The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-17
TWO VIEWS OF PHILIPPINES.
M'ENERY STRONGLY OPPOSED TO
THEIR ANNEXATION.

stewart Believes in Retaining Them.
But He Is Opposed to Any Duties
on Products Shipped From the New
Islands to the United States-Home
Missionary Work Needed in Ken
lucky, Says McEnery-JeffersOn as
an ImpcriaIist.
Washington, Feb. 1s.--The Philippine
question occupied the Senate to-day.
Mr.. McEnery Democrat of Louisiana.
strongly opposed the permanent acquisi-
ton of the islands, and Mr. Stewart Sill
yer of Nevada, took pronounced position
in favor of the admission of the products
of any of the island possessions of the
United States free of duty.
Mr.. Bacon's resolution declaring the pol
icy Of the United States toward the Phil
ippine Islands was laid before the Senate
and Mr.. McEnery addressed the Senate
thereon.
The Filipinos, he said, had nof concep-
ton of liberty guided by law Order cs-
tablished one day on the islands would be
succeeded the next by disorder and an
archy He deprecated the acquisition of
land whose productions in the very ma
ture of things were similar to many arti-
Giles produced in parts of this country.
On the fields of Luzon,' he said, cotton
and rice as fine as grown in any part of
the South could be produced and compete
here with our own products. The growth
of cotton in Luzon by the cheap and de-
graded labor to be had there would in
terfere with the establishment of cotton
mills in the South and New England
Though all should now support the United
States authority over the Philippines, Mr.
McEnery said he was opposed to eXpan-
sion. God himself he thought, will solve
the problem by destroying the inferior
races. Through our possession of the
Philippines Mr.. McEnery felt sure foreign
complications would result with France,
Austria, Germany and Russia, and we
would be forced to seek an alliance With
our kinsmen, the British
Adyerting to the trouble in Kentucky,
where, he said, an army mad been en-
ployed to prevent the lawful sessions of
the Legislature. he suggested that this
country had enough to attend to without
seeking troubles abroad. He had how
ever, no sympathy with the fihpinos,
whose sell7governing possibilities he ridi-
culed Were they 10 acquire citizens hip,
he said. we would have repeated the trou-
bles the country suffered through negro
enfranchisemeut.
The Pioneer ImperiaIist
Mr. Stewart of Nevada followed with a
speech on the disposition of all our in
sular possessions. He said that If to as
sist the people of the Philippines to estao-
lish local government after the plan
adopted by jefferson is imperialism, then
jefferson was the pioneer imperialiSt OF
the United States. The Philippines will
never be dependent colonies. They will
be allowed to conduct their own affairs
with the assistance of such officers as IL
| may be necessary to appoint to aid them
| in establishing local self-govornment.
No one, pretends that the Filipinos are
now fit for statehood, but / repudiate the
suggestion that they are not fit for just
| such government. as Jefferson extended TO
| The Louisiana purchase, and Monroe to
| the ACQUISITION of Florida. He stamped
| the charges that there is any intention to
govern any of our acquisitions by the
| strong arm of the military as absurd, and
| said the suggestion Of an import duty on
| the products of Porto Rico Is ,pregnan,
with evil. ~>
The colonial policy OF greed. with dis
| eliminating duties against the products OF
| our own territory. would breed dissatis-
| faction and discord. II might lead to mill
| itarism. 1t might involve vast expendi-
| lures to maintain the armies of occupa-
| ton, which would be dangerous to the
| safety of the republic
The Hawaiian bill was then taken up,
| and during its reading the disagreement
| of the House to the financial bill was re-
| ported. The Senate agreed 10 the confer
| ence. naming Senators Aldrich, Allison and
Jones of Arkansas as copferees The bill