The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-07

would enter a motion that the commit
tee on foreign relations be discharged
from further consideration of his reso-
luton expressive of the Senate's SYM
pathy for the Beers in their struggle
with Great Britain. He had, he said,
introduced the resolution on December
6, and it had been in the hands of the
committee ever since.
Il have no intention of violating the
rules of the senate" said Mr. Mason,
but it is clearly the intention of the
committee on foreign relations to take
no action in regard to the resolution,
and I want it brought into the senate
and placed on the calendar.
THE committee could give US a report
if it would. If a majority of the COM
mittee is opposed to the resolution, let
them report it adversely. That would be
making sympathy. l am satisfied that
rs per cent of the country are in SYM
pathy with the Beers in their war with
Great Britain and 1 am just as certain
that a majority of this body would IA
vOr the resolution 1 introduced. 1t is
the merest child's play for US to sit
here and not.be able to get a vote upon
it,
In accordance with notice previously
given, Mr.. Lodge (Mass.) then address,
ed the senate on the Philippine ques-
tiOn. AS chairman of the committee on
the Philippines and as a member of the
committee on foreign relations, Mr.
Lodge was expected to make a notable
ull6TdnC0 On lIe WAS given
therefore, an attentive hearing by both
his colleagues on the floor of the senate
and by a large concourse of auditors in
the galleries.
Mr.. Lodges speech was based upon
the bill introduced by Mr.. SpOOner( Wis }
vesting in the president authority to
govern the Philippines until congress
should otherwise provide by legislation
MR.. LODGES ADDRESS.
Senator Lodge declared it would be a
great mistake at this time to undertake
any far-reaching legislation dealing with
the Philippines The president, he said,
ands and our position should be clearly
defined He deprecated making a party
issue Of the Philippines. He had been un-
able to discover what policy his political
opponents proposed THE resolutions Of
fered by senator's on the other side he
said. present no policy but invite us to
make promises. Promises are neither ac-
ton nor policy and in the form of legis-
lation are a grave mistake Those which
involve US in pledges of independence
have the additional disadvantage of being
the one sure means of keeping alive war
and disorder in the islands. If we must
abandon the Philippines, let US abandon
them frankly. If we mean to turn them
over to domestic anarchy or foreign con-
troll, let US do 1t squarely. If we are to
retain them, let us deal manfulfy with the
problems as they arise.
THE policy we offer, on the other hand,
is simple and straightforward We be
lieve in the frank acceptance of exist
ing facts and in dealing with them as
they are: and not on theory of what
fact that the Philippine islands are ours
today and that we are responsible for
them before the world The next fact is
that there is a war in those islands. with
its chief in hiding and no semblance of
a government; has now degenera ted into
mere guerilla fighting and briganda ge.
Our immediate duty therefore is to sup
press this disorder, put an end to fight
ing and restore peace and order: That is
what we are doing. That is all we are
called upon to do in order to meet the
demands of the living present. Beyond
this we ought not to go by a legislative
act, except to make such provision that
there may be no delay in re-esta bIishing
civil government when the war ends
Mr. Lodge quoted official documents
and correspondence in support of his con-
litical entanglements with Aguinaldo. He
denounced as absolutely fictitious all
statements that Admiral Dewey saluted
the Filipino flag or received Aguinaldo
with military honors, or in any way rec
ogniZed the so-called Filipino government.
Mr.. Lodge presented extract from a
letter written by Captain Coghlan, then
of the Raleigh, detailing precisely what
said: Il wish to affirm as strongly as
human words can do so that AguinaIdo' S
people did not accompany and that
they took no part whatever in that cap
Brumley. Captain Walker and myself
even knew where we were to go. We left
at midnight without lights of any kind,
not even signalling as usual for permis-
sion to get under way. and one knew
except the flagship and vessel or two
near US that the vessels (Raleigh and
Concord) had moved from their berths.
1t was not known until next morning
that we had gone out of sight of our
fleet At this very time. the so-caIle1
gunboat of Aguinaldo was anchored at
| Cavite and did not learn of our depar-
l ture until next day about noon. We cap