The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-10
SENATOR BEvERIDGE,s SPEECH.

Few speeches have been delivered by a
public man to a national audience under
conditions so calculated to attract atten-
ton and excite interest as the one deliv
cred yesterday by Senator Beverage. His
comparative youth. the circumstances of
his election, his reputation as an orator,
the Importance of the subject, his personal
visit and prolonged stay in the Philippines,
his repeated conferences with the Presi-
dent. and the fact that his speech is the
opening one in a discussion which must
end in important action, all tended to make
cverstating the case to say that his speech
was fully equal to the occasion. AS a clear
and strong statement of the facts and con-
ditions of the Philippines question. and of
the rights. powers and duty of the United
States in the premises it is admirable, and
that will command applause as well as
strengthen conviction. 1t is not only
very strong presentation Of the arguments
in support of the Presidents policy and
ing the islands. but it anticipates and
answers every argument that can be ad-
vanced by the other side.
The main divisions of the subject as
treated by Senator Beveridge are the
great strategic and commercial value of
the Philippines; the situation as created
by and forced upon us by the war with
Spain; the character CT the people and
their utter unfitness at present for self
government; the juty of the United States
to them and to the cause of civilization;
the constitutional aspects of the case; the
kim and form of government that should
be established, and the Vital Importance
of clean and honest administra ton. Other
aspects of the question are dwelt upon at
less length, every point and every state
that the duty of the United States to es-
tablish governmental control over the
islands is as plain as it's legal title thereto.
Some of these points have already been
discussed so thoroughly that ii is difficult
to advance any fresh arguments regard
ing them. Even these points, however, are
presented, in a new and striking manner,
while those on which the senator can
bear personal testimony are made very
interesting and instructive. Many quota
tions might be made from the speech in
illustration of this, but the points will be
best discovered by reading the speech
itself. 1t would be fulsome praise to say
that it is equally strong in every part or
that 1T does not contain passages that
could be improved by pruning con-
6ensation, but these defects do not detract
from its general merit. Opinions may diff
Ger as to the best passages, but perhaps
he nest striking thing about the speech
is it's elevated tone, its superiority to small
milton of American duty and destiny. 1t
is the speech of a man who fully be-
lieves in the vitality and benefcence OF
American institutions, in the adaptability
of the Constitution and the ability of the
people to deal successfully with any situa-
ton. Pessimists, doubters, strict construc-
tionists and old men who are not in touch
with the times may attempt to throw cold
water ON the patriotic sentiments that
pervade the speech. But they are the SEN
timents of large majority of the Ameri-
can people, and If they are somewhat
tinged with imagination it is the kind OF
imagination that blazes the way for the
progress of civilization. The speech is one
that will be widely read and leave a last
ing impression on the public mind.