The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-23
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION
Mr.. Spooner Speaks on His Bill
Introduced in the Senate.
Declares Tint Reports of Slavery Es-
tabJtsbcd Under Our Flag Are
slnuderous-Hns Always Regard
cd the Declaration of Indcpend-
ence n Justification for Rebellion.

Mr. Spooner in four hour address in
the Senate yesterday. voiced the intentions
of the Administration in regard to the
Philippines, and obtained leave to insert
in the Congressional Record a voluminous
campaign argument in answer to criticisms
made by anti-expansionists. He covered
every phase of the question carefully, and
denied that men should read the articles
Of the Constitution literally, but rather as
obsolete items, which were written to COW
er an emergency more than a century ago
The address was made on the bill intro
duced by him on January II, in relation to
the suppression of instruction in, and tt
the government of, the Philippine Islands
1t provides that when all instruction shall
have been completely suppressed by the
military and naval forces of the United
States all military, civil. and judicial
powers necessary to govern the said isl
ands shall. until otherwise provided by
Congress, be vested in such person and
persons, and shall be exercised in such
manner as the President of the United
States shall direct for maintaining and
protecting the inhabitants of the islands in
the free enjoyment of their liberty, prop
erty, and religion.
A substitute for the bill was given no.
tfce Of by Mr.. Pettigrew. 1t provides that
all hostile demonstrations on the part OF
armed forces of the United States in the
Philippine Islands shall at once cease;
that self-government, based on the prin-
ciples of the United States Constitution
and the Declaration of Independence be
offered to the people of the islands, that
negotiations on that basis be at once OPEN
ed with the existing native governments;
and that full authority be vested in the
President to carry out those provisions.
Mr.. Spooner's Argument.
Mr.. Spooner stated that the idea Of the
United States being commissioned by
heaven to bring other nations to religion
and enlightenment would have had no
recognition; for although this was a mis-
sionary people, it was not missionary
Government. There was no lust Of empire
in the American people: no people had
ever given to the world higher evidence
OF devotion to liberty than the people OF
the United States had given to the world
when the withdrawal of Spain from Cuba
was demanded. When the treaty with
Spain was pending in the Senate for iati-
fcation he (Mr. Spooner) had one time
reluctance to vote for 1t. He had not
taken kindly to the acquisition OF the
Philippine archipelago under its provisions.
The people had approved going to var
to snatch Cuba and her people from the
cruelty, oppression, and awful savagery
OF Spain, said he. They could not lave
approved the abandonment of the Philip
pines to Spain. There was not man in
the Senate who would have been willing
that all mention OF the Philippine Islands
should have been omitted from the treaty,
and II the demand had been made that
Spain simply relinQuish her sovereignty
there the answer might have been:
"You have NO right to ask US to quit
claim those islands to the world purely
in the interest Of philanthropy. You have
NO reason to demand, simply for reasons
OF sentimentality. our REIMBURSEMENT OF
this our last great possession.
Mr.. Spooner stated that had there been
no war with Spain and she had rendered
to us without money and without price
the cession of the Philippines the propo-
sition would hardly have received vote
in the Senate and would not be regarded
rs good offer.
The Presidents Position.
''There was a time" said he, when
would have voted against the acquisition
Of the Philippines, but 1 cannot see how
the President could have acted otherwise
than he did He could not leave the
archipelago to Spain. The people of this
country demanded otherwise. The day Of
the reconcentrado was fresh in their
minds The President had few alterna-
tives and he acted upon the right one. 1t
was as though we had taken the flag Of
freedom up on to the mountain top, where
all the world could see it, and then had
run in fear to the morass below, where
none would wish to view it. When we set
the flag over Manila it had to remain
there. Had We marched our troops out
Spain would have marched her troops in.
THE nations of Europe were all in SYM
pathy with Spain. They wanted TO see her
regain the Philippines and would have
piled up more Of her worthless bonds to
enable her to recapture Luzon. We had
to take the islands in the interest Of the
Philippines and Of the world.
I'VE hear a great deal Of the slavery
established under our flag in the Philip
pines This is SANDER. We have
always dealt fairly and honorably. and
such talk is valuable only in an election
year.. There never was a day since
August 13. when Manila was captured,
that we could without cowardice and abb
eolute dishonor withdrawn our troops"
Mr.. Spooner read the order for the
massacre of all save the Filipino families,
issued by one Of Aguinaldo's generals.
WAS anything ever worse than this?" he
asked. And yet Senators ask that we
withdraw our troops from Luzon. This is
proposition which they themselves would
fear to adopt"
Mr.. Pettigrew stated that the order read