Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-17
AS TO FREE SPEECH.
Vest Gives the Senate His Views with Re z
erence TO CrItIcIsm o the War.

Washington. Jan. 1.-THE senate j.
still in the thro"~ Of discussion OF the
Philippine question. and there - Ia
near approach to II deliyeraucr upon
the subject Vest Yesterday voiced
the opinion OF many senators when Hr
said thar such discussion as was now
in progress was of 10 consequence. 49,
the country was confronted 10y Il state
of facts that could not be change d
by talk. Pcttigrew's 5 resolution Of i'll
quiry and Lodges substitute for a
were on the table yesterday ana
Hoar's general resolution Oi inquiry ~
To the facts of the Philippine war WAS
taken up. An effort OF FcrIi"rcw tu
amend il so as To call for the presi-
dents instructions to the Paris peace
commissioners led To Il prolonged de-
bate. After the senate had considered
the matter behind closed doors. th,
amendment was rejected by u vote Oi
i 10 70.
Vest submits Few Remarks.
The debate on the resolution was
concluded by an earnest but brief
speech 10y Vest. lie regarded il a.
very unfortunate that nothing could be
said 10y III" opponents of the admins
JrItiuu'S policy III the Philippines with
out calling forth an imputation Of ini-
proper motives The friends of tie
prcSideut-aud | am not hi- enemy
assume" said Vest that any remarks
made about The Paris treaty or its ne
gUtiatiOu is an attack upon the admin
iStration. This IL an unwarrantcd as
sumption. ON his western tour the
president said the whole archipelago
had fallen like ripe apple into our
lap. and We were bound JO meet oar
new duties a. they were presented to
us. Were we To leave them. or were
we-aS the jnIiiOr senator from In
diana tBrveriaseI 50 elegantly told us
the. other day-tru>t,.t.~ under Gud to
hold them AZ II part of cur mission
To rcgenerntc the earth!
DorIIne~ to H. MuzzIrd.
Il hardly kAuw how 10 cnaractcriZo
The imputatiou that friends Of Agui-
naldU on this flooT are giving aid ana
comfort To the enemies of this country.
| have already said that | consider
the discussion of these resolutions aS
of no consequence. 1t i like calling
in skilled physician after tn" patient
is dead | di>claim now any
intention that my remarks should re-
fleet upon my country. But deny the
right of any man To muZZle me AMI
restrain my right To express my "pIn-
ion in my own way. w" haN" the
bubOnlc plague aultu to Hp!oNN III
Hawaii: we have starvation in Puerto
Rico: we have unrest and di>uuict III
Cuba. and we have war of indefinite
length in the philippines. Ls il treason
To say this
Knew We Were Urging n War.
In conclusion. referring To the Paris
treaty. Vest said. When that treaty
was ratified by the senate OF the
United States every man who voted for
II knew then that he VStCd FOR war
Every senator knew then. a. u" knows
now. that we were paying S2"uu"tw
for a war in the archipelago. the end al
which might come IN 4 month and
might not come in ten years sim
plv nut before the senate and tEt
country thi- proposition. Are We 10 r..
main silent. rrfrainin- even from or
binary criticism ~ to The conduct "i
the war. for fear thar We are to lee de-
uouncrd as allies OF AEuinaldo and op