The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-02-01
A PASSIONATE DEBATE
In the Senate on q Phase Of the
Philippines Question.
SENATOR CALLED A TRAITOR.

M. PettaGrew, OF South Dakota,
Arouses the Ire Of senators in an
ECort to r,ace on Record the Word
ofAsuinaIdo Ia ainst That of Dewey
Washington, Feb. 1.-Debate in the
senate, ordinarily calm and dlgnified,
burst yesterday into passionate utter
ances and bitter recriminations. Sem
ators hurled denunciations at one an
other until the auditors quivered with
excitement. The debate grew out OF
a phase OF the Philippine question, and
no scene has been witnessed since the
discussion Of the war resolutions in tho
last congress which, in sensational
features. compared with that of yester-
day.
The discussion arose quite nnexpect-
edly. Mr.. Pettigrew, who has pre-
cipitated nearly all of the debate upor
the. Philippine question during the
present session, sought to have read
q resolution embodying a document
written by Emilio Aguinaldo upon the
Filipino insurrection and containing
his version Of the alleged recognition
Of the Filipino republic by Admiral
Dewey.
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts,,
protested against printing the docu-
ment In any form, and read letter
from Admiral Dewey, in which that
portion of Aguinaldo's statement re-
lating to the admiral was denounced
as "a tissue Of falsehoods."
Senators on the floor listened with
eager attention and many gallery spec
tators leaned far over the ratings in
their desire not to miss sentence.
Mr.. Lodge said he preferred accepting
Dewey's word to that Of Aguinaldo,
and was satisfied the American people
would also.
In passionate reply Mr.. Pettigrew
declared that Admiral Dewey had rec
ognized the Filipino republic, and al
though afforded an opportunity here
tofore to deny Aguinaldo's statements,
had not done SO.
In an instant half a dozen senator's
were on their feet. Mr.. Hawley, the
venerable senator from Connecticut,
denounced Mr.. Pettigrew's action as
treason.
In rapid succession Senator Petit
grew was made the target of singing
arraignments by Senators Spooner,
Hawley, Sewell and Gallinger.
That the feeling was at q pitch sell
dom noted in the senate was evidenced
by the pale faces of the men who spoke.
Mr.. Jones tArk.) and Mr.. Teller (Colo.)
endeavored to stem the tide of pro- !
test and deep feeling by conciliatory /
speeches. At the conclusion of the |
scene. which will remain memorable |
In the senate annals, the financial bill |
was taken UP and discussed.
Under the latitude allowed in gen.
eral debate upon appropriation bills,
the Indian appropriation bill In the
house yesterday was made the occa-
sion for the discussion of wide range
Of public questions. Our policy in the
Philippine Islands, the government OF !
Porto Rico, the leasing of our arid
lands and election methods in the
south were In turn brought into the
arena. The most interesting debate
over the latter subject. Mr..
Linney, of North Carolina, a lormer
Democrat, who Joined the Republican
party in 1884, and is one of the breezy
talkers of the house, used as a text for
the introduction Of the subject the
to the constitution Of his
state, which he claimed was designed
o disfranchise the negro. Quite a
lumber Of members were drawn into
he discussion and Mr.. Linney's state
nents provoked an eloquent reply
rom Mr.. Williams, of Mississippi, who
justified to the fullest extent the action
Il certain southern states on the
round that the non-participation of
gnorant and illiterate was necessary
o prevent the submergenee of ciyiliza-
ion.