The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-16

the President of the United States and
slandering and maligning the officers of the
army
MIR. Wolcott quoted from The late mes
sage of the President promising kind and
benehcent action toward the Filipinos
when the insurrection was quelled. and
said. THAT is the last public utterance of
our President. whose treatment of the
Filipinos has been described by the Sena-
tor frcm South Dakota as brutal and cruel.
Mr.. President. that contest cannot be
cruel which seeks only to lift up and
make better the man who treats you as
his enemy. That contest cannot be fraught
with hardship or oppression that LOOKS
only 10 the civilization of and regeneration
of these islands of the sea. There is a
great deal worse possibility in store for
the savages of the world as yet unrc-
claimed than asking them to come with us
and take pot luck with the people of the
United States, under the protection of
American law and American government
That is what we are today asking these
islanders TO do. But if the utterances of
the Senator from South Dakota are de
plorable. / am still unable to acquiesce lii
the statements recently made by the Sen
ator from Indiana (Mr. Beveridge) who
quest. We took these islands as one of the
penalties and burdens of war imposed
upon us because OF the high duty which we
owed 10 the human race. None of US
dreamed Of the acquisition OF the Philip
pine Islands. But when the war with
Spain closed we found on our hands the
Philippines with more than 5000. 900 of
people, suffering oppression, hardships,
and cruelties. We found Spain an hum
INT f0p and 1t-pf fhngH
islands a floating derelict on the Pacific
Ocean. We took them because, IL we did
not take them, they would have led to
international complications. and might
have passed into unworthy hands. Had
those islands been as barren as the desert
of Sahara, our duty would not have been
less or different. We may have TO occupy
them indefinitely, and probably we shall"
The Islands Constitute n Debt.
MIR. Wolcott quoted from Mr.. Bever-
idges speech descriptive OF the wealth
of the islands. and said: ITO my mind
that argument is base and sordid. If we
take those islands because they are rich
and fertile and valuable, then the war in
which we have been engaged Will go
down to history as the most miserable and
degrading war that has ever disgraced
history. II we are to occupy those islands
it is because we owe debt. growing out
of the effects of the war, not because We
are able to take them. The same argu-
ment that would apply to our keeping the
Philippines would apply with equal force
to our loading our cruisers and battle
ships with shell and shrapnel. and cruis-
ing around the world in search of savage
islands that we may conquer"
Mr. Wolcott questioned the propriety
of calling SO often on Almighty Cod who,
Csl lal mill 4ln
heaviest battalions. The divine plan. he
thought, goes no further than to hold each
individual responsible to his fellow-man /
He did not believe the Almighty had |
given the United States the task of reg |
ulating the affairs of mankind.
Mr. wolcott referred to other portions |
of Mr.. Beveridge's speech in which the /
Deity is frequently called upon. and the |
United States made the keeper OF the 4
world, and said it may all be true. but if |
SO. we need to treble our feet at once; |
as for himself. he thought the United |
States was Republic filling up with op 1
pressed from other lands. and confronted !
by future full of peace.
No Divine Obligation.
'1t is Idle to talk of being God given
nation. he said. .'and ! am startled by I
the statement of the Senator from Indiana
(Mr. Beveridge) that charity did not begin
at home. but abroad
He ridiculed Mr.. Beveridge's explana-
ton of this remark and OF his description
of the Philippines and surprised the ex-
pansion Senators who had misjudged the
tenor of his remarks by his cutting satire
When Mr. Wolcott closed his peroration |
Mr.. Pettigrew arose TO deny that he rad
never said a kind remark of anybody and
hoped he would not find the whole Senate
believed Mr.. Wolcott's Large personali-
ties" He sneeringly praised Mr.. Wolcott
for his loud voice, and said he would not
deign to reply to his speech. Mr. Petit
grew then expressed the hope that the
would agree on a policy, and
referred to the history OF conquest
throughout the world to show that the
present Philippines policy Of the United
States is about on par with that of Spain
and other monarchical countries.
Mr.. Wolcott's speech. while a great
treat SO long as it dealt with Mr. Petit
grew. was something of a bombshell in
the Republican camp when he proceeded
10 attack the argument OF Mr. Beveridge.
who was not present at any time during
the address.
The matter went over until today. ard
Mr. Rawlins addressed the Senate on The
bill. contending that the estsb-
IIskment OF gold standard would be fatal
4
Mr.. Butler offered an elaborI.e substi-
Lutte for the pending Currency bill. II fixes
The unit OF value for the free coinage OF
silver and for the coinage" OF a Paper
money sufficient TO cover the total anlclnt
outstanding bends and interest, United
States notes, gold and silver certificates, |
certificates of deposits, Treasury notes, and
bank notes. which are to be ex-
changed for the coined" paper money, ana
a1..d and nd -hrv1 I
the possession Of the Government or wDen
presented for payment. II
The Routine Work.
During the morning hour Mr. Perkins |
offered resolution calling on the Secre-
larry OF the Navy for information as 10 | {
The number Of United States vessels now !
under construction; how many officers OF :
each grade and rank will be required for !
vessels now in commission or that may l
be put in commission in thirty days, and
when the vessels now under contract will !
be completed and ready for commission.
Mr.. Hoar requested the addition to the
resolution Of an enquiry as 10 the number
Of officers and men now in the naval serv-
Ice. The amendment met with no oppo-
sition, and the resolution as amended was
adopted.
MFR. Davis. Chairman OF the Committee | c
On Foreign Relations. gave notice that he /
would early today move for an executive q
session. !
At 4:2O the Senate proceeded 10 execu- G
tive business, and at $40 adjourned till I
-oday. s
Presidential Nomination. {
The following nominations were yester- }
lay sent to the Senate for confirmation
Treasury-charles H. Sherman Of Cali .