The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
DEMOCRATIC POLICY
Is Formally Announced by Caucus
of Congressmen.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-At a caucus of
the Democratic members Of the house of
representatives, held in the hall last
night, the following declaration of policy
and resolutions as to the Philippines
were adopted:
We hold that the constitution of the
United States was ordained and estab-
lished for an intelligent, liberty loving
and governing people and can not
be successfully applied to a people of
different virtues and conditions. We
therefore hold that a colonial policy is
contrary to the theory of our govern
ment and subversive of those principles
of civil liberty which we have been
taught to cherish. We believe with the
declaration of independence that all
governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed and
we are unalterabIy opposed to the
esta blishment of any government by
the United States without the consent of
the people to be governed and In con-
formity with these principles we in
Struct the minority members of the for
eign affairs committee 60 introduce and
urge the following resolutions:
Resolved. That the United States
hereby disclaim any disposition or in
tentiOn to exercise permanent sovereign
ty, jurisdiction or control over the Phil
ippine islands, and assert their determ-
nation, when an Independent govern
ment shall have been erected therein,
to transfer to said government upon
terms which shall be reasonable and
just all rights secured under the cession
by Spain and thereupon leave the gov
eminent and control of the islands to
their people,
Another resolution by Mr. GriggS of
Georgia was adopted as follows:
I'VE, the Democratic members of the
house of representatives in caucus as
sembled, commend the signal loyalty
and ValOr or our soldiers and sailors
in the performance of every military
duty to which they have been assigned
by proper authority, however much we
may deplore the policy of the admins
tration now directing their movements;
and we pledge to them our hearty sup
port and sympathy under all circum-
stances where ever engaged
The following resolution by Mr.. Living
Resolved, That the United States con-
tween this government and spain is rati-
fed, give notice to the inhabitants of the
purpose rI5ps ITO to hold hold them under permanent
military control. as colonial subjects,
establish a republican form of government
and to become independent and seif-sus-
privileges from the United States as may
be agreed upon between US. In the mean,
property with the largest liberty to citi-
zensship possible under the cireumsfdan5 nc
un The neaTy nEag e
was large and little division OF sentiment
was manifested on the general features of
the resolutions. The first resolutions were
offered by Mr.. Clark (Mo.) from the Dem
ocratic members of the foreign affairs
committee, and were the text for most of
the speeches.
A speech by General Wheeler was nota-
BILE in differing with the prevailing view.
He urged that nothing should be done
which could be construed as lack of
support of our. soldiers; The hands of the
fighting was going on. AS matter of
expectancy, also, he urged that the party
popular, he declared, and at the present
time the spirit of the people was shown
by the fact that every boy had his drum
and sword, while the mothers were proud
of this patriotic spirit
the two resolutions adopted and the Liv-
ingston resolution was defeated by a large
O1- rift