The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-08
M KINLEY POLICY.
Ex-Governor Boutwell, Censures
1t Severely
In an Address at an Anti-Ex.
pansion Meeting.
LENGTHY ARGUMENT.
Supremacy In the United States
Government
Rests In Congress and Not In
the President.

Springfield. Mass, Sept. S.-Ex-Governor
Boutwell, addressed an anti-expansion
meeting here last night and attacked
President McKinley's war policy in an
elaborate argument.
Mr. Boutwell, opened his address with
statement that supremacy in the United
States government rests in congress and
not in the president. This was to show
that criticism of the president and his
policy could not be construed as treason.
He said:
In the thirty-ninth and fortieth con-
crosses the great measures for the recon
structton of the government. and for its
came statutes against the opinion of the
president. Moreover, the two houses pro
Yided for the assembling and reaSseln-
bling of congress in defiance of the wish
es of the president. Beyond what has
been DONE a congress may assemble upon
the motion of i majority of the members
of each house and may proceed to bust
ness without the aid of a preliminary
gress always exists, and upon its own
motion it may exist with a right to act:
members or congress are not ohlceFs o.
the government, they are constituent
parts of the government
-, OF the purpose OF government ana IN
the ultimate, the two houses OF congress
lstent DodieS Ihey can command men
and money for such purposes as they
may think exPedlent' including their own
support and defense, and on them every
branch and agency of the government is
las individuals, the members of con-
gress are responsible, first, to their as
yong that they are responsible only to the
people WON they Teprfe1s4s415;
The attempt now making by the i'm
perialistfc press and organs to compel
the country into silence means the ac-
ceptance of Imperialism in America, while
the president makes war in Asia-a war
which has never been sanctioned nor rec
ogIlzed Dy congress, ana whose conducI
and fortunes are systematically concealed
First of all. 1 seek for an answer to
TINS question; What IS the character Of
the Philippine islands, Is it a struggle
of arms for the suppression of a riot or
established authority, such as occurred
at Chicago in President Cleveland's adj
ganization which has ali the attributes
and qualities of a civil government and
the exercise of original sovereignty by
100000 or 10,000000 people, sovereignty
that is divine in it's origin. if any SOVer-
and with which the millions Of Fflininos
were and are quite content2 If it is a war
against such organization and against
such a people MAhen those who are carry
ing 1t on are guilty of a crime called leSe
humanite, treason to humanity"
CIVILIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Mr.. Boutwell, proceeded to give facts
showing the high state of civilization
He said:
Wherever we have touched the islands
Of the Philippine group we have found
fure ana agreeable to the people The rec
ords of the army movements in Luzon
justify this statement and at noilo and
Cebu there were well administered local
towns.
cal and municipal governments on which
the framework of ! general government
can rest and be maintained in stability
and vigor. Such a. government based on
| a declaration of Independence has been
with the authorized concurrence of the
representative men of 191 provinces and
Its provisions are known. They are not
open to any serious criticism The instru-
ment as scheme of workmanship. and as
instrument for the guidance of af-
fairs of state, is far superior to our ar
fathers lived for a long ten years"
The speaker then reviewed military
opera ions to support the claim that the
American army has accomplished prac-
tically nothing and that AguinaIdo is able
10 continue the war indefinitely. He said:
AS proclamatiOns of power and embas-
administration can offer to the country
only war-exhausting war for an indefinite
QUESTION OF TITLE
The governor of Cebu has raised the
| question Of title on our part, as against
the title of the Filipinos. who are the oc-
| cupants and whose ancestors for centur-
! He claims that the title of the inhabitants
! of the Philippines is superior to the title
support in the treaty between Great Brit
ain and Venezuela to which the United
| The Venezuelan treaty warrants this
conciuS1on-namely That title resting
/ from discovery. Under this doctrine the
| superior title to the Philippine islands was
1 in the Inhabitants and Consequently Spain
Which t fTa az e nf c o. 300 ie 70
/ attach Under this doctrine the Filfpinos
/ had right to assert their superior title
! This has been done in every part Of the
4 islands unless possibly the City of Manila
may have been an exception. We are now
/ asserting title that in principle has been
/ disavOwed by Great Britain and Venezue-
! Ia in treaty that received our approval
and that was proclaimed as triumph
| of American policy in our new part as one
/ of the great powers of the world