner announced his apprehension
| of the policy of expansion. Some people
| waltz up to this proposition of national ex-
| pansion as gaily as the troubadour touches
| his guitar said he. Proceeding, he said,
he was an expansionist to the extent. to
want to do everything possible to extend
| our trade, but he thought that to acquire
| distant and non-assimilable people was the
| poorest possible means of getting it. He
shrank, he said, from the policy of making
part of our land tropical islands,
| tEOuSdnuS Oh ulleS lfOIn our shores, a lana
whose people were alien, not Of our blood,
who were foreign to our institutions, of a
| tropical climate in which the white man
| cannot work.
| Superficial and Fantastic
| Therefore, he considered it as superficial,
| sentimental and fantastic, the talk con-
| corning the permanent annexation of these
| far-away islands. II am not" he said,
thrilled by the jingle about not hauling
| down our flag when it has once been
| raised 1t has been hauled down in former
| times; 1t will be hauled down again. We
| will not keep 1t afioat in Cuba, but we will
take it down there, leaving behind It lib
| erty and an independent government
hope this also may be soon true in the
| Philippines and in saying this I do not
| consider 1 am inconsistent"
| If the ratification of the treaty involved