The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-05
DIsHONoRABLB TACTICS.

Adverting to the attitude of the opponents
of the treaty in endeavoring to inject, as he
said, politics nto the consideration of the
pending question and to force out of 1t an
issue for the next presidential campaign,
Mr.. Wolcott said: but it is deplorable that
in formulating such an issue and in pursuit
of such policy these leaders should find IL
necessary to seek to dishonor this govern
ment and the administration which has guild
ed us so wisely through the troubled sea or
international complications and brought US
to the threshold of an honorable peace, that
they should dishonor us in the face OF the
nations of the world, and that they should
seek TO bring about some fancted political
advantage by an attempt to defeat the rati-
fcation of a treaty which, If unratified,
must bring back a condition of war as it
existed before the report of the commissions
ers, passive as 1t may be, but full OF
uncertainty and full Of disaster to
our country I do not believe such
tactics can win. There are men enough on
both sides of the chamber who will stand
by the government not because it is a Re-
publican government but because it is an
American government. The results OF the
war have left US charged with a duty to
the dominion of Spain. Nobody wants to
turn them back to that nation. We know
little about them, but we do know there
exists a condition on the islands which
would result in internecine strife among
people who may or may not be htted for self
government. If we should abandon those
islands as a derelict it is certain that they
would become a prey to Europe For one,
| am certain that the ratification OF the
treaty would ameliorate the conditions there
and advance the interests of the FflipinOs.
We shall not put our hands on these people
except to bless them, and our efforts viii
be to lift them up to the standards Of civil
ization and Christianity
Referring to the charge made on the Sem
ate floor that the taking of the Philippines
by the United States would result in scan
dals of off1ce-holdtng and ofhce-holders, Mr..
Wolcott repudiated the idea with scorn,
and declared the American people would
see to it that, although they had little ex-
perience in the management of such terri
full attention. Our relations with the in
habitants of those islands, continued Mr..
WOlcott, ARE certain to be fair, honest
and just We may make mistakes. We have
made mistakes in the past But with our
protecting hand over them those people will
property and happiness than they nave ever
been before"
In answer to the charge that the acquisi-
ton of the islands would be contrary to the
spirit of Republic he said this govern
nent was the first experiment of its kind
has brought us additional burdens, and
with them has come added greatness. And
who shall say that, in the development or
this Republic, with its Anglo-Saxon
strength and energy it will not increase
until have planted our institutions and
principles in that far-of archipelago? Time
alone can make clear our duty to the peo-
pie of the Philippine islands To-day we
face the proposition of emasculating or de-
stroying the peace treaty. For me there IS
but one path marked out. That is the path
of duty, the path of honor"
At 215 p. m, on motion of Mr.. Lodge, the
Senate went into executive session, and, at
SIS, adjourned