The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-23
A GROSS BREACH OF Faith
Senator Turner's Charge Against
the Administration.
The Gentleman Fro0 Washington
Asserts That Americans Sought ard
Accepted the Assistance of the Fill
ipinus - MIR. BrNcridgc Accused of
IndulcinE in Cant mud Hypocrisy.

The Senate convened yesterday at L
O'Clock. President Frye in the chair a
the conclusion of the routine business Mr.
| Pritehard addressed the Senate on the sub
iect OF suffrage in the South His re.
marks will be found elsewhere
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Pritchard's
! speech Mr.. Turner of Washington. in pur-
uance of notice given on the 18th inst
delivered a set speech on the Bacon resolu-
| ion, declaring the purpose OF the United
States with reference to the Philippine Isl
ands. Mr.. Turner said that he regarded
the war in the Philippines as breach of
rational faith. and that the path of honor.
able retreat was left open TO the American
people
The first thing that struck Mr.. Turner'S
mind. he said, in the matter was the
breach of faith involved in the pretension
put forth by the President, and in the reso-
luton of the Senator from Indiana (Mr.
! Beveridge) declaring the right of the
United States to absorb the Philippine ISL
ands. wholly without regard 10 the people
OF the islands-a people who had shown re-
markable aspirations for liberty and indie
pendence."
In support OF his assertion of bad faith
on the part of the United States Mr.. Turner
detailed what had taken place before Ad-
miral Dewey went to Manila. and read ex-
tracts from the proclamation of the Fill
pino Junta at Honglong to the effect that
with the aid of the American forces the
Filipinos were about 10 obtain their COM
plete independence. He also read from a
Singapore newspaper the1account of an in
teryiew between Aguinaldo and the United
States Consul General. Mr. Pratt, bearing
out the same idea. This was followed by
extracts from letter written to Aguinaldo
by United States Consul Wildman. of
Hongkong. in which this language is used:
DO not forget that the United States
undertook this war for the sole purpose of
relieving the Cubans from the cruelties
under which they were suffering. and not
Tor the love Of conquest and the hope of
gain. Whatever the final disposition with
regard to you may be, you may trust to the
United States that justice and honor will
control all OF their dealings with you"
Could anybody. Mr.. Turner asked. read
those letters and documents and say truth
fully. as the President had said that the
idea OF independence was an afterthought
with the FiiipinGs? Nor was the state
ment true that they had never been prom
ised independence. The letters of Consuls
Pratt and Wildman showed that the Fill
pinos had been promised independence II
not in express terms, at least by necessary
implication. Did hot all this. he asked
bear out his statement that American pre-
tensions against Philippine liberty and in
dependence would be a gross breach of
faith Whatever might be said as to ac
tual promises of independence. 1t was in
disputable. and could not be denied that
Americans sought and accepted the as
sistance OF the FilipInos. knowing that the
stake which they fought for was indie
pendence. The conduct of the United
States in the Philippines had no parallel
in history. and IL il we're pursued ii would
be worse than "Punic faith 1t was in
that the honest, unperverted
American mind would not have repudiated
the pretenSion put forth by the President
and by the Senator from Indiana (Nr.
Bereridge) il the people had been called
upon with full knowledge Of the facts) to
sanction such things in the beginning and
before the desoIating war began. The
man who had put the United States in
that position deserved. and would receive.
the condemnation OF the American people
The people had conscience that stung
and an honor that reproached when they
saw an attempt to perpetrate injustice on
those in high places who had sought for
their own purpose. and for political ex-
10 do this thing. would learn that
Tact long before such an intolerable chap
ter in American history was closed for
ever.
Mr.. Turner characterized the claim of
he United States being the trustees of
Providence in regard to the Philippines as 1
ant and hyprocrisy
Without closing his speech Mr.. Turner |
rielded the floor. and the bill to divide the
northern district OF New York into two |
districts was taken up and passed.
A Joint resolution was submitted by Mr.
Platt of New York authorizing the Presi |
dent to invite the Government OF Great |
Britain 10 join in the formation Of an |
International commission to be composed |
1f four members. two from each country, |
whose duty IL shall be from time to time
% report upon the conditions and uses OF
he waters adjacent to the boundary line |
between the United States and Canada, |
including all the waters of the lakes and
-iVers whose waters flow by the river ST
to the Atlantic Ocean, and also
Ipon the effect upon the shores of these
waters and the structures thereon and
ipon the interests OF navigation by reason
# their diversion from their natural flow. |
nd further 10 report upon the necessary
measures 10 regulate such diversions IL |
uthorizes the appointment by the Presi-
lent of two of the commissioners and of
urTeyors, experts, and others needful in
he performance OF the duties imposed,
nd appropriates 100000 TO pay the ex
lenses.
Mr.. Allen offered a resolution stating
hal the response of Secretary Gage to the
enate resolution of January is incom-
lete in that the Secretary failed to trans
ait copies of the correspondence called ,
Ir between the Treasury Department and
he National City Bank. of New York, and
irecting him to furnish copies of all such
and communications and |
eports of conversations. The resolution =
cit over without action. ,
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.. /,
.awlins Of Utah. relating to polygamy.
nd then referred TO the Judiciary Com ,
Iittee was reported hack from that com 7
littee by Mr.. Hoar with amendments, and :
as agreed to. 1t now reads:
Resolved, That the Committee on The Judiciary 4
hereby instructed TO enquire into and report
the senate:
10 what extent polygaHy is practiccd or polyga- I,
ous marriages entered into in the United States
in places over which they have jurisdiction
What ii any, steps should be taken or measures
acted for the prevention Of polvgamy in the /
lifted States and in places over which they hive
risdictiOn.
Mr.. Depew. from the Committee on In
Istrial Expositions. reported a bill au-
lOrizing the President to appoint one
oman commissioner TO represent the l.
nited States in the National Society OF
e Daughters OF the American Revolution q
the unveiiing of the statue of Lafayette
Paris in 1900 and at the exposition then u
be held the commissioner not to be en- II
tied to compensation.
Mr.. Cockrell said he understood that
ere was an express understanding with
e French Government that there should