The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-13

70 Snlud OpeQ LOOT
Washington. March 12.-During al !
most the entire session of the senate |
today Mr.. Rawlins (Utah) occupied the
floor in a discussion of the Philippine /
question. He went deeply into the con-
stitutional phases of the question. His |
argument was largely legal and tech /
nicaI He is opposed to the holding Of /
the Philippines.
Under special order the senate con-
vened at 10 a. m, the two hours before |
the regular hour of meeting TO be con- |
sumed in the reading of the Alaskan |
civil code bill. During the greater part
of the two hours Only two or three SEN
ators were in the chamber. The clerks |
in the two hours read 123 pages Of the
BILL
Mr.. Allen (Neb.) offered the follow
ing resolution. which was passed: !
THAT the president be requested, II
not incompatible with the public in
terest, TO inform the senate whether or
not any communication has been re-
ceived by this government from its
consular representative at Pretoria en-
bOdying the requests of the presidents
of the South African republics Tor
mediation or Intervention with view
TO ending the war now in progress be-
tween these republics and Great Brit
ain. as reported in the British press;
and if not incompatible with the public
interest, ne furnish the senate with a
copy of such communication or commu-
nications.
Speech By Mr.. Rawlins.
Routine business having been con-
Guided. Mr.. Rawlins (Utah) addressed
the senate on our relations with the
Philippines. lie had read the bill of
6ir. Spooner eonferring authority upon
the president to govern the Philippines
until congress otherwise provided
That BILL" said he, is but the pro-
tologue of the swelling act in the i'm
perial theme"
He had read the act of 1908 conferr-
ing upon the president power to govern
the territory of louisiana Mr.. Raw
Inns read some opinions Of Kent and
other English publicistS as basis for
his argument.
Those people 1.-THE Flipinos) never
acknowledged their allegiance to this
government, said he. Hence they are
not in instruction against the United
States. A war of aggression is being
waged against them The purpose, l
believe. in the drafting of the bill pro-
posed by the senator (SpOoner) is TO
secure a recognition by congress of a
state Of war in the Philippines 1t
comes TO US in disguise and for the
purpose l have stated. and 10 relieve
this administration from its present
anomalous condition
Opposed to Programme.
After saying he presumed that the
speeches of Mr.. Beveridge and Mr..
Lodge voiced the sentiments and pre-
scented the programme of the adminiS-
tration, Mr.. Rawlins said:
Il am opposed TO the carrying out Of
this programme. No vote Of mine will
aid the carrying into effect Of the policy
outlined by those senators. 1 oppose
| the programme because il is in viola
tion of the fundamental principles upon
which our free institutions are erected;
because ii is in opposition to the con-
stitution; because ii proposes to rule
by a despotic power, and not by rights
secured under the constitution; be-
cause it is not expansion, but retro
gression of all that we have held high
est, and because it is unjust. immoral
F! and a breach of the plighted faith of
this nation"
In response to an inquiry by Mr..
/ Spooner, Mr.. Rawlins said, in the
course of his constitutional argument
upon the rights of inhabitants of the
| inSular possessions, that the treaty of
Paris conferred upon congress the au-
/ thority TO determine the civil rights
and political status of the native in
/ habitants of the islands derived from
/ Spain by the United States in accord
ance with the treaty. 1t did not, how
ever, he said. confer that authority
4
/ than native inhabitants of the island.
Extent of Constitution.
He maintained. therefore, that the
constitution must necessarily extend
over the outlying territory, and the
Americans, Germans, Frenchmen and
/ others on these islands could be gov
/ erned by congress only under the linn
! itatiols of the constitution
| Mr. Rawiins declared the Fflipinos
had been deceived by the proclamations
issued to them by the United States,
and it's officials
They have been induced said he,
''to believe that the great white re-
public spoke to them with a deceptive
and forked tongue, and il is TO that fact
| that may be aseribed the death of many
/ brave American soldiers and the waste
| and blOOdshed that have occurred.
| While Mr.. Rawlins was eriticising the
administration for its conduct OF the
war in the Philippines. he remarked
! again that the SpoOner bill was a rec
/ ognition OF hostilities in the islands.
Questioned By Spooner.
Mr.. Spooner inquired if Mr. Rawlins
! had not himself expressly consented to
a state of hostilities in the Philippines
/ by voting to increase the army, know
/ ing that the soldiers We're to be en-
ployed in the Philippines.
HE had apprehended, continued Mr..
| Spooner, that those troops were TO be
sent TO the Philippines. Did he suppose
they were to be sent on a picnic OF. TO
| fight? When the senator from MasEa-
| chusetts tHoar) became convinced that
| the soldiers authorized by that bill
| were 10 be employed in a war against
| the Filipinos. he voted against the
| measure.
IF this war is vile and outrageous
rape OF liberty I may be psrdoned II
| cannot see how the senator can recon
Gle his past vote with his present no.
|