The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-12
LEADS ALL M0RM GAR0uNM lAMS uN NEWS AND GRGWEA1ON


rather than disgrace itself by such ac-
ton"
Mr.. Foraker maintained that the Gov
ernment of the United States had
ample power to acquire territory by
treaty. 4
The trouble, MIR. President" continu-
cd the Senator, lis that Senators are
talking about a theory of practical
condition. What have the Senators who
have discussed these theories proposed!
Nothing. You all know the precedents
of the condition we face. We had made
war; and its fortunes had carried us to
the Philippines. When the end came
those isanls were in our possession.
What was to be done? -Four possibili-
ties existed. We might return the
islands to Spain, allow some other
country to seize or gobble them up; the
people of the islands might be left TO
themselves and the anarchy that eX-
listed there, or we ourselves might take
possession of them. The unanimous
voice of the country was opposed to the
return of the islands to the tyrannieal
Government of Spain.
'In many of the State conventions
declarations against such a course were
adopted and one of those was the con-
vention of the State of the Senator from
Massachusetts (Mr. Hoar.)
II wrote it myself" announced Mr..
Hoar.
Then ] presume the Senator is OPP
posed to that courseT' remarked Mr.
Foraker, amid laughter.
The return of the islands to Spain,
resumed Mr. Foraker, was therefore not
to be considered. Were they then to
be left to themselves? About the time
this question was confronting us | saw
repeated newspaper statements from
Aguinaldo and his associates among the
insurgents to the effect that all the
countries of Europe would be on their
backs before breakfast If the United
States deserted them at that juncture.
We could not leave the islands to the
mercy OF other countries. Such course
would rave been cruel. We wisely de-
cided agains both these courses. We
decided to take possession ourselves-for
the present at least, until the people of
those islands are ready and capable of
elf-goyernment."
The assertion of the temporary char
acter of our possession of the Philippines
created stir in the Chamber Mr.
Foraker reiterated it. We could not de-
sert the people of the islands. he said,
and subject them to the risks of dis
order, anarchy, misrule and mob rule
while they might be still unfit for self
government. But our occupa ton was not
to be permanent.
| II do not understand that any one de
! sires anything but the ultimate indie
/ pendence Of the people of the Philip
pines" said he. emphatically; neither
the President nor any one in this
! Chamber"
| '.But what about our fight if we chose
! to hold them permanently, with no
thought of their ultimate independence
inquired Mr.. Hoar.
I'VE have an unquestioned right to do
so,' replied Mr.. Foraker. j speak par
/ ticularly of our legal right"
/ Mr. Bacon. (Ga.), at this juncture ask
ed what difference there was between
our relations to Cuba and our relations
to the Philippines; why we could not
deal with the latter on the same basis
as the former, simply hold them now
with the declared purpose of giving them
/ self-government as soon as possible"
1.-The case of Cuba replied Mr..
| Foraker, speaking with great del.bera-
! ton; was simple one involving only
our relations with Spain and the Cubans
/ themselves.
I'm the case Of the Philippines there
were other complications wEch cannot
| be spoken of here, but of which Sena-
tors will hear in executive session, which
I justified the Presidents course in the
most ample manner. and vindicates most
4 completely everything he has done. In
| fact. no other course is safe, in view of
| the object we naturally sought to at
tain-justice not only 20 ourselves, but
/ to the people of those islands"
What of the statement about hauling
down the American flag?" interiected
! Mr.. Hoar.
"No one desires to retain the Philip
! pines indefinitely" reiterated Mr.
| Foraker. The President is as
| much a lover of liberty, truth and justice
as lis the Senator from Massachusetts.
! and his love of liberty goes out to the
people of the Philippines as unerringly
as his"
'"Then we are to understand the state
ment that the American flag is not to
! be hauled down." said Mr.. Hoar, "does
not mean that we are to hold perpetual
domain. If the people of the Philippines
believe their happiness can best be Sc
| cured by self-goyernment they are to
be given an opportunity to govern them
selves"
with the determination of the ulti-
mate policy respecting the Philippines. ;"
replied Mr.. Foraker, their feelings will
have much to do. No one. so far as
am able to learn is preparing by force
and violence to take and hold them. |
am willing to trust the Administration.
i have no sympathy with those who talk
of making war on Aguinado any more
than I had with those who talked of
making war on Gomez"
"Thank God for that" murmured Mr..
Hoar from his seat, but in n voice au-
dible throughout the chamber.
Il repeat" continued Mr.. Foraker.
'that we had four choices as to what
We should do and ! affirm that the
President acted wisely. 1t is now for
Congress to investigate whether the
Filipinos are capable of self-government
and whether they desire self-government
We will know in a short time what the
feelings of the population OF the is
lands is. Then we can act intelEgently.
and know we will act JUSTLY
In conclusion Mr.. Foraker said he would
place in the Record the recent proclama-
nf tho DrnoiInnt 81