Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-06
THE PEACE TREATY.


presented. am in favor 0( standing
by Dewey and Otis as against Aguin'
| aldo. Our status in the Philippines l,
that under the protocol we are In pos.
session Of the city, bay and harbor Of
Manila. We are acting under truce
with Spain. These people who have
attacked the United States forces arr
in the eye Of International law still
subjects of Spain and would be unit
the treaty Is ratified. They have vic.
lated the truce and are public enemies
and should be treated as SUCH"
Senator German OF Maryland. who IL
the leader and organizer OF the oppo-
sition to the treaty In the Senate, said
as to the effect the conflict at Manila
would have on the treaty: 1T will
have no effect whatever. What has
occurred Is the result Of what has
been predicted by the opponents of
the treaty. The opponents OF the
treaty said that trouble would come II
We handled these people without gloves
and undertook to force ourselves upon
them without their consent. This bat
tie can have no effect upon the oppo-
nents Of the treaty In any way"
Senator Pettigrew: We could have
no possible difficulty with the people
or the Philippines IL we had given to
them the honest assurance that we
did not propose to overthrow their
newly established liberties. We
should now do what we should have
done In the first place, state to the
people OF these islands our good IN
tentions and say TO them: Establish
your republic and we will not allow
other nations to interfere. Give us
your bonds TO reimburse us for our
expense in securing your your liberty,
and we welcome you To the family of
the republics of the world. rhe
course Of the administration, on the
contrary. has been one Of criminal ag-
gresslon and apparent bad faith
Senator Morgan, Il supporter of the
treaty. said: II have known for scv-
eral days that ii was the opinion Of
the best-informed men in Washing
ton that Aguinaldos agent. AgOncillo.
had cabled to his principal informing
him that vote would be taken on
the treaty, Monday. at the same time
advising him to precipitate hostilities
previous TO the time set for the ballot
have not been at liberty to mention
this fact to my colleagues in the Sem
ate because it came to me in a way
that made it a sacred confidence. The
attack upon our forces is therefore no
surprise to me-
Senator Elkins, who has been very
active in favor Of the treaty, expressed
the opinion. tonight, that enough votes
would be found to ratify it.
Senator Martin of Virginia, one of
the opponents of the treaty, said: THE
news from Manila will have no effect
on the treaty. No man will change his
mind on account of what has occurred
there"
Senator Teller, who has from the
iirst been staunch supporter OF the
treaty, said: 1T is impossible now for
our government to withdraw. II It has
not troops enough to subdue the m
surgents we must send enough. The
occurrence will not prevent out doing
justice by the Filipinos in the end, but
1t certainly postpones the establish
ment of government there for me
present"
Senator Frye, a member of the peace
commission and supporter of the
treaty. said: The collision is what T
have been predicting every day since
the discussion of the treaty began.
The absurd compliments that have
been heaped upon Aguinaldo and the
delay in ratifying the treaty have had
the effect of encouraging him to make
attack before reinforcements from the
United States could arrive at Manila.
If the treaty had been promptly rati-
fed If iS mi
would have been as quiet and peaceful.
today. as the United States. had full
~ expected that the rejection of the
treaty would be followed by an attack
upon our forces in Manila and it has
come only few days in advance of the |
time l expected
Senator Rawlins. whose vote has been !
counted as unfavorable to the treaty. |
but who has been regarded as doubtful. |
said: IF we owe the natives any obli- |
cations at the present time they do not |
seem to appreciate our method of dis
charging it. The affair emphasizes the
importance of our being rid of the re-
sponsibility thrown upon us as soon as
we can possibly dispose of it,
With but four weeks of the session
N'pSdhtI netu anu the ruleS
committee of the House have taken
the reins into the hands to keep the
road clear for the business which must
ne transacted in order to avoid an ex-
ira session. But four appropriation
bills remain to be acted upon by the
House: The army. navy. sundry civil
and general deficiency. Two of these,
the sundry civil and the naval. will be
ready during the early part of the
week.
The rules committee. yesterday.
yesterday. blocked out work for the
week as follows: Tomorrow. suspen-
sion day: Tuesday and Wednesday.
public buildings: Thursday and Friday.
bills. and saturday, eu-
iogies upon the late Representative
Dingley.
1t is likely that Hhe census bill will
be passed under suspension of the rules.
tomorrow. but it may be that owing
to its Importance. although there will
be no special opposition to the bill it's
may be postponed. Moth
ing definite has been settled about the
Nicaragua canal bill. Hawaiian or
shipping bills. but they are too impor-
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