The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-28

pressive. did not arouse the unbounded en-
thusiasm which swept galleries and floors
Wnlie Mr.. D0iiyer was speaking. The
Iowan was at his best, and his wit. elo-
quence and sarcasm in turn drew salvos
or applause from his Republican asso-
ciates. Before these closing speeches were
made Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, chairman of
the appropriations committee and one of
the veterans on the Republican side, made
an exceptionally effective speech in sup
port OF the bill. Messrs. Carmack Dem
Tenn. Clayton Dem, Ala.). Kleberg
Dem.. Tex, Pearce and De Almond
Oem., Mo- had also made speeches In OPP
position to the BILL The Republican man.
ayers are now confident that, with the
notifications agreed upon at the confer
ence last night. the bill will command a
narrow majority in the final vote to-mor-
row.
Mr. carmack. in opposing the BILL said
the alternative presented by Ii was the
abandonment of our priceless principles or
OF our new possessions The country had
been dazzled with the gorgeous picture of
empire, yet at the very threshold of the
new departure, he said, gentlemen on the
other side had been appalled, lest the trade,
which they had looked at with covetous
eyes, would bring ruin and destruction to
American labor. Therefore. the new pos
sessions were to become colonies and be
turned over to carpet-bagger Adventures.
CLAYTON HAS FUN WITH PAYNE.
Mr.. Clayton created much amusement
and enthusiasm by reading letter written
by Chairman Payne to w. II. Curtis, of
Palmyra, ". Y, Jan. "a, 1900. in which he
advocated free trade with Porto Rico, on
the ground that it would give relief to the
stricken island. The letter also contained
the following reference to the Philippines:
Under the treaty the Philippine islands
are to have free trade with Spain for ten
years. We could not extend these tariff
Ia 10 he {cIa lie
would" Mr.. Clayton asked that this letter
and an extract from Mr.. Paynes speech
I'm support of the bill be printed in parallel
columns In the Record.
Mr.. Payne smilingly assented to the re-
quest, and expressed the hope that there
would be no objection.
Mr.. Pearce declared that the brood of
trusts had focked to Washington and had
compelled the leaders of the Republican
party to turn their backs upon Porto Rico.
He asked If the people of that island were
not entitled to as much consideration
the Sultan of Sulu, who was granted free
trade with all the Philippine islands.
Mr.. De Almond said this bill proposed
to set aside the Constitution, not for the
purpose of doing something philanthropic,
but in the interest and the partial or COM
plete enslavement of helpless people.
This change of front had been brought
about by the influence of agents of mighty
corporations, he said. He said the admins
tration had determined blindly and greed
lily to hold the Philippines for what could
be made out of them. 1t mattered little
about Porto Rico. The Porto RicanS were
to be crucified in order that the cross
might be raised in the Philippines. We
could withdraw from the archipelago and
leave 100000 of tropical people to work
out their own salvation.
MR.. CANNON'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Cannon spoke with much earnest
ness. He was old enough. he said, to judge
time by events, and he had grown to dis
trust those who came when great public
crises arose. talking of the unconstitution-
atty of measures to meet them. He re-
membered when President, with whole
party behind him, asserted that there was
no power under the Constitution to coerce
sovereign State, when those States were
already I'm arms, prepared to shoot the life
out Of what was left Of the Union. The
Constitution, he said, was the buckler of
those who attempted to embarrass the gov
eminent during the war. 1t was the shield
non said he, for one, believed the Consti-
futon was made for the people and the
for and mot tine people and the
er, thank God" said he, had there been
day or hour during the administration of
Jefferson. jackson, Polk, Lincoln or. Nc
kinley when, in crisis. way had not
been found to meet 1t. When he heard the
gentleman from Missouri announce the doc
In their helpless condition he had won
dered why that gentleman had not voted
against the 1000 appropriation to pay
Spain for these islands"
He. did vote against it," interposed Mr..
Wheeler. of Kentucky.
Ihen ne is one Of the thrty-four con-
sistents, replied Mr.. Cannon. What
about the rest of YOU? IF held the views
you do I'd quit" Continuing, Mr. Cannon
did When he signed the the act which v was an
| exact copy of the Spooner bill now before
the Senate to vest the legislative. execu-
tive and judicial power over the Louisiana
Territory in him until the insurrection was
put down.
What is the administrators policy?''
| IN tell you," responded Mr.. Cannon
AS to Porto Rico, do the only thing that
can bring relief to the island-pass this
BILL AS to the Philippines, continue to dc
i as We are doing-put down the insurrec-
ton and restore law and order. Zap
| plause.l
| Il am for keeping the Philippines" he
| continued, under the treaty and under
the Constitution. subject to the legislation
out good results. for them and good re-
| suits Tor us. Will risk the peoples verdict
on that issue. tRenewed applause.I
4 proceeding. Mr.. Cannon took as an illus
tration the possibility that we might have
| TO buy strip OF territory through which
to build the Nicaragua canal. Immediately
| the cry would be raised that we could no,
do II because these revolutionsts would
Immediately become frll-f1edged citizens
i ~ was RIDICULOUS NO, said Mr.. Cannon
| 1.-The fathers of our country, in building the
Constitution, did not build a trap" [Great
| applause.1
| NOT DICTATED BY TRUSTS.
| Turning directly to the bill, Mr. Cannon
secuted the cry that had been raised that
the trusts had dictated it. He charged tina,
both the tobacco and sugar stored in Porto
Rico was already owned by the sugar and
tobacco trusts. They had put forward
some natives as stoolpigeons to beg fol
| free trade, so that while the Democrats
| cried out against the trusts they would be
voting for them. Their voice would be the
voice OF Jacob but their hand would be the
hand of Esau. TApplause.I Continuing
| Mr.. Cannon said the Americans got not one
cent of the revenue raised. .It goes te
| Porto Rico, goes for local government. goes
for roads. goes for schoolhouses, and wher
| this bill passes for the next two years 50.
| 100000 year will come by this kind of tax.
| alton, and every cent will go back to the
| Porto Ricans. That is the Republican
proposition"
| Mr.. Ridley. of Kansas-Could not the
| same plea be made 20 raise revenue for an,
| State or Territory within the bouniarie:
of the Nation?
| Mr.. Cannon-There is not the same neces
sity. The Republican party deals with
| facts and conditions. If il is an elephant
that comes in the road, it meets the ele
plant If 1t is mouse that comes in the
| road, IL meets the mouse. If my frienC
would meet either mouse or elephant ht
| would say: MY God cannot do anythine
| because IL is not glacier" Laughter anC
| applause on the Republican side
Now, l want to be fair. In my judg