The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-08
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE
Was on the Resolutions Declaring Oar
Policy in the East.
Mr.. TILLMAN OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Delivered a Characteristic and Pictur-
esque Speech, Maintaining That
Declaration Should be Explicit
and Not Meaningless.

Washington, February 7.-For two hours
or more the senate today had the resolu-
ton decarat tory of policy of this govern
ment in the Philippines under discussion,
but no vote was reached and the resolution
went finally to the calendar. Mr.. Tillman
(dem.) of South Carolina, addressed the
senate upon the resolution, making a char
acteristie and picturesque argument. lie
maintained that a clear, explicit and direct
resolution ought to be adopted, and not one
that was meaningless and inconsequental.
He predicted that dire results fould follow
the ratification of the treaty, unless the
United States treated the F'ilipnos with
absolute hrmness and gave them self
government.
Senator Lodge followed with a strong re-
ply to Mr.. Tiilman in which he stated
clearly and directly the conditions as they
confronted the United States in the Phil
ippines.
The Indian appropriation bill was taken
up but had not been completed when the
senate adjourned
TilIman's speech
THE first thing that strikes me-" said
Mr.. Tillman in beginning his speech, "in
the reading of this resolution is its absolute
uselessness and it's cold-blooded purpose
it's simple declaration of purpose to buy and
sell those people of the Philippines for our
interest and steadfastly to ignore their in
terests. If 1 mistake not, the trend of
events, the ratification of the treaty prom
ises to bring disaster to the party respon-
sible for it,"
He said that never in his legislative expe-
rlence had he heard so many speeches
against proposition followed by so many
votes In favor of the proposition. To his
min. 1t indicated that certain senators had
yiel' "a to pressure. The ratification of the
treaty had determined the fact that in law
the Filipinos were rebels against the
United States If they fired on our flag
they would be regarded as rebels That
was the way the world saw it. However,
the trouble in the Philippines might termi-
nate the Filipinos would be regarded as
patriots who were fighting for their lib
erty just as much as were the American
revolutionists. III any resolution is passed
here we ought to pass one bringing peace
70 the Philippines, not disaster or worse
than nothing. The question now Is this
Are we to take the place of Spain as tax
masters and tyrants?
Can Shoot Them to Death
"Of course" he continued, 1--WE can send
tens of thousands of troop to the Philip
pines and the senator from Montana Gar
teri said the other day we can shoot those
people to death; but ought we to do 1t? Is
1t honorable for US to do it?''
Mr.. I1llman then read some verses from
kiplings latest poem, THE White Mans
Burden" which he regarded as exactly
fitted to our case.
Every man in this chamber but Ave."
said he, who has had to do with the color
ed race voted against the treaty. We of the
south have borne the white mans burden
1t was handed down to us by our fathers,
and 1t clings to US like the shirt of Nessus"
He maintained that he did not want to in
corporate into our citizenship the mongrel
population of the Philippines and inau-
gurate another race struggle in the United
States.
There are two cities in the Pacific" said
Mr.. Tillman, lover which our flag breaks
to the breeze. Over the one it is a harbin-
ger of peace, good will, prosperity and
liberty. Over the other-Manila-it is cold
blooded and determined-to do what? To
force upon those people a government
whether it be satisfactory to them or not"
The debate for the day on the McEnery
resolution was concluded by Mr.. Lodge in
a brief speech in the course of which he
stated some of the facts relating to the in
surrection in the Philippines against Spain.
Led by Aguinaldo
He explained that the insurrection was
led by Aguinaldo and other chiefs, and had
been put down practically by the Spanish
government. The Spanish officials entered
into an agreement with Agunaldo by which
he was to withdraw from the revolution in
consideration of certain reforms and a large
sum of money. In perfectly characteristic
manner the Spaniards, as they did with the
Cubans, failed to keep their promises as to
reforms and paid Aguinaldo only half of the
money promised him. Agunaldo retired
from the island and Spanish authority over
the islands was complete. On May 10
Aguinaldo reappeared on the islands in
American vessel. On his representations to
the Filipinos Aguinaldo accomplished little
They did not agree with him that the revo-
luton could be revived. Finally the Fill
pinos again Joined hands with Agunaldo
and new life was breathed into the insur-
rection.
Mr.. Lodge explained that so long as the
Spanish fleet was in the harbor the dnsur-
gents were absolutely unable to make any
impression upon the Spanish forces In the
city of Manila, which was the seat of
Spanish power on the islands. Mr.. Lodge
explained that our forces were in Manila in
thorough accordance with the laws of war;
we succeeded to the sovereignty of Spain.
We had never by any act sought to oppress
the people of those islands.
hiistook Our Forbcarance
.'sTheir oppression" said he, "has existed
solely in the speeches that have been de-
livered in the senate of the United States,
but, like all -orientals, they mistook kind
ness for timidity."
Further along, Mr.. Lodge, speaking of the
restraints placed upon the American forces
in the Philippines, said: stringent orders
have gone from the president to General
Otis and Admiral Dewey to exercise the
greatest care In their treatment of the Fill
ipinos. and not by word or deed to provoke
them A fortnight ago General Otis, in ac-
cordance with orders received from the adj
ninistration, officially informed Aguinaldo