The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-17
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Pettigrcw's Philippine Resolution
Rejected-Speech by Mr.. Vest.

Philippine question, and, apparently, there
is no rear approach to a deliverance on
the subject. Mr.. Vest. of Missouri to-day
voiced the opinion of many senator's when
he said that such discussion was now
in progress was of no consequence. as
the country was confronted by a state of
facts that could not be changed by talk.
Mr. Pettigrews resolution of inquiry and
Mr.. Lodges substitute for it were laid
on the table to-day and Mr.. Hoar's gen
eral resolution of inquiry as to the facts
OF the Philippine war was taken up. An
effort or Mr.. Pettigrew to amend IL so as
to call for the Presidents Instructions TO
the Paris peace commissioners led TO
prolonged debate. After the Senate had
considered the matter behind closed doors
the amendment was rejected by a vote OF
Al to 20. as follows:
Yeas-Aldrich. Allison, Baker, Burrows,
Fairbanks, Foster, Frye. Gallinger, Hale.
Hansbrough, Hanley, kean, Kyle, Lind
say. Lodge. Mcbride. McI.aurin. Mcmillan.
Nelson. Perkins, Pettus. Platt of Connec-
ticut, Platt of New York. Pritchard. Proc
tor, Quarles, Ross, Scott, Sewall, Shoup.
Simon, Spooner, Stewart, Thurston, Wal
colt, Wetmore%l.
Nays-Berry, Butler. Caffery. Chiffon,
Jones of Arkansas, Martin, Money, Petit
grew, Taliaferro, Teller, Tillman. Turley.
Vest, Wellington-20.
At the opening of the session Mr.. Cul-
lom presented petition. handsomely bound
and signed by $500 colored persons, ask
ing for such legislation as will protect
the colored men Of this country from the
''barbarous practice of lynching and burn
ing colored men," Mr.. Cullom asked that
the petition be referred to the committee
on judiciary, although. he said. 1T might
be desirable to refer 1t to the committee
on privileges and elections.
Mr. Gallinger, chairman OF the commit
tee on pensions. reported a bill repeating
Section 4116. Revised Statutes. SO far as
may be applicable to the claims Of de-
fendant parents of soldiers. sailors or ma
rines who served the United States in the
war with Spain. The bill was passed.
Mr.. Wellington introduced joint resolu-
ton declaring the purpose of the United
States toward the Philippine islands. and
gave notice that he would address the Sen
ate on the resolution next Thursday.
Mr.. Pettigrew read a resolution, which
went over. calling on the secretary Of war
for an itemized statement of the expenses
of the occupation of Cuba since the close Of
the war and the salaries of all officials.
After the announcement of the vote on
the Pettigrew amendment Mr.. Teller ex-
planned that he had voted against the mo-
ton because the president had the power
to send any communication to the Senate
in secret and because he believed that all
attempts to keep from the public informa-
ton of the kind asked for by the resolution
was likely to create suspicion.
Mr.. Hoar regarded the action OF the ma
jority as a most remarkable proceeding.
Mr.. Spooner said: 1.-THE President has
been perfectly frank with us on this matter
and all of US know just what was done in
respect to the Paris treaty.
Mr.. Hale followed with a statement in
which he said: "The result Of the negotia-
tions of the Paris treaty was to my mind
calamitous."
MR.. VEST . SPEECH.
The debate was concluded by an earnest.
but brief speech by Mr.. Vest Dem.. NO..
He regarded it as very unfortunate that
nothing could be said by the opponents of
the administration policy in the Philip
pines without calling forth imputation
of improper motives. 'The friends Of the
President said Mr.. Vest. "and am not
his enemy-assume that any remarks made
about the Paris treaty or its negotiation is
an attack upon the administration. This is
an unwarranted assumption. On his West
ern tour the President said the whole archi-
pelago had fallen like a ripe apple into our
lap and we were bound to meet our new
duties as they were presented to US. Were
We to leave them, or were we, as the junior
Senator from indiana (Beveridge) so elo-
quently told US the other day. trustees un-
der God to hold them as a part OF our mis-
sion to regenerate the earth?
'I hardly know how to characterize the
imputation that friends of Aguinaldo on
this floor are giving aid and comfort TO
the enemies Of this country. have already
said that consider the discussion of these
resolutions as of no consequence. 1t is
like calling in a skilled physician after the
patient is dead. What is the position OF
the PRESIDENT" inquired Mr.. Vest. He
directed the peace commission to take one
island-Luzon-and afterwards abandoned
that policy. He has since said the acqui-
sition Of the islands was an act OF Provi-
dence-that we cou.d not leave them as der
elicts. The fact is, this whole question is
in nebulous and foggy condition.
II disclaim now any intention that my re-
marks should reflect upon my country. But
1 deny the right of any man to muzzle me
and restrain my right 20 express my opin-
ion in my own way. We have the bubonic
plague added to leprosy I'm Hawaii; we
have starvation in Puerto Rico; We have
unrest and disquiet in Cuba; and we have
war Of indefinite length in the Philip
pines. Is it treason to say this?'
In conclusion. referring TO the Paris
treaty, Mr.. Vest said: when that treaty
was ratified by the Senate of the United
States every man who voted for IL knew
then that he voted for a war. Every SEN
ator knew then, as he knows now, that
we were paying 1000, 900 for a war I'm the
Archipelago. the end of which might come
in a month or might not come In ten years.
1 simply put before the Senate and the
country this proposition: Are we to remain
silent, refraining even from ordinary crit
icism as to the conduct OF the war, for
fear that we are TO be denounced as allies
of Aguinaldo and opposed TO the authority
of our own country"
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Vests speech
Mr.. McLaurin, Democrat, OF South Caro-
lima, addressed the Senate on the financial
question. making an argument in favor of
his proposition to confer authority upon
state banks TO issue circulating notes