The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-05

| of the commission by the members Of
it that We're selected from this body
| Not a man here is there who would not
| trust to any of them the most intri-
| cate and delicate matter. They have
brought back here treaty with Spain
| by which we may deal with the Fill
1pnoS as congress after may wisely
| determine. Yet we stand here day after
| day wrangling over resolutions of no
| force and effect, and which serve only
| to embarrass our own people in the
Philippines and afford comfort to our
| opponents on the islands. There is not
| one of these questions raised which
may not properly be dealt with after
the treaty is ratified. We should pre-
sent a united front to foreign foes and
dissent only in internal policies"
However much we may differ
among ourselves upon questions of in
ternal policy" said he,' I'VE ought to
stand as one before foreign foe. I, for
| one, recognize a great difference be-
tween a treaty establishing commercial
relations with another nation and
treaty bringing to a conclusion sue
cessful war. 1t is important that We
should present an unbroken front in
melting question of this kind. We
owe a debt to our brethren across the
sea- We had their unqualified moral
support and influence of their trained
diplomats throughout the war. Had
| it not been for England we should not
| have emerged from the late war with
| flying colors. To-day we have among
| the nations of Europe only one friend
| Great Britain. The other nations
| stand with rapacious hate, hoping that
we may encounter some repulse.'
Adverting to the attitude of the OPP
| ponents of the treaty in endeavoring to
| inject. as he said. politics into the con-
| sideration of the pending question and
| to force out of it an isue for the next
! presidential campaign, Mr.. Wolcott
! said:
But it is deplorable that in formulate
| ing such an issue and in pursuit of such
| policy these leaders should find it
necessary to seek to dishonor this gov
| ernment and the administration which
/ has guided us SO wisely through the
| troubled sea of international complica-
| tions 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 they should seek to
/ bring about some fanced political ad-
| vantage by an attempt to defeat the
| ratification of a treaty which. if unrat
! flied. must bring back a condition of
| war as it existed before the report of
| the commissioners. passive, it may be,
| but full of uncertainty and full of dis
aster to the interests and the welfare
! of our country.
| Il do not believe such tactics can
win. There are men enough on both
sides of this chamber who will stand
| by the government. not because it is n
republican government, but because It
is an American government. The re-
suits of the war have left us charged
with a duty to 100000 of people. We
found them under the dominion of
I Spain. Nobody wants to turn them
! back to that natior. We know little
/ hi Wa do
! lists a condition on the islands which
| would result in internecine strife
! among a people who may or may not
! be fitted for self-government
IF we should abandon those islands
| as a derelict it is certain that the rati-
tication of the treaty would ameliorate
the conditions there and advance the
| interests of the Filipinos. We shall not
| put our hands upon those people ex-
cept to bless them, and our efforts will
| be to lift them up to the standards of
civilization and Christianty.''
! Referring to the charge made on the
| senate floor that the taking of the Phil
| ipipnes by the United States would re-.
| suit in scandals of otficeholding and
officeholders, Mr. Wolcott repudiated
! the idea with scorn and declared that
! the American people would see to it
that although they had little experience
in the management of such territory it
would be given proper and careful at
tenton.
Our relations with the inhabitants
of those islands, continued Mr.. VOL
colt, 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
these people will find themselves more
secure in their lives, property and hap
piness than they have ever been be-
fore"
In answer to the charge that the ae
quistion of the islands would be con-
trary to the spirit of our republic, he
said this government was the first ex-
pertinent of its kind ever made.
Every year." he continued, has
brought us additional burdens. and
with them has come added greatness.
And who shall say that. in the de-
velopment of this republic, with its
| Anglo-SaXon strength and energy, it
| will not increase until we have planted
| our institutions and principles in that
| far-off archipelago.
Thine alone can make clear our duty
| to the people of the Philippine islands.
| emasculating or destroying the peace
| treaty. For me there is one path
marked out. That is the path of duty,
| the path of honor
At 2:15 p. M, on motion of Mr.. Lodge,
the senate went into executive session
and at 5:25 p. m. adjourned.
tN THE upucr