Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-02-23
Mr.. t}ormsn said

Pi''e &ssaA
Mr.. Gormsn said
Mr.. Pre-, ident : have not con-
snmed much of the time of the SEN
ate in the discussion of the pend
lag resolutions. | have had no in
tention of doing so and would not
now but for the occurrences of the
last two days in this Chamber.
The remarks of the distinguished
Senator from Nebrasks | Mr.. Allen
who addressed the Senate this mora
ing in connection with the remarks
made by the distinguished Senator
from Colorado Mr. Wolcnt, seen:
to make it necessary that | should
soy one word before we shall have
entered upon the real consideration
of the treaty IN secret session.
IL has grown to be an unfortu-
nate custom, Mr.. President, that
the newspaper criticisms of public
men find ready cOnduits in this
body, so that their utterancs may
be recorded here upon our records.
No matter how severe the criticism,
hOs unjust the comment. it seems
that at times they are to find their
way into this body and to be re.
peated by honorable members of the
Senate.
Nv attitude upon this treaty was
we'll defined in q public utterance
before the treaty was negotiated so
far as it refers to the acquisition of
the Philippine Islands. Ny opin-
ion upon that question was known
and freely expressed by me to one
of the mmissioners-who negotiat-
ed the treaty before he left this
country for Paris. / have had no
cause to change the opinions then
expressed publicly and privately.
They were opinions formed after
mature deliberation OPINIONS that
| believed were in the bes. interests
of my country; opIdinns to be main
tainsd by me, no matter what the
influence may be upon the other
side.
In nv course of public life. Mr..
President, Presidents of the Unit
ed States and their Cabinets have
had no terrors for me. have op-
posed them when they were of my
own political faith, when believed
that the measures presented were
too extreme ano would put in j"op-
ardy the business interests of the
American people. | oppose this
treaty in the form in which il comes
to us, and under which we are to
acquire the sovereignty of the Phil
ippine Archipelago, filed with peo-
pie who never can assimilate with
us, because | believe its adoption
and TIE acquisition of the territory
would be more disastrous to my
country than any other measure
which has come before the Congress
of the United States or the Senate
of the United States from the for
nation of the Government to this
hour.
But, Mr.. President. when ques-
tion as grave as this, which divides
statesmen without regard to their
political opinions. comes here for
consideration and for final action,
what do we find ? say final &C
ton, because it depends upon the
Senate today at 3 o'clocS whether
we are to enter upon this new
scheme which | think is fraught
with so much disaster to the Amer
lean people, for care not for the
Filipinos. l speak as | understand
it in the interest of the American
people alone. When that great
question is to be determine ! We find
that j: is sought to icfluence the
votes upon the question by small
personalities.
thank the Senator from Nebras.
ka for naming me. 1t is a manly
aud courageous thing for him to
do. 1t 10 more manly to do it in
that way than to do it by insinua-
ton. as has been done heretofore.
| thank him for stating. also, that
his and my views upon public ones
tious are as far apart as the poles.