The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-12
M'KINLEYS POLICY UNVEILED.
BELIEVES THE PEOPLE FAVOR
FREEDOM OF PHILIPPINES.


Military Control VIII he Exercised
Until FiIipinos show Their Ability
to Govern ThemscIves-SOuther
Senators Favor Independence.
Same Policy as Is Exercised To-
ward Cuba, May BE Followed.
Mason Makes n Little Threat.
Washington, Jan. 1.-(SpeciaD. .-Presi-
dent Mckinley has at last come to the con-
clusion that public sentiment in this
country favors the ultimate independence
of the Philippine Islands.
This discovery was made to-day during
the debate in the Senate on the Vest
resolution, when Senator Foraker prac-
ticaly admitted rnat the policy of the ad-
minstration, when fully disclosed, will
show that the President intends TO deal
with the Philippines as he is now dealing
with Cuba, and eventually the Fnipiaos
will be recognized as an independent peo-
pie.
In the meantime the United States gov
ernment proposes to exercise either a mill
tary or civil protectorate over them until
they are able to demonstrate their ability
to maintain an independent form of gov
ernment
The proposed policy of the administra-
ton was further disclosed to me by many
leading senators, including Senator Frye of
Maine, Lodge of Massachusetts,, Morgan
of Alabama, Hanna of Ohio Platt of New
York, Teller of Colorado, Bacon of Geor-
gia, Mason Of Illinois, and Perkins of
California.
Sentiment Against 1t.
During the past ten days there has been
a steady tide of popular sentiment against
the annexation of the Philippines by the
United States, and the recent debate in
the Senate has brought 10 the surface
many reasons why it may not be desirable
to acquire chat far off territory.
All of the administration senator's, with
whom discussed the subject to-day, said
that as soon as the treaty is ratified, Con-
gress will be urged to agree on a line of
policy for the government of the Philip
pines, which will probably be In line with
the form of government now being estab-
lshed in Cuba.
The treaty was reported TO the Senate in
executive session, to-day from the COM
mittee on foreign relations, without any
amendments. II trlenQS nope TO secure It's
ratification within the next two weeks
In the meantime, senators will be given
an opportunity TO express their views on
the general policy of the government on the
Vest resolution, instead of debating the
treaty in executive session. where their
speeches are practically lost.
They Favor independence.
Senators Bacon and Tillman were mix
ed up in the general debate to-day, while
Senator Foraker was speaking, and all of
the Georgia and South Carolina senators
are in favor of the independence of the
Fipinos, under the protection of the
United States until they show their abil-
ity to govern themselves.
Senator Mason has served notice on the
friends of the treaty that he win try to
block action on that document unless a
vote is taken on his resolution, which pro-
vides that the United States shall not
govern any people in a foreign country un-
less they consent TO be so governed.
Mr. Masons threat may create a little
friction but there is a general disposition
to make reasonable concessions in the in
terest of a speedy ratification of the
treaty, and a formal announcement by
Congress of the future policy of the gov
ernment in the Philippines.