The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-17
THE PHILIPPINE POLICY
Arguments Heard in the Senate
Iron Mr.. Bacon's Resolution.
Mr.. NcEpery Declares the Natives
HIVE No Conception of Liberty ns
Guided by Lnw-Mr. Stewart Talks
ON Expansion-The Hawaiian Bill
Amcndcd-t Currency Conference.

showed the effeCt Of the work on the Cur
rency bill, and while the session was no
without Incident. there was little TO al
tract more taau passing notice. The morn
ing business was begun without prayer
owing to the absence - the chaplain. Two
bills were passed ono providing for s,is-
pension Of certain Laws relating 10 the Was
Department. and another 20 pay an insur-
snoe company Of Dresden 81 4s4 for bond
cgupans lost at sea on The steamship
Oregon. which went down In March 1856
Mr.. Baeon's Philippine resolution. guar
anteeing Independence az sron as order is
restored Was then laid before The Senate.
and Mr. McEnery OF LOUISIANA spoke in
accordance with notice previously given.
lie discussed the question from the stand
point nf permanent snneSatio8. and SAID
that the problem was dificult one which
Congress alone could solve. lie said that
The Filipinos had no coapeption of liberty,
as guided by law and that ihe order es-
tabiished one day would be succeeded by
anarchy ON the next He thought il un-
fortunate that the islands had been thrown
on the hands OF the United States. but said
that this country must take care of them.
II their products Of rice, sugar. tobacco.
and hemp were TO be sent to the United
States free OF duty. those industries here
would be destroyed Cotton would also be
cultivated there, and cotton factories would
be established which would interfere with
those of the South and injure even those
of the East and North. Nevertheless the
islands could not be given tlD
The sovereignty of the United States
must be established there. He did not know
anyone who would say that the American
troops should be withdrawn. There was a
disposition on all sides to vote all the
ships. men and money needed to support
the Government Still he was opposed to
expansion. He was opposed to the annex
alton of territory beyond the natural
boundary OF the country. The permanent
anneHation Of the Philippine Islands would
be fraughi with danger. involving the
United States in all the disputes and con-
ientions of foreign governments.
Mr.. Stewart then addressed the Senate.
lie took The view that expansion did not
mean Imperialism. He said
The suggestion that the acquisition of
territory is Imperialism is refuted by the
fact that neither Jefferson. Monroe. Jack
son, Polk, nor any of their associates are
regarded as imperialists The Imperialism
they advocated made homes for patriotic.
libert y-loving, self-respecting citizens.
whose loyalty to the Government of the
United States is unsurpassed by the people
Of any OF the thirteen original States.
III TO assist the people of the Philip
pines to establish local self-government
after the plan adopted by Jefferson is i'm
perialisia then jefferson was the pioneer
-s..Is. ...es Al J-,,ss
ippines viii never be dependent colonies.
They win be allowed to conduct their own
affairs with the assistance of such officers
as it may be necessary TO appoint to aid
them IN establishing local self-govern
nent.
mo one pretends that the Filipinos are
nov fit for Statehood. but repudiate the
suggestion that they are not fit for just
such government as jefferson extended to
the Louisiana Purhase and Monroe TO the
acquisition OF Florida.
We want very little legislation for the
We want their leaders to
come here and see how we govern our
selves. TO enable them to do likewise. We
wish for them peace and good order, and
they will have IT with very little assist
ance from US. The absurd charge that
there is any intention on the part of the
or the Republican or the
democratic party to govern the Philip
pines or any other territory which we have
acquired. or may acquire as colonies. BY
the strong arm of the military power, is
entirely without foundation"
He then took up the question of duties |
on Porto Rican products. and said that a |
levy would be one of the worst forms OF |
colonial policy. He quoted the statement
In the Presidents message. to the effect |
that IT WIS The duty Of this country to |
give Porto Rican products free access 70 |
our markets. Continuing he said:
Il am glad the President In his rec
and the Secretary of War
in his report are governed by the estab-
lished policy OF the United States in treat |
ing with the people Of newly acquired ter
ritory.
'The colonial policy of greed, with dis
duties against the products OF
our own territory. would breed dissatis-
faction and discord. 1t might lead to mill
tarism. II might require large army 10
order and force the people of the |
colonies TO submit to such unjust and dis |
policy. 1t might do more II |
might involve vast expenditures to main |
tain armies of occupation. which would |
be dangerous to the safety of the Repub- |
lie
III we treat Porto Rico as We treated |
Louisiana Florida. and California the |
people of that island will learn to love the |
American nag and will soon be loyal Amer |
leans instead OF sullen and discontented |
people. suffering from discriminating laws |
There is no doubt that Congress has |
,ower 10 rob the territories In a thousand |
ways and render the people of our new |
acquisitions more miserable than they were |
under the horrible system of Spanish ex-
tortion which we undertook to abolish"
At the conclusion OF Senator Stewards /
speech tho Hawaiian bill, introduced by |
Mr. Crllom. WAS laid before the Senate.
and its reading was begun. with the un-
ierstanding that the committee amend |
mems be considered as the reading |
The bin having been read. H. |
Nas amended 10y making IL go into effect |
sixty days after the passage of the act, |
instead on the Fourth Of July next. The |
bill then went over.
During the reading of the Hawaiian bill |
he disagreement of the House with the |
Senate amendments to the Currency bill |
was reported. conference was then or |
iered on the Financial bill, and Senators |
aidrich, Allison. and Jones of Arkansas |
we're appointed from the Senate.
At ::eo O'Clock the Senate adjourned |
until Monday.