Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-11
The Speech OF Senator Beverage.


general attention as that of Senator
Beveridge of Indiana, delivered in the
Senate. Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Bev-
eridge is the youngest man in the
Senate and this was his maiden speech,
but he was given n reception such has
been accorded to few senatorial ora
tors in the last generation. Every
senator sat in his seat and heard him
through. scores of House members
packed For two hours he held the at
tention of that distinguished assembly
as few men have ever had the power to
hold it, His narration of his own ex-
periences and observations in the
Philippines, his arguments and his
brilliant eloquence thrilled his hearers,
men too used to oratory to be easily
moved by 1t, and made an impression
that can only give much added strength
gress and through the whole land
wherever that remarkable speech is
read
Senator Beveridge possesses a per-
sonal knowledge of the Philippines
BY months of travel there. with our
soldiers and among the natives. he
made up for his youth and senatorial
inexperience, and could speak with an
authority possessed by none of his col
leagues. He knows the richness of the
island and their commercial value: he
knows how incapable the natives are
of f-government: he knows the
treachery and selfshness Of the des-
potic Aguinaldo; he knows how great
ly to blame for the death of our SOL
diers are those Americans who have
encouraged the insurgents; he knows
that it is best for the Philippines and
best for the United States that our
ereignty be exercised over the archi-
pelago: and he is strong enough in his
faith in our country to believe that il
can go the way that destiny points.
with no faltering or failure.
Mr.. President" said Mr.. Beveridge
in opening, the times call for candor
The Philippines are ours forever, ter
ritory belonging to the United States
as the constitution calls them. And
just beyond the Philippines are China's
illimitable markets. We will not re-
treat from either. We will not re-
pudiate our duty in the archipelago.
We Will not abandon our opportunity
in the Orient. We Will not renounce
our part in the mission Of our race.
trustee. under God Of the civilization
of the world. And we will move for
ward to cur work. not bowling out re
grets like slaves whipped to their bur
dens. but with gratitude for task
worthy Of our strength. and thanks
giving to Almighty God that He has
marked us as His chosen people,
henceforth to lead in the regeneration
Of the world" And from that opening
to the brilliant pcroration published in
our dispatches from Washington.
Wednesday morning. the speech, which
would fill over a dozen columns in the
Journal, was pregnant with expansion
ed in the clear and forceful style that
had given the young Indiana lawyer
national reputation as an orator before
he was sent to the Senate. The ad-
ministration policy was given
vigorous defence. and the blame for the
Instruction was placed where it be
longs. 1t was a dramatic moment
when Mr.. Beveridge. looking squarely
at Senator Hoar, uttered these words:
Il have talked with the people;
have seen our mangled boys in the
hospital and field; | have stood on the
firing line and behcld our dead soldiers.
their faces turned to the pitiless South
ern sky: and. in sorrow rather than
anger. | say to those whose voices in
America have cheered those misguided
natives on to shoot our soldiers down.
that the blood of those dead and
wounded boys of ours is on their
hands; and the flood of all the years
can never wash that stain away"
And when Mr.. Beveridge closed. the
conservative senior senator from the
Bay State, whom we all love and
honor, however much we differ with
his views, did him the honor of an i'm
mediate reply to his speech. But the
earneStness ana enthusiasm Of the
Indiana senator We're not to be over
come. His constitutional argument
was not to be refuted. His description
Of conditions in the Philippines as his
own eyes saw them, We're as vivid as
his plans for the future Of the islands
are sound and practical. He doesn't
see future states and territories in
those islands but colonial possessions
to be controlled by a strong and sim
pie system of government. His recon-
o,,,as - NHR