The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-25

free people, who are beginning to move in
defense of their cherished traditions and their
violated honor
We have been told, further, that the presl-
dent yielded up his first blush Impressions
at the importantly of Admiral Dewey, who
urged that the Philippines shold be retained.
Mr.. Chairman. the chief executive cannot
screen himself behind the gold lace of the
hero Of Manila. No one can honor more
profoundly than do the officers of our regu-
lar army and navy, but their predictions
are naturally for arms. They have imbbed
of course, the prejudices and the preferences
of their calling. We cannot blame them
for desiring to magnify the size and impor-
lance of the army and navy for advocating
expansion and taking on of a colonial policy.
Again we have been assured that the de-
mand of our peace commissioners at Paris to
hold the Philippines is what induced the
president to yield. So far as one of the COM
missioners is concerned, we know that this
is false. But even If this statement were
true, the constitutional power to negotiate a
treaty was his, not the commissioners They
were simply his instruments, appointed to
carry out his will No, Mr.. Chairman, this
plea, like all the others, will not avail The
truth Is that the commissioners got their
inspiration and their instructions from the
White house. Those instructions once chang
ed, the action of the commissioners would
have been different The wrong was with
the chief executive. He, and he alone, la
responsible.
PROBABLE MOTIVE.
Mr.. Chairman, in my humble opinion, the
reason for the change in the presidential
policy was his concession to the selfish can
1tallsts OF the country, his surrender to their
demands. These are the gentlemen who fur
hIsneu the money for his nomination and
election, and who, l doubt not have pledged
MIN a denomination and a reelection.
THESE are the gentlemen who are already
selling upon valuable franchises In China
In connection with the English syndicate with
MEMBER or parliament from Wales at its
head. These are the gentlemen whom Lord
Beresford has in mind in his cordial but not
wholly disinterested invitation to an alliance
in China with Britain, Germany and Japan
| against Russia and France, the old-time enc
| mics Of his country and the old-time friend
oi ours. 1hese are the gentlemen who are al
| ready grasping after special privileges In the
philippines, in Cuba and Porto Rico
| 1t was. l imagine, for their special benefit
! that the president created his advisory board
! to the war department, composed of thres
| American citizens, their object being to farm
| out valuable privileges and immunities which
| should belong to the people of those islands
themselves and in whose disposition they
! should have a voice If their government Is
to be free and their rights maintained
l have no fault to find with the spirit Of
| legitimate American commerce. NV conten-
| ton is against the spirit of American greed
| which cares nothing for the spirit of Ameri-
can liberty.
And what do these gentlemen propose? To
| amass colossal fortunes in the islands by ylr-
| tue of their franchises, and upon the cheap
| labor OF the native population, not one dol
lar OF which will ever find its lodging place
| in the pockets of the American people To en-
able them to do this our whole population is
to purchase their field Of operations for them
| In the Philippines for the round sum of $780,
| 100000, and is to be taxed interminably and
| excessively in the creation and maintenance
| of great army and navy which is to conquer
and hold the Fiipinos in subsection and de-
fend the islands after they have been ex-
pensively fortified against the assaults of the
| great European nations with which our new
| foreign policy will be certain to bring US into
| frequent contention.
| What else is upon the programme of these
gentlemen? The open door i'll the Philippines,
| making it totally impossible ever to dis
| criminate IN tariff duties there in favor of
| the products of the American farm and the
| American shop.
| What is the other sacrifice that is required
| That the annexation of Cuba, Porto Rico and
| the Philippines, absolutely sure to come at
an eaiiy uas, ioI tney nave registered II III
| their vows, shall preclptate the sugar, to-
bacco, hemp and other cheap products of these
| islands and Hawaii upon the American mar
ket in free and unrestricted competition with
the agricultural and laboring elements of our
| own country.
This policy, sir, would have been free trade
in William Jennings Bryan. What is it in
William Mckinley?
Lands ANSWERS JOHNSON
Mr.. Lands, of his Republican colleagues
from Indiana, briefly stated to the house that
Mr.. Johnson's constituents had repudiated
him, and the two members had wordy duel.
The army appropriation bill was lost sight
Of in the general discussion of the policy OF
| the government relative to the Philippines.
| The general debate upon the bill closed to-
| day and tomorrow the bill will be taken up
| for amendment under the fve-minute rule.