The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-07
Wednesday, Feb. Z. 1900.
Senator Tillman's Speech.

Senator y SpccChs
Like everything else that Senator Tillman
SAWS. his recent speech in Congress affords In
teresting reading. He presents his Side OF tne
Philippine question, If question there 49, III
the strongest light possible. 1t Is In fact an
able document, but from our standpoint IL
will not very materially effect public senti'
ment at this time.
II there ever was a time for the delivery Oh
that speech 1t should have been delivered De-
fore Dewey captured Manila.
Mr.. Tillman, like nearly every other anti
lmperialist, makes the mistake OF supposing
that Aguinaldo and his followers are the peo-
pie Of the Philippine islands. In the isianas
are perhaps 5000 600 people, or more than tne
white people of the Southern Confeoeracy.
Aguinaldo is supposed to have never had
more than thirty thousand soldiers. Out OF q
population OF 100000 South Carolina alone
sent twice as many soldiers to the Confederate
war.
Acuinaldo represents single tribe-and
there are perhaps thirty tribes on the Islands
and one.half of his own tribe are not loyal
to him.
The constitutional questions have no force,
and the decisions Of the Courts count for
nothing In times Of war.
What good would have resulted from the
reading OF the law against burning barns and
razing: cities, while Sherman was on his
march through Georgia?
It is clearly illegal to destroy the property
of the citizen, but what did Mr.. Sherman care
for the law?
Any idea that we must wait for the ICON
sent of the governed" before we take pos
session Of country has been totally and ab-
solutely disregarded by the American people.
When we assumed to govern the Indians.
did We get their consent to take possession OF
their country
When Napoleon oeded q territory larger
than the original thirteen states, were the
people on that land even consulted on the
subject?
When we went to war with Mexico and
took from that Government vast stretches OF
land did we consult the people OF Texas as to
their wishes?
: When we bought Alaska, who consulted
Nie citizens OF that far-o6 land OF Ice and
snow?
When we took from Spain the island of
{ Porto Rico, who deferred to the pleasure OF
the Porto Ricans?
It occurs to US that there was q rebellion" I"
or "war between the States" away back In
the sixties. II the Southern Confederacy was
destroyed by the "consent Of the governed"
we were not informed of the fact. Our recol-
lection is. that Grant and Sherman and a
great multitude of soldiers persuaded" US to
60 back into the Union.
Learned men have figured out, and proved,
athousand times by the constitution and the
courts that the Southern States had legal
right to secede. And, according to the books,
they certainly had that right, but did Lin
coin pay any attention to technicalties? He
simply snapped his fingers at the Courts and
the law, and proceeded to restore the country
to its original status.
The acquisition of the Philippines is an &C.
oompllshed fact, and there is now little more
reason for giving up these islands than there
would be for cutting loose from California or
Texas. or for the throwing away OF Porto
Rico.
II We dislike the annexation OF the Philip
pines because of the inferior races of people,
who inhabit them, would not the same oh.
jections have stood good in reconstruction
days against South Carolina, Mississippi and
Alabama, where there was such preponder-
"
There never has been time when the
Courts could undo the work Of an army. In
times Of peace the Courts govern, but when
war takes place, the Generals just order the
judges TO stand aside, or get out OF the way.
Mr.. TiNlnan might just as we'll be singing
psalms ovSr a dead horse as trying TO stem
the popular. current of opinion. And he
might just g., we'll be reading the riot act
over the grave OF Grant. as to now propose to
throw away the results Of the war with Spain
While there may be division Of sentiment
on the original proposition to seize the Phil.
ippines, yet ths>slves Of patriotic citizens and
gallant soldiers have beea sacrificed in max.
ing thet conquest. After spending hundreds
OF dollars and causing the death
OF thousands OF soldiers. we would condemn
ourselves II We gave up the prize for which
they fought and died. America has never yet
gone back on the soldiers who fought her lat
ties, and this country will never do anything
OF the kind. While we know nothing of 9th.
or countries, we do not know how any coun.
try could be more loyal to her soldiers than is
America.
Mr.. Tillmsn speaks Of the money the is
lands have cost. After the battles have been
fought, and when the result Of the warfare
has been attained, 1t Is too late to figure up
whether it is paying Investment The time
to figure on cost Is before the war. and before
the lives Of soldiers have been sacrificed. II
we made bad bargain, we should stick to 1,
the closer. And never for an instant give ul
the ground for which we fought. II nation
throws away its victories and dishonors Its
heroes, where would future generations ge,
their armies?
We know that Mr.. Tillman has many good
men to sympathise with his views, but the
great public heart will never turn their backs
on the recent glorious victories of our armies
II Mr.. Tillman has any apprehension as 10
his reelection, we would assure him of our
unquestioned belief in his return to the Sen.
ate, but he will add nothing to his vote for
being kicker after the battle has been fought
and won.
II our recollection is right, the Democrats OF
this country were more urgent for the inaug.
uration of the war with Spain, than were the
MIR. Mckinley seemed the last To consent for
war, but when he did 60 into 1t. he managed
1t with consuDmate skill. And our navy and
our army won such victories as to not only
astonish the world, but to make Democrats
sick at heart when they see the Republican
President winning laurels that would, for four
years at least, bar out of the Presidential
chair all Democratic aspirants.