Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-02-09

given the ballot, and the Filipinos, who,
lily armed and without artillery, had
kept co. 900 American troops engaged for
over year, and asserted that the latter
we're better fitted for self government
than the negroes, who at the close of
the war were allowed not only to govern
themselves, but white men also. Then
he spoke emphatlcally, as follows:
Were the fruits of the war mere sodom ap.
pies to be turned to ashes in such a brief
span? Are the thirteenth fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to be nullifed I'm their
very essence, because they failed of their
purpose in the south? Are they for home use
only? Is the flag to become again
"haunting lie" and float over n military
despots mfr st in the Philippines and later
at the home? Was the memorable conflict
between slavery and freedom useless? Have
we gained nothing? Is the commercial greed
which dominates in our councils and coerces
the president to do his bloody and dirty work
to make of the constitution new League
with death and covenant with hell" in the
interest of oppression akin to slavery? In
order to do all these things must we "camp
outside the Constitution" and give the old
Interpretation of the southern Shareholders
to the Declaration of Independence and
nullifv all precedents and decisions OF our
supreme court? Did this nation offer up of
It's best and bravest upon the altar OF liberty,
the blood of 700, coo men and spend and destroy
81, 600 600 00J of treasure that we might have a
government of the people, by the people,
for the people," to find that in the brief span
of one mans life the sacrifice was vain. the
civil war n mistake, and that the colored race
has no rights we are bound to respect at
home or abro1c:
Mr.. Tilmau discussed at length the
scheme of government proposed for the
Philippines by Mr.. Beveridge, saying in
49, I,x,l; ,,, -
heart was as hard as flint and that he
was without mercy and without charity
because he really proposed to govern the
Filipinos with the bayonet. Adverting
to MIR. Beveridge's quotations from the
Bible. Mr.. Tillman said: ~ have heard
that the devil can quote Scripture for his
own pu' poses. Why, can quote scrip
ture myself [laughter). Verify, verify.
| say unto you, Senator from Indiana"
pointing his finger dramatically at Mr..
Beveridge, who sat within a few feet of
him. YOU cannot gather figs from
thorns nor grapes from thistles."
If we mete out despotism and bayonet rule
to hat people, will 1t not be meted back to
us? 1t need not be from foreign source, and
It cannot be flom foreign source that the
government by bayonet will ever Cypress the
American people. Our danger lies in
famliarizing our people with despotic
methods. in abandoning the American ideal
and the principles of our fathers.
The cause of bayonet rule will come back
to plague you sure as there is II God in
heaven.
Mr.. Tillman said there was no doubt
the United States could suppress and
repress and murder the FilipinOs, but he
hoped that Uncle Sam would step for
ward in his might and as he did at the
Gridiron dinner on Saturday night.
snatch the crown from Imperialism aud
declare for liberty and freedom.
Ia conclusion, Mr.. Tillman SAID:
One who loyes liberty AMI loves his
country, and believes that its true greatness
lies in clinRing to the ideals of our fathers |
protest against the continuance of this I'M
holy war. The pre- sident has declared that
upon congress rests the responsibility. He
shirks the burden of his mistake and crime,
ana endeavors to shift it to our shoulders.
Let us give these people n government of
tn, ir own. the only self government, in what
ever form they may select, and be rid of the
burden as well as the shame which must be
ours if we do not. Let us protect them
| against outs ide interference, and in small
part compensate them for the wrong we have
done them
In the name of Washington, of Jefferson,
and Lincoln, let us stop this war, which was a
hideous b under in lis beginning 1t is now "a
war of conquest, Il crime in the sight of God
and man