Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-03
atlisesllaneous 8eaain9.
HOLD THE PHILIPPINES.
Senator McLaurin Gives the Reasons of
The Faith That is within Him.

Senator McLaurin Gives the Reasons OF
The Faith That is within Him.
Senator McLaurin delivered the
principal speech that was delivered in
the senate on Wednesday. His sub.
ject was the Philippine question, and
his speech is reported in the Associated
Press as follows; "In discussion of the
question there has been manifested
disposition to ignore the conditions by
which we are confronted, and to pro-
ject the debate upon line of political
sentimentalism. This mode of discus.
sion is not only unpatriotic but is an
evasion of the true issue. This is not
political question"
Mr.. McLaurin strongly deprecated
the position which the Democratic
party bad taken in making the Phil,
lippine question and expansion poll
tical issue. He pointed to the past to
show that some of the greatest Demo
Gratis who ever lived were expansion
lists and to prove by their acts and meas
ures that if it had not been for them
the United States would not have been
the nation it is today.
He took the ground that the Philip.
pines are rightfully and legally ours by
the treaty of Paris, and the United
States should hold them, affording the
Filipinos every opportunity to acquire
the art of government and giving them
all the powers and rights possible in
the circumstances. He dwelt particu-
larly on the great opportunities afford
ed by the islands for trade. between
Americans and the nations of the ORR
ent. He did not agree with some of
his colleagues on the Democratic side
that our trade in the east was mere
fgment of the imagination. He quoted
statistics to prove that the experience
of the last decade contradicted those
who asserted that our eastern trade
was not of immense consequence.
ut is in the Orient" "he said "that
we must look for markets. There must
be change in our policy. We must
enter into actual competition for this
trade. We must as nation recognize
changed conditions, and I believe that
by holding the Philippines our trade
| in the Orient will continue to increase
until all surplus products for years to
come will find remunerative markets
in the East"
Mr.. McLaurin then discussed the
special interests of the south in the
expansion of our trade.
II am glad" said he, ito believe
that the southern people have de
termined to investigate and study this
question rather than to be led blindly
by political anti-expansionists. The
southern farmer, by the increased price
received for raw cotton last year, has
become aroused. Fealty to party and
misleading information, fear, has pro,
duced among them opposition to terri
torial expansion. The effort has been
made in my own state to suppress all
Information and arouse public senti-
ment against expansion. The frightful
ghost of imperialism has been held up
before the people of the south to fright
en- them; but I believe it is impossible
much longer to mislead them"
Mr.. McLaurin said in sketcbing the
progress of the south during the past
90 years, that the blight of Negro suf'
fuge and Negro domination had almost
extinguished hope and energy and man
ly effort, but, like a giant bound with
fetters, she aroused herself at last and
again started upon an era of industrial
life.
Capital has flowed into that section" "
said be. "There is confidence in all
southern enterprises. The bitter mem
cries of the past are being forgotten IN
the rush of development of our resourc-
es. Our people feel that they are again
part of this great country and are left
free and untrammeled to work out their
own destiny. Our southern manufact-
ures have all reached out to the markets
of the Orient and discovered their ad-
vantage. The southern farmer needs
such markets for his raw cotton to
make its production remunerative.
"By the acquisition Of the Philippines
we hold the key to the eastern situa-
ton. We need not rely solely upon
treaty rights to secure the unopen
door, but can demand equal CONNER
cial opportunity with other nations and
if necessary, with vantage ground we
have. assert that demand. Will the
United States throw away the golden
opportunity by giving up the Philip
pines? am in favor of holding them,
and l believe the southern farmers and
manufacturers will sustain me in my
position. 1 believe, further, that the
presence of the United States and of its
flag, the emblem of human freedom,
progress and civilization, will carry to