The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-28
ACCORD OF SENTIMENT
RESOLUTIONS AGAINST PHILIP
PINE SOVEREIGNTY.
LOYALTY AND yALOB OF OUR SOLDIERS
They Are Commended by The Caucus, Which
Pledges ham Hearty Support and Sym
pathy. Wheeler Asks that Presi.
dop}ie LI,nJc h., llnLoIJ
dent S Hands be Upheld.

Washington, Feb. 27.--At a caucus of
the Democratic members Of the House
of Representatives, held in the Hall of
the House tonight, the following
declaration of policy and resolutions as
to the Philippines were adopted:
1--WE hold that the Constitution of the
United States was ordained and estab-
lished for an intelligent, liberty loving
and self-governing people and cannot
be successfully applied to a people of
different virtues and conditions. We
therefore hold that a colonial policy is
contrary to the theory Of our Govern
ment and subverSivc to those great prn-
ciples of civil liberty which we have been
thought to cherish We believe with the
Declaration of Independence that all
Governments derive their Just powers
from the consent of the governed, and
we are unalterably opposed to the estab-
lishment of any Government by the
United States without the consent of the
people to be governed and in conformity
with these principles we instruct the
minority members of the Foreign
Affairs Committee to introduce and urge
the following resolution:
''Resolved, That the United States
hereby disclaim any disposition or IN
tention to exercise permanent sovereign
ty, jurisdiction or control over the Philip
pine lslapds, and assert their determna-
ton when an independent Government
shall have been erected therein to trans
fer to said Government upon terms
which shall be reasonable and just, all
rights secured under the cession by
Spain, and thereupon to leave the Gov
ernment and control of the islands to
their people
Another resolution, by Mr.. Griggs
(Ga.), was' adopted as follows;
I'VE, the Democratic members of the
House of Representatives in caucus as
sembled, command the signal loyalty
and valor of our soldiers and sailors i'll
the performance of every military duty
to which they have been assigned by
proper authority, however much we may
deplore the policy of the Administration
now directing their movements; and we
pledge to them our hearty support and
sympathy under all circumstances wher-
ever engaged.
The following resolution by Mr., Liv-
ingston (Ga). was lost:
Resolved. That the United States
Congress as soon rs the treaty of peace
between this Government and Spain is
ratified. give notice to the inhabitants Of
the Philippines that it is not our desire
or purpose to hold them under per-
manent military control or as a colonial
subject, and as soon as practicable to
aid them to establish republican form
Of Government and to he Independent and
self sustaining with such commercial
and military privileges from the United
States as may he agreed upon between
us. In the meantime we shall protect
both persons and property with the
largest liberty to citizens possible under
the circumstances. "a
The caucus began at s o'clock p. W.
and lasted until nearly midnight. i'neN
attendance was large, and little division
of sentiment was manifested on the
general features Of the resolutions. The
first resolution was offered by Mr.. Clark
(MiSsourD from the Democratic members
of the Foreign Affairs Committee and
was the text of most of the speeches.
Among those who spoke were; Rep
resentatives Bailey. Texas; Allen, Mis-
sissippi; Gaines, Tennessee; Wheeler,
Alabama; Lrntz, Ohio, and Cowherd.
Missouri. The speech of General Wheel
er was notable in differing with the pre-
vailing view He urged that nothing
should be done which could he construed
as a lack of support to our soldiers. The
hands of the President should be upheld,
he said, when fighting was going on.
As a matter Of cxpediency also, he urged
that the party should not oppose the
war. Wars were popular, he declared.
and at the present time the spirit of the
reople was shown by the fact that every
boy had his drum Sand sword, while the
mothers were proud of this patriotic
spirit
The votes were practically unanimous
upon the two resolutions adopted' ana
the Livingston resolution was defeated
by Il large majority.