The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-22

washington, Feb. 21.-Tn the senate
today Senator Lodge, Of Massachusetts,,
delivered powerful address support
ing the administrator Philippine pol
ley and attacking it's critics. His text
was the Spooner bill putting in the
presidents hands, until otherwise or
dered by congress, power to establish
stable government in the archipelago.
The senator said in part:
This bill Is simple but all sufficient.
It makes no declarations and offers no
promises al to a future we cannot yet
predict. 1t meets the need of the pres
ent and stops there. Tie president,
under the military power, which still
controls and must FOR some time con-
troll the islands, could do all that this
bill provides. But it is well that we
should have the direct authorize lion OF
congress. To undertake any further or
more far-reaching legislation at this
time would be, in my Judgment. great
mistake. But I believe 1t to be of
great Importance to define our position.
so that it may be perfectly understood
by the inhabitants of the Philippines,
as well as by our own people.
The questions involved in the future
management of the Philippine islands
and in our policy in the far east are of
a nature to demand the highest and the
most sagacious craftsmanship. l have
always thought with Webster that
party politics should cease at the wa
ter's edge The Philippines should be
an American question, not the sport OF
parties or the subject Of party creeds.
The responsibility for them rests upon
the American people, not upon the
Democratic or Republican party. If we
fail in dealing with them we shall all
alike suffer from the failure. and If we
succeed the honor and the profit will
rebound in the end to the glory and
the benefit of all.
Short Sighted Opposition.
one of the great political parties of
the country has seen fit to make what
is called IAN issue" of the Philippines.
They have no alternative policy to pro-
pose which does not fall to pieces as
soon as it is stated. A large and i'm
portant part of their membership, north
and south. is heartily in favor Of ex-
pansion. because they are Americans,
and have not only patriotism but an
intelligent perception of their own in
terests. They are the traditional party
of expansion, the party which first
went beyond seas and tried to annex
Hawaii, which plotted for years to an
mex Cuba. which have in our past ac-
quisitions of territory their one great
and enduring monument. Needless Of
their past and of their best traditions,
careless of their Inconsistencies. utterly
regardless of the obvious commercial
interests of the south, which they con-
troll: totally indifferent to the wishes
and beliefs of a large portion of their
membership, and to the advice and eX-
ample of some of their most patriotic,
most loyal and most courageous lead
ers, to whom all honor is due, the man
ayers of the Democratic organization
have decided to oppose the retention of
the Philippines and our policy of trade
expansion in the east. for which those
islands supply the corner stone. Their
reason appears to be the highly saga
cious one that 1t is always wise to OPP
pose whatever Republicans advocate,
without regard to the merits of the
policy or to the circumstances which
gave it birth. AS an American regret
that our opponents should insist on
making party question of this new
and far-reaching problem. so fraught
with great promise of good both to our
selves and to others. AS a party man
and as a Republican I can only rejoice.
In 1904 the party which opposed expan-
sion went down in utter wreck before
the man who interpreting Alright the
instincts, the hopes and the spirit of
the American people. made the I.ouisi-
ana purchase. We make the same ap-
peal in behalf of our American nOlicies
We have made the appeal before and
won, as we deserved to win. We shall
not fail now.
Impossible Suggestions.
After saying that he had been unable
to discover what policy his political
opponents proposed, Mr.. Lodge con-
tinued:
We have had presented to us, it is
true. the policy desired by Aguinaldo
and his followers. that we should ac-
knowledge him as government, en-
force his rule upon the other eighty
three tribes and upon all the other
islands, and then protect him from for
elgn interference. This plan, which
would involve us in endless wars with
the natives and keep us embroiled with
other nations, loads us with RESPONSE
bility without power and falls into ruin
and absurdity the moment it is stated
Another proposition is that we should
treat the Philippines as we treat Cuba
That is precisely what we are doing.
But what is really meant by this de-
mand is not that We should treat the
philippines as we treat Cuba, but that
we should make to them q promise as
to the future And that is what every
proposition made by those opposed tx
the Republican party comes down to.
promise as to the future. We are to
put down insurrection and disorder and
hold the island temporarily without the
consent of the governed, but stimuli
taneously we are to make large prom
ises as to the future which will look
we'll in print and keep insurrection and
disorder alive.
The resolution offered by senator's
on the other side and the tenor of their
speeches are all of this description.
They present no policy, but invite us
to make promises. Promises are
neither action nor policy, and, in the
form OF legislation. are grave mis-
take. Those which involve us in
pledges of independence have the addi-
uonal disadvantage of being the one
sure means of keeping alive war and
disorder in the islands. If we must
abandon the Philippines, let us aban-
don them frankly If we mean to
turn them over to domestic anarchy
or foreign control. let us do it sauareIy.
III we are to retain them, let us deal
manfully with the problems as they
arise. But do not indulge In the un-
speakable cruelty of making promises
which our successors may be unable or
unwilling to fulfill, and which will
serve merely to light the flames of war
once more and bring death to hundreds
of natives and to scores OF American
soldiers.
Simple and Straightforward.
The policy We offer, on the other
hand. is simple and straightforward.
existing facts. and In dealing with
them as they are and not On a thaor,,