New-York tribune., 1900-05-23
PRICE THREE CENTS.
PRESIDENT DEFENDED.
SENATOR .SPOONER SPEAKS
ON PHILIPPINE POLICY
A MASTERLY EXPOSITION OF AMERI-
CAN DUTY AND PURPOSES IN
THE FAR EAST.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE rarsrxxI

THE FAR EAST
TBY TELEGRAPH To TIE rRIBUNxI
Washington May 22-Mr Spooner Of wis
ccnsn. delivered this afternoon in the Senate the
first portion of what promises to be one Of the
most thorough and mastery expositions OF
American policy in the Philippines heard In this
Congress AS a leading member Of the Senate
Committee the Philippines and the author of
the resolution row pending to establish sys-
tenn of civil government for these Oriental de-
tendencies. Mr.. Spooner's interest in and famir-
iarity with the problems which have arisen
since the American occupation have long been
undsputed AS an intimate personal and polit-
ical friend of the President his views have also
been supposed-and properly-tO reflect the
knowledge and purposes which have shaped the
Administrations military and civil programme
in the Far East.
Mr.. Spooner's speech to-day was eloquent
and logical defence of the course pursued by
President Mckinley since the ratification OF the
Treaty of Paris. by whose terms the United
States was charged with the duty OF extending
National sovereignty over the archipelago ceded
by Spain. In the Wisconsin Senator's opinion.
the. trusteeship forced this country by Ad-
miral Dewey's victory in Manila Bay has been
discharged far in the spirit OF practical states
manship. other course being open TO the
submission to It's authority which must precede
any and all steps toward liberal political insti-
| tutions and settled public order
Mr.. Spooner's speech. when finished will be
freely used as an answer TO the many loose and
unsubstantiated arguments made in this Con-
gress in favor OF the abandonment of National
duty and the betrayal of National honor in
volved in a recognition of the native insurgent
government or surrender Of title into its In
capable and irresponsible hands. Mr.. Pettigrew
and Mr.. Tillman became involved in running
disputes with Mr.. Spooner over various ques-
tions of logic and fact. but neither could break
the force of the speakers collected and lucid ar
gument. The speech will probably be finished
tomorrow afternoon
SENATOR SPOONER'S SPEECH.
Mr. Spooner said he supposed il would be ad-
mitted that if there had been with Spain
and she had rendered TO us a section of the Phil
ippine Archipelago. the proposition would have
received hardly vote in the Senate and would
have been very unattractive to the people He did
not believe that the problems now presented to
this Government were presented because it had
devoived on the United States to Christianize
the world While ours a missionary people,
the Government is not missionary Government
I've have problems of our own" declared Mr.
| Spooner. many of them important and our
Il
people" He said that thought would have
| been harbored by our people of going into
distant seas TO take possession of an archipelago
/ howe|er rich it might he In our acquisition OF
| the Philippines there was no lust Of empire
| either among the American people or in the
| Senate
| mo people," Mr.. Spooner continued. ''can give
| more convincing evidence of the highest devo-
| tion to liberty than was given by the American
Spain from Cuba. did not take kindly to the
| acquisition Of the Philippines by the Treaty OF
Paris: and at time 1 think. I might have
| voted against the treatys ratification But
| have never been able 10 see how the President
| could have concluded a treaty with Spain that
| did not include a cesson of the Philippine
| islands. That sentiment-the sentiment for the
acquisition of those islands-pervaded our entire
| people.
| IMPOSSIBLE To WITHDRAW NOW.
| 1T has been contended that we ought TO have
| demanded that Spain reliquish TO US the SOW
| ereignty of the Philippines. and then left them
| to be governed by their own inhabitants. But
this could not have been done. We could not
qut-claim them TO the world. in the interests OF
philanthropy. There never has been hour
since the capituIation of Manila to our forces
when, without dishonor 10 country.
could have sailed away from Manila Our duty
was there maintain honor and 10 protect
the inhabitants of the city
Mr.. SpoOner then referred TO those Senators
who have seemed to exult sometimes in coup
ling the names OF the half-caste Filipinos with
that of our own Washington" and he read a
portion of proclamation issued by one OF Agui-
naldo's leaders warning the FiIipinos in Manila
that on a specified date "ail others viii be ex-
terminated without compassion after the ex-
termination of the army of occupation"
WAS there ever anything worse than that?'
he demanded. Would withdraw our army
and leave without protection the British
citizens. the German citizens. the citizens of
Holland and those OF America. not mention
the friendly FIlipinos against whom the direst
threats have been nader
Mr. Pettigrew interrupted Mr.. Spooner to de-
clare that no such order or proclamation he
had read ever issued.
Mr.. Spooner replied that it was contained in an
official document issued by the Government. and
was quite as accurate as much of the matter
Mr. Pettfgrew himself had used.
II asked for and received from the War De-
rartment six months ago copy of that very
order" interjected Mr. Davis. chairman OF the
Foreign Relations Committee.
II deny that any such order was ever issued"
shouted Mr., Pettigrew. either by Aguinaldo or
any of his subordinates."
PETTIGREw REBUKED.
THE trouble with the Senator from South Da
kota." replied Mr.. Spooner. lis that everybody
is liar who does not help to make his case
against the Government" (Applause1
Il protest against the use OF such docu-
ment." urged Mr.. Pettigrew- 1T is false and
ought not 10 be here"