The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-25
Mr.. SPOONBR CONCLUDES
Final Ins.al,mpnt of His Speech on
the ihilippine Question.
Animated CoIIoquy With Mr.. Allen,
publican Party's Attitude with
Reference 10 the Islands Made
Plain-iir. Morgan Speaks Today.

| In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Spooner de-
/ livered the third and final installment o
his speech on the government of the Phil
| ippines and the attitude of the Admin!stra-
tion in regard thereto. His address is the
longest campaign document to be inserte1
in the Congressional Record" at this ses-
sion. 1t is an exhaustive defence Of the
| attitude of the President with regard tC
the Philippines and of his programme for
the future.
Mr. Spooner read number of documents
to show that AgunaldO began Eostilities
against the United States in Luzon. He
| stated that the Filipino troops had been
| engaged in digging trenches around Ma
| nila for weeks prior to the outbreak He re-
| ferred to Aguin1ldo as "the second George
| Washington. who was surrounded by in
| ternational lawyers and SO puffed with
| pride that he could not wait for reason. -
! 1T Is said that we fired the first shot,
said Mr.. Speoner. I'VE did. but only be-
| cause the Fiiipinos tried to force the guard.
1t was pre-arranged scheme, for as soon
as the shot was fred a general volley came
| from the enemy almost simultaneously.
| Had not the American troops been pre-
| pared on the night of February % there
would have occurred in Manila such a mas
| sacre as would have shocked the world for
| centuries. l will say here. and love man.
kind as much as any aIti-imperial-
list, that had General Otis refused
to make truce with General Torres,
which is Eot true, he would only
have done his duty. He would have been
compelled to fight the enemy after an un-
provoked attack. II Manila had fallen,
| every man in the United States would have
| called General Otis an idiot ard COW
ard"
Torres md the Flag of Truce.
In the course Of his speech Mr. Spooner
quoted cable despatch from General
Otis, as to the first battle fought with the
insurrectionists in Manila, and said that
he had Just received letter from the
chief OF the -Imperialists in Boston
charging General Otis with being a liar
in sending that despatch.
Il have been told by an officer of the
United States Army. who was present at
General Otis headquarters when General
Torres rode in with a flag of truce" said
Mr.. Allen, that he heard Torres ask for
cessation of hostiities. will not give
his name. but he is still in the Army. and
were it not for the fact that he endangers
his position, he would come forward"
DO you mean to discredit the state
ment OF General Otis that Torres never
came to him with flag of truce to ask
for peace?" asked Mr. Spooner.
Il mean to say that his report is not
one of fact. l can produce 1000 men.
members of the Nebraska regiment ,:ho
we're present when General Torres came.
and i would rather take their word for
1t than OTIS" said Mr.. Allen.
THE Anti-lmperiaists in the Senate have
called the President a prevaricator, they
have called Admiral Dewey a liar. and
now they have called General Otis liar"
said Mr.. spooner.. --,-
Il would rather take the word of 1900
men than that of the bewhiskered head of
the Army in the Philippines" answered
Mr.. Alien.
Mr. Spooner was proceeding with his
remarks when Mr.. Tiilman arose. With
an air of mingled surprise and humor. Mr..
Spooner remarked that he had not been
saying word about the darkey or about
South Carolina. He had not even looked
at the Senator. he said. O..
viii you allow me to make a remark,
Notwithstanding" Mr. TIIIman asked
well, what is it?" Mr.. Spooner asked
General OTIS" said Mr.. Tillman, "is his
worst witness against his own veracity;
he has so often telegraphed that the in
surrection is over, while it is today as
strong as ever. Then. in his report he
states that when the first shot was fired
the Filipinos fought on the defensive.
while the Americans fought on the Of
fensive and were the aggressors.'
rs that ail?" Mr.. Spooner asked. dis
dainfully. THE Senator attempts to dis
credit the words of General Otis because
he has reported from time to time that
the insurrection was suppressed and be-
cause it turned out afterward that it was
not
The Recall of Otis.
"Why was he recalled?" Mr. Allen
asked
"He was recalled at his own request"
Mr.. Spooner replied because he had for
a long time been bearing on his shoulders
the great responsibilities Of the position
he held. and where he earned the graft
tude. to say nothing of the respect, OF the
American people,
In another part Of the speech Mr.. Alien |
broke in with the remark: IL have as |
sumed all the way through that it possible |
for Republican to tell the truth. l may |
be mistaken
1.-THE Senator ought to know" Mr.. |
spooner remarked. sarcastically; "he was
a Republican long enough
'I was a Republican" Mr.. Allen re- |
,orted, until / discovered that Republi- |
hood, thank God, to leave that party. The |
Senator has not done so thus far
The Senator became Popuist," Mr.. |
Spooner sneered.
Yes. sir" Mr. Allen assented.
WELL" Mr.. Spooner exclaimed, that |
is nothing"
al venture to say" Mr. Allen remarked,
that the Senator has never yet read the |
Populist platform"
Yes" Mr.. Spooner snapped back. land |
can sum it all up in one sentence You
were opposed to everything that is: and |
you are In favor of everything that is not,
never was and never will be-"
Mr. Allen said he would not interrupt
Mr. Spooner further. but he proposed to
reply to him afterward. Mr.. Spooner. he
said. had been CLOSING over the Monstros-
tiles which were existing today.
Mr.. Spooner proceeding referred to the
and spoke OF Mr. Bryan
as having lobbied for the ratification OF
the peace treaty and then turned round and
raised the cry of anti-imperialism.
There is not" he declared, nor has
there been any legitimate foundation for
an issue of imperialism and anti-imperial-
ISM
"The question OF Imperialism" Mr.. Tel
Ter broke in. was raised by Republicans
long before Mr. Bryan said anything about
il; and was raised in this Chamber"
Aye Mr.. Spooner assented, but by
men who contended that the ratification OF
the treaty constituted imperialism"
"They contended." said Mr.. Teller, that
he ratification of the treaty meant what
you are now contending that the Admins
ration intends to do. / voted to ratify
he treaty and have never regretted the
,oteA But 1t is unfair for the Senator from
Wisconsin to state that Mr.. Bryan is the
author of anti-imperalism