The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-26

Mr. Johnson secured time from the
Democratic side To attack the position
of the administration. II was not the
first time he had broken away from his
party cn public questions. on past oc-
casions he had won a reputation as
master OF inyective. and the knowledge
that he was TO speak had attracted an
enormous crowd in the galleries.
Yesterday he added TO his reputation.
With satire, irony and wit. the keen
thrusts OF his logic were driven hcme.
His words flowed from him I'm perfect
torrent. He denounced the proposition
To annex the Philippines as subverslye
Of every tradition dear 10 the American
heart In the past and the Inauguration
OF a policy that would end in the down
fall OF the republic. He said that the
ratification Of the treaty by the senate
would sound the death knell of all the
efforts of those who were trying to pre-
vent the country from rushing on to
suicide. and declared that IL he were a
senator he would rot in his seat before il
should be ratified. He denounced the
president as the slavish follower OF pub
lie opinion, but warned him that the tide
would recede and the voice Of the people
would in time rebuke him. Members
stood in TIE aisles 10 deep while he was
speaking but he tried to stop'the ap-
plause which continually broke out from
the Democratic side. For almost two
hours his words poured forth.
The following are some Of the btterest
sentences from Mr.. Johnson's speech:
"If the chief executive would break his
silence and openly state that we do not
propose to enslave the people of the
Philippines. my word for il, the present
strained relations In the island will
cease
"A people with the stamina Of the
Filipinos are worthy OF their freedom"
IF William Mckinley ever changes his
policy regarding the Philippines, he will
bend to the weight of popular opinion, TO
which he bows right or wrong"
Il thank God for the spirit of indepen-
aence i'm the senate OF the United States :"
Bryan never made greater bunder
than when y said the treaty should he
ratified and our policy determined after
wards"
This world-grabbing policy means
constant war. the hurrying OF ships, the
concentration OF great forces Of armed
men the embarking on a course like that
OF England, which has cmhroiled II in
war uninterruptedly for 100 years"
I'VE have become a miserable mendi-
cant. dependent upon the mother coun-
try"
When he had finished MIR Dolhver
came To the defense of the admnlstra-
tion. one OF the ablest dehaters, and
perhaps the most eloquent OF the house.
his reply set the Republicans wild with
enthusiasm. He described how the
president had been fairly driven into
war by those who now sought to em-
harrass him before peace was definitely
obtained. and his eulosy of tho president.
patiently meeting all the porpleXlnE
problems which beset him as the gres
events Of the last year movcH on. aroused
his side and the galleries 10 cheers These
rang out again and again when he paid
an eloquent tribute TO Admiral Dewey.
and broke out I'm renewed volume when
ne declared that the course ~ some mem
bers az both ends OF the Capitol was al
most treason
But the highest pitch Of excitement
was reached when Mr.. Johnson and Mr..
Dolliyer got TO close quarters towards
the end of the lattsrs speech. Mr.. John
son pressed the defender 90 the admins
istration 10 disclose the prasIdcuts ul-
innate purpose regarding the Philip
| pines. but Mr., Doiliver for scms time
a3roitly evadod q direct response. Az
lsst he contsnted himself with declaring
that this w1s rot the point 81 ISSUE
/ THAT ihe thing was Co 'rd thr N1r hi
rsufying This treaty. 1he futut. "f ~