The times., 1899-02-27
TO OUTLINE A
PHILIPPINE POLICY
Plan TO Have the Democrats
Discuss 1t in Caucus.
Mr.. Bailey's Desire TO Commit the
Party Officially.
The Meetin. Tonight in the Hall of
the House of Repre-
scntatiNcs.

A good deal of curiosity has been
aroused by the call issued yesterday Tor
the Democratic Representatives 10 meet
in caucus in the hall of the House to-
night for the consideration of the attftudH
of the party on the Philippines" To many
it has seemed that a caucus at the present
time is useless, the end of the session
being so near and so long time between
now and the meeting of the next Congress,
whose members cannot be bound by any
action of the present one.
All this would be reasonable enough if
it were intended to in any way bind the
party in Congress or out TO the support
of the resolutions that will be offered to
the caucus for its adoption. But there is
no such intention. The resolutions will
claim to bind no one. They will simply
be a more or less accurate declaration of
what is believed by representatives to be
the opinions of the Democratic party in
regard to the great question before the
country. If they interpret the popular
feeling correctly, so much the better for
them; if they interpret it incorrectly it
is argued they will have to stand by their
declaration and fall with it.
As Mr. Bailey said last night the Demo-
cratic members might be considered cow
ards and poltroons if they left the field
to the Republicans without taking the only
opportunity they will have for months 10
put themselves on record on the subject.
The caucus was called at the instance
of the Democratic members of the Foreign
Affairs Committee of the House 1t is
claimed that it would be possible for these
10 combine with several Republican .nem-
beTs of the committee and to report the
McEnery resolution which passed the Sen
ate but there is little reason to believe
that the Speaker would consent TO have
this taken up and voted upon. In any
event. that resolution is not at all salts
factory TO the Democrats of either house.
1t is recalled that McEnery himself was
the only Democrat in the Senate who voted
for il in preference TO the Bacon resolution.
In view of all these facts. it is thought
better TO put forth a caucus declaration on
the subject.
The resolution that will be proposed is
about as follows:
Whereas the United States Government is rem
dered incapable OF owning governing distant
colonies by its Constitution; and
Whereas, even if it had Constitution, it
would be bound by the Declaration Of ndepend-
cnce that ''ail Just governments derive their
powers from the consent OF the gOyemed; and
Whereas The FiljpiDGs now resisting by arms
the attempt of the United States 10 force 4
government them against their will; therefore,
be it
Resolved. That it i the duty Of the United
States TO Withdraw from the islands and leave
the people there to establish government OF
their own.
This will be the substance and the extent
of the resolution. Ii is almost certain that
there will be no specification as to whether
the United States should Immediately with
draw its troops or whether it should at
present merely declare its intention to
withdraw them as soon as peace is re-
stored and stable government established.
Such details are held to be within the
province of the party in power. and not
in that of the minority. which feels called
upon only to lay down general principles
for its guidance
The move is considered to be a good
one politically" said Mr.. Bailey last night.
The Republicans either have no policy
| or they have not ventured to assert one.
| There never was a time before in the his
! tory OF the country when so great a ques-
tion was before the people that one of the
/ great parties did not dare to express its
! opinions in regard TO it. merely pursuing
! policy OF opportunism, drifting with the
! current and waiting fer something to turn
up to decide their position for them. The
| Democrats have waited vainly for some
action by the party in power and now will
| place themselves on record without further
delay. It is the only manly position to
take
! Representative Lewis of Washington
| whose speech in the House on Saturday
attracted so much attention will probably
suggest another resolution declaring that
/ the Democratic party sympathiz6s with the
! soldiers heart and soul. glories in their
| courage and in their victories. and will
sustain them as long as they are kept in
the Philippines, objecting only to the poi
icy Of President Mckinley in keeping them
there, and not 10 the actions of the soldiers
| themselves.