The evening times., 1900-03-07

Mr. Lodge addressed the Senate at the
conclusion Of the routine morning business
totiay on the subject of the bill in relation
10 the SUPPRESSION Of insurreceion in. and
the COVE rnment of the Philippine Islands.
lie said in part:
This bill is simple but all sufficient.
il makes no declarations and offers no
promises as to a future We cannot yet pre-
dict. Ii meets the need of the present and
stops there The President, under the mil
tary power. which still controls and must
iG< sonss time control the islands could do
all that this bill provides. But il is well
that we should have the direct authoriza-
ton of Congress and be enabled to meet
any emergency that may arise with the
sanction of the aw-making power, until
that power shall decree otherwise. Above
all it is important that Congress should
assert its authority; that We should not
leave il to the Executive acting with the
unlimited authority of the war power to
go on alone after the conclusion of peace,
but that he should proceed under the au-
thority Of Congress whatever he does un-
Ill Congress shall otherwise and more spe-
ciically provide.
BY this bill we follow the well-settled
American preCedents Of jefferson and Mon
roe which were used still later in the case
of Hawaii. To leave the war power un-
restrained after the end Of way Is TO aU-
dicate our own authority. This bill Is the
assertion Of Congressional authority and
Cf he legislative power CT the Govern
ment To undertake any further or more
far-reaching legislation al this time would
be in my judgment. great mistake. But
] believe il to be OF great Importance to
define cur position so that il may be per
fectly understood by the inhabitants OF the
Philippines. as well as by our own people
Proofs of Weakness.
Negotiations. concessions, promises,
and hesitations are to the Asiatic mind
merely proofs OF weakness. and tend only
TO encourage useless outbreaks. crimes,
and disorders. A firm attitude. AT once
Just and fearless, impreSses such peopie
with a sense OF strength and Viii calm
them. give them a feeling of security, ard
tend strongly to bring about peace and
good order. This bill conveys this i'm
preston, states the present position II me
United States. and does nothing more
The operative and essential part OF it Is
in the very words Of the at by whicn
Louisiana. and which received his apprO-
rstion and sfEnature. Ii was also used by
Congress and bv President Monroe in lSl9
in regard 10 Florida. think that in such
q case We may safely tread in the foot
steps of the author of the Beclarat 55A OF
Indenendence He saw no contradiction
between thar great instrument and The
treaty with Napoleon. or the act 10 govern
Iouisiana. Some modern commentators
r4aT- q and unable 10
reconcile the acquisition or territory With
ont sbat they call the consent OF Che gov
erned with the principles Of The De1iaId-
lion. Jefferson found TO such diiiirUltE
and I cannot but think than ne understood
The meaning of the Declaration as We'll a.
It's latest champions and defenders. ~ all
events | am content 10 follow him, con-
tent to vote for his bin. CC2taal 10 ACCEPT
his Interpretation Of what he himself
wrcte Even il he is wrong those ri IS
who agree with him can console ourselves
by thinking that il is perhaps better 40
err with Pope than shine with Pye.
The questions involved in the future
management OF these islands and in our
policy in the Far East are OF nature 10
demand the highest and most s3gaelous
craftsmanship. | have always th5uglJ
with Webster that party politics shoali
cease at the waters edge. He spoke only
in reference to our relations with ioielgA
nations but ] think We might well apply
his patriotic principle TO our d. allngs with
our own ius-lar possessions bo'h IN the
Atlantic and the Pacific The Philippines
should be an American question not the
Sp0rt OF parties CT the subject OF party
Creeds. The responsibility for them rests
upon the American people. NOT upon the
Democratic or Republican party. II 'Ae
fail in dealing with them We shall all alike
suffer from the failure. and If We sue eed
the honor and the profit VIII rebound IN
the end to the glory and the benefit o. all.
This view no doubt seems visionary IL
certainly ought not 10 be 30. and in liTe
7 believe il viii be accepted. UnfortJn2te-
ly il is not the case today"
Mr Lodge at this point discussed TIE
policy advocated by the Democratic party.
which, he said is simply promise made
for the future "Promises' he continued.
age neither action nor policy, and. in
the form OF legislation, arc a grave mis-
take Those which involve Us in pledges
of Independence have the additional disa3-
vantage of being the one sure means of
keeping alive war and disorder in the
islands Those who offer them o. urge
them proceed on the assumption that you
can deal with an Asiatic in the same man
ner aud expect from him the same results
as from European or an American. This
shows, it seems to me. a fatal mis- oncep-
ton The Asiatic mind and habit OF
thought are utterly different from ours.
Words or acts which 10 us would show
generosity and kindness and would bring
peace and order. to an Asiatic mean s m
ply weakness and timidity and are TO m
an incentive to riot. resistance, and blood
shed. Promises of this kind. therefore
are neither effective action nor intelligent
policy, but the sure breeders OF war.
Deaufta PaIicD
II we must abandon the Philippines. let
us abandon them frankly If we mean to
turn them over to domestic anarchy or
foreign control. let US do il squarely. If
we are to retain them, let us deal man
fully with the problems as they arise. But
do not indulge i'm the unspeakable cruelty
OF making promises which our succez ezsors
may be unable or unwilling to fulfill and
which will serve merely to light the flames
Of war once mere and bring death TO hun
dreds OF natives and to scores OF American
soldiers. Let us not attempt in such a
and with such responsibilities to
mortgage an unknown future and give
bonds TO fate which viii be redeemed in
blood
The policy we offer is simple and
straightforward. We believe in the frank
acceptance of existing facts and in dealing
with them as they are and not on a the
ory OF what they might or ought to be-
We accept the fact that the Philippin
Islands are ours today. and that we are
for them before the world. The
next fact is that there is war in those
islands, which. with its chief in hiding,
and no semblance OF a government. has / /
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