Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-26
"PLEA FOR LIBERTY"
An Indiana Republican Makes It
in House Of Representatives
PER|ALISM WAS HIS THEME
He RidiculeS and DenOunCeS The PreSi-
dents Expansion Policy.
WAR rpoy SISTER REPUBLIC.
Tint IS what Johnson Calls our
Aggression Upon the Fiiipinos-
urv,n und Carnegie Compared
DoIIiver Defends Administrations.

WASHINGTON. January 25.-The House
to-day resumed the debate on the army
reorganization bill. Mr.. Gibson Republi-
cam. of Tennessee. was the first speaker.
He advocated the passage OF the HUI.
bill. Mr.. Johnson Republican). Of Indiana,
then took the floor in opposition TO the
bill. As he arose the Democrats applaud
ed. and members squared themselves
around in anticipation Of sensational ut
terances.
while the President in the presence
| of what ne may conceive to be popular
! demand" he began. "s hurrying the
army and navy across the seas to infict
upon an alien people government
against their will, ] propose fearlessy,
without regard to its effect upon my per-
sonal fortunes. to make a plea for liberty
and an argument against the perpetua-
| ton Of injustice"
"We are on the verge of crisis" said
| Mr.. Johnson, "and those who fail TO rush
| forward i'm support of the schemes Of the
Imperialists are being denounced here
| and in the public press as 'Spaniards' and
men who fail in their duty.
His answer was mat If the Chief Exc
| cutive would break his silence and OPEN
~ state that we do not propose to enslave
the people of the Philippines and give his
word for it, the present strained relations
in the islands would cease.
Those who were but yesterday our all
lies" Mir. Johnson said. would return
| 10 their homes. and there would be no ne
| cessity for this proposed increase in the
| standing army No. this would not De
| done What meant this hasty disaNowa
of Senator Foraker's statement that th'
administration had no intention Of hold
ing the islands permanently. II the al
ministration does not mean TO hold the
| Philippines. what meant this clamor OF
the administration press? Why had the
| Presidents commissioners demanded the
absolute cession of the islands instead OF
| simply demanding their evacuation "a.
| they did I'm the case Of cuba? why diC
not Senator Davis. who is in charge OF
the treaty i'm the Senate. agree TO allow
! the passage of q resolution disavownl
the governments purpose to hold the IS
| lands permanently? These were paten
| facts which could not be lodged. They
must be explained squarely. Everything
pointed i'm one drectiOn-the purpose e
annex the PHILIPPINES"
A PARALLEL DRAWN.
Continuing he drew a parallel betwee
our revolutionary struggle and the strug
gle the Filipinos made for independence
lie argued that to-day they have "a stabl
! government republican in form. Prcsl
| dent. "a Vice President. and Congress. tn
whole on the free consent Of the govern
| lrI1tt %
ernment he charged would be an un
speakable crime which should bring In
blush of shame t0 the cheek of ever
free-born American.
Mr.. Johnson paid a high tribute Z
| Aguinaldo and TO AgoncillO. IF WilliaI
Mckinney ever exchanges his policy Re
parding the Philippines" he declared i
stentorian tones. "he will bend to th
weight of popular opinion, 20 which b
bows. right or wrong
This utterance raised a storm Of ap
plause from the Democratic side
CHEERS AND JEERS.
Mr.. Johnson requested that such inter
ruptons cease. as they took up his time
Several times before he had made sim
lar request
'I should imagine the gentleman coul
tolerate Democratic applause" interrupt
]
"The gentleman can always tolerate IN
applause of honest men, no matte
whence It comes" replied Mr.. Johnso
t quickly. As the applause which greete
this reioinder died away he added: AN
he can also tolerate the narrow censuT
of those of his own party as he has don
frequently in the past. He has never bee
so wen satisfied with himself as when D
: narrow colleagues We're crying him dow
81 pride myself Mr.. Speaker he cor
{ tinued drawing himself up TO ms III
S beight. that / have brOadened since
entered public life. My party is mean
not an end with me, and when l beIeN
my party is wrong nothing can make II
s abate my convictions. Great Democrat
r. applause)
S A POLICY OF EVASION.
Proceeding he denounced the Pres
dents course as "a policy OF evasion
and charged that his supporters wei
8 coniuring up spectre 10 drive IN the opp
sition IF we set the example ana Wit
! draw recognizing the independence
the philippines. others would do hk
wise. but if other countries pounce dow
o uron The islands. let them do IT,
, were NOT expressly or impliedly respol
eillo II there was to be Europea
y,,r Let MS i'm Gods name keep out Of
The crv went up, 'Ratify the treaty ar
10 sion the war The President arrogat'
{ to himself the right 10 speak for seven
n million people. / thank Cod shouted NJ
y Johnson for the spirit of independent
v i'm the senate of the United States, irr
e spectiye Of party.
b. BRYAN AND CARNEGIE.
p "Bryan never made a greater blund'
than when he said the treaty should
ratified and our policy determined atte
ward. Andrew Carnegie was nearer righ
but he said the treaty should be fougl
I'm the dark. not I'm the open. l say v
-. should fight it from start TO finish. Pu
w.. lie sentiment should be aroused. II
# being aroused. as is evidenced By q
# great public meetings i'm New YORK az
# PHILADELPHIA; and my word for il. IL W
j not be many months before the toe
u public sentiment, which The Preside
/, vainlv imagincs is now carrying him 70
/ second term. will recede and leave NJ
n biob and dry. The very people VIII r
O. buke The spirit Of commerce which IL
supplanted the spirit of liberty.
III the treaty is ratified without ben
couplcd with a resolution declaring y
o. tbe ultimate independence OF the lsiahu
}. :, would be the death knell OF all o'
- efforts 10 stop the torrent
'- THE ARMY.
10 would vote for a bill to reorgani
~ ,,ov Int before God he would new
,ote for a standing army of loJ'Voo VINO
S,t,,,,4o object was 10 establish a col
n NAL system. - ho sot1
= ,,o,,id rot IN my seat first; ! would scol
= Tho demands OF state leslsiatule "i