The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
TUESDAY SET FOR A VOTE
MASON DEFENDS AGUINALDO
AND THE FILIPINOS.
"NE ARE MAKING WAR ON OUR ALLIES .
Vest Declares Our Policy h's Bteo Declared by
Our katien. The Senate Passes the
Legislative, xecutive and
JUDICIAL Bill.

JuOICldt OlIts
Washington, Feb. 11.-After a spirited
debate of more than two hours this af-
ternoon, a unanimous consent agreement
was made by the Senate to vote upon the
resolutions of l1r. McEnery Dem., La).
declaratory of policy of the United
States as to the Philippine Islands at
2:30 o'clock next Tuesday afternoon.
The request for this agreement was
made by Mr.. Mason, of Illinois, after
what seemed the conclusion of the de-
bate upon the question and after several
Senators who were known to be opposed
to any action on the resolution Temporal
rily had left the Chamber. Upon their
return to the Chamber they learned
what had happened in their absence and
later in the afternoon. Mr.. Hawley,
tRep., Conn.,, gave notice that at a
proper time he would endeavor to have
tIle a5A AeeA4Cnt vacated.
Consideration OF the legislative, Exec
uuNe aHu Juulclal ApprOprIaL.On Din
Wis COnL4uueu, ana Jne Dlu VAS passed
JusL LeIOre aaJOurnnent.
DurIng the ueDate upon the McEnery
resolutions, Mr.. Vest, (Alo.l, saId:
Nv nat can be a Droader farce than
the passage OF these resolutions wnen
we aneady have declared our pOHcy Ut
the mouth Oh the cannon, anlld tue rattle
OF musAetry, and III shooting our doc
trines into the people of the philippines"
he declared that when the treaty was
ratified 1t followed logically that the
Filipinos would be coerced. He said
that every one of the opponents of the
treaty knew that he would be denounced
as a traitor or be placed, as the Senator
from Montana Carter had put it, dam
gerously near the line of treason.
Mr.. Mason gave notice that he meant
to continue his warfare in the interest of
the resolution, and he would stay here
until the snow should Fly next December
if necessary to get the resolutions
adopted.
1t was, he said, more necessary to
adopt these resolutions than to take
money from the Treasury as proposed in
the appropriation bills. He continued by
saying that in the Philippines we are now
fighting our allies. The moment the
jingle of gold had been heard in connec-
tion with the Paris conference, and
when we had descended from the high
pedestral of independence, the trouble
began, and the people commenced their
revolt against the treaty. In Cuba we
were still contending for liberty and
there peace reigns; in the Philippines,
the reverse is true and there hell is
found. He asserted that the United
States had been the aggressors in the
Manila conflict by trampling upon the
rights of the Filipinos. They had sought
every means of securing a peaceful set
tlement and we had kicked them out.
When Anguinaldo had asked the poor
privilege of a conference our commander
had refused without knowing what he
had to offer. His request had been ig-
nored and we had gone on burning his
villages and shooting his people like dogs
Ia Weyler. Mr.. Mason gave deliber-
ate notice OF a filibuster, saying he
would speak each day until the resolu-
tiOns were acted upon
Mr.. Mason then entered upon the con-
tention thav the United States were
rapidly becoming a puppet of Great
Britain, and he read a poem entitled
THE Lions Whelp," which he said il
lustrated the relationships the following
lines from which illustrates its spirit:
81 know thee, now, my Lions whelp
1T could be none but thee"
This country was even growing more
cruel than England, and cruel not to
our enemies alone but to our own people.
He had heard it said that the Filipinos
could not he conquered with the loss OF
only 5000 or 1000 lives. According to
his way of thinking one American life
was worth more than those of all the
natives on tne islands. How many Sena-
tors had sons there? Or had all the
Senatorial appOintees retired before the
approach of danger?
IF you would only show me where
we could steal something" he exclaim-
ed iocosely, Il might excuse the proceed
ing on the ground bf high craftsmanship:
but fail to see where we are to get any
return for our outlay"
The whole matter looked to him like
murder and a travesty on our professed
following of the lowlv Nazarene.
A hill to amend an net entitled Gan act
to reimhuse the Governors of States
and Territories for eXnenses incurred by
them in aiding the United States to raise
and organi2e and supply and eouip the
volunteer army of the United States in
the existing war with Spain" was
passed.