The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-06
HARMON CREATES SURPRISE
By CONCERNING THE ADMINIsTRA-
TION'S FAR EASTERN POLICY.
Also Hints that Judge Taft Is Not an
Expansionist-FOrm FavOrs Pro-
tectorate-Judge Days Remarks.

and neighbors was unique in its elegance
and good will. The hundred substantial
citizens who took this method of bidding
farewell to their friend, included the rep
resentative men of Cincinnati. Most of
them are in the habit of speaking of the
guest Of the evening as ''Will Taft" but
they have all learned to be proud of his
success in every post to which he has been
called. and to admire the fearless courage
and the unquestioned qualities of mind
and purpose with which his course has
been marked.
Nj. E. ingalls,, president Of the Big Four
Railroad Company, presided as toastmas-
ter. After reading a letter of regret from
Secretary of War Root, who was unable
to attend, and after speaking in a happy
vein of Judge Taft and his great mission.
he introduced Judge William r. Day, late
secretary of state, who spoke of the ne
gotiation of the treaty of peace with Spain.
He said in part:
mo man in this day of rapid changes
can define policy which shall control and
limit the future action of any great govern
ment in the world. 1t Is our duty to deal
with each problem as it arises. When the
United States had. by every constitutional
guaranty, acquired title to the Philippine
islands it was the duty of the President
of the United States to use the army and
navy to restore peace and order and to repel
the attacks of the misguided people. who,
even before the treaty was ratified, had at
tackled with arms the soldiers OF the
United States. Now, since that insurrec-
ton seems practically ended. the United
States enters upon the browning duty of
giving to these people just, stable ana
free government. The labor of acquiring
title, responsible and hampered with diff
ficulty as ii was. was as naught compared
with the labor which will be required in es-
tabliShing ourselves in the confidence or
the people, and gradually fitting them for
self-government. We shall succeed in the
islands by not following the policy of ex-
ploitation by which they were misruled for
centuries. The largest triumph of Amer
lean diplomacy in many years is the secur-
ing of the open door i'm China, which the
American government has been able TO OBJ
tain by friendly negotiations, where the
English nation has signally failed. Can
We hope to keep this door open If we seek
to close our own in the East to the other
commercial nations?
1.-The American people have right to
every commercial advantage which the
cession gives. Under the protection of the
American flag industry and commerce are
to find their new and enlarged fields of
activity No greater mission has ever been
placed in the hands of any people than is
now committed to the commission headed
by our friend in whose honor we are as
sembled tonight; the new world, carrying
to the old a message of good will, and
seeking to establish good government and
civil liberty for that people. The task
may be arduous and the progress slow.
but there will be no steps backward, and
the duty which America assumed when
these people became her wards will be
discharged when there is firmly planted in
these distant islands of the sea an enlight-
ened population, owing allegiance to the
United States and enjoying with us the
blessings of liberty, regulated by law"
interest. The heartiest applause was given
to his assertion that the aim of the United
States is not to exploit trade in the Philip
pines but to serve the interests of the peo-
pie of those islands
Governor George X. Nash followed Judge
Day, speaking pleasantly of Judge Taft as
citizen, lawyer and a judge.
JUDGE HARMON'S ADDRESS.
Judge Judson Harmon, who was attor-
ney general under the last Cleveland adj
ministration and whose association with
Judge Taft at the Cincinnati bar has been
contemporaneous, created a sensation in
his opening sentence, though It was under
stood the company had not been chosen
with the view of political harmony. Judge
Harmon in part said:
IF you had met to approve the general
course of the government with respect
to the Philippines, / should not be here.
For hundred years We contented our
selves with words of sympathy for peoples
struggling as we once struggled-for free
dom and independence. Here, for the first
time an opportunity came TO help in such
struggle without breaking our settled
policy. We joined ranks with the native
patriots against the common enemy.
Whether any one made or was authorized
to make promises to them is of no con-
sequence. Our history and principles are
a perpetual promise; and no one will deny
that when the Filipinos Joined forces with
US they believed, and we knew they be-
lieved, that success would mean the full
filment of their hopes.
when We came to terms of peace. IL
was our duty TO put an end to the claims
of Spain. AS TO all the territory, except a
few square miles, these were the barest of
pretentions. but SPANS need and others
greed might make a speculative asset of
them to the injury of our allies. This was
the only possible justification for the di-
rection to our commissioners to purchase
those claims, and We naturally expected
some declaration of trust. So did our al
lies. But it soon turned out that, instead
of buying off the King of Spain the gov
eminent bought him out and proposed 10
realize on the investment Our only real
war followed-a war which a word would
have avoided, If our government had been
willing to say IL, and whose victories
aroused no gladness in people like
those over Spain. The government got
absolutely nothing by the treaty with
Spain except color of title to small part
Il
right to make war on the inhabitants with
out action by Congress Whatever IL now
holds (save what IL got by treaty with
] the Sultan of Sulu) il has acquired by
| conquest from them and not otherwise.
| and IL is stl,i engaged In perfecting and
extending such conquest We now hear
| the usual plea of the doors of doubtful
| things-the deed is done, IL is too late &c
| discuss it.
1T is never too late to retrace a mis-
| step, to right or undo a wrong. IL the
people shall decide that no nation Is good
enough to rule another nation without that
| others consent; IL they shall rememb,
what IL costs US 20 cast out the heresy
| that the great principles of liberty did moi
| apply to BLACK men and shall refuse TO re-
| embrace IL as to brown ones: IL they shall
| concluded that this country cannot Ions
| exist part vassal and part free. as they
found IL could not part slave and part
/ free; then there will be nc difficulty in
| doing what We ought 10 have done I'm the
| beginning-leave the Filipinos to manag.
| their own affairs and serve notice on the
| world that they are under our protec.
| ton. That issue may be settled soon
| IT may take long. AS IL involves right and
| wrong IL will never be settled until IL Il
| settled right. Meantime. there are certain
/ duties for which We are responsible. One
| Is TO provide a government for those
| islands. However strongly he may dis
/ approve the course which has led TO thi:
| necessity, no citizen has a right TO with
| hold his aid and support"
| Judge Harmon after asserting tha
| while the Presidents right 10 make regu
Iations In the nature or laws Is doubtful
his right and duty to provide agencies
for enforcing the laws are clear. He dis