Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-25

Is lOuNy. lie SeAdlOi . oAISSA
friend would receive full protection.
General Otis signs his statements. l have
not much respect for a man who goes
behind the back of his commanding gen
eral to malign him.
, Mr.. Allen-The statement made by
General Otis is not the truth.
Mr.. Spooner-We lave had here a
! statement that the president of the
/ United States is a liar; that Admiral
Dewey is a liar. and now we are told that
General Otis is a prevaricator.
I'll simply say that General Otis is
mistaken said Mr.. Allen.
Mr.. Spooner expressed the belief that
the people would believe General Otis
against the word of an unnamed and UNI
known person.
A few moments later Mr.. Spooner said
the last words of the chivalrous Lawton
We're that men oVer here, the so-called
anti-imperialists. We're prolonging and
melting the Philippine, rebellion. II wish
to God" said General Lawton. ''the
whole truth of this Filipino situation
could be known as | know it. If I am
shot by a Filipino bullet, it might as well
be by one of my own men"
Ar. pettlgrew. pop. S. D., interrupted
to declare that there was no foundation
for the statement; that it had been de-
MED.
This is an extract from a letter writ
ten by Lawton to John Barrett" said
Senator Spooner. 1T is authentic. I
have not the original; but l can and will
produce it.
Continuing his argument. Mr.. Spooner
said there had been an attempt to make
an issue of imperialism where none
actually existed. 1t vas done, merely
for political effect and to obscure the
political issues of 1896. Thu issue had
been employed by Mr.. Bryan and was
being exploited by every branch of the
OPPOSITION to the republican party.
Mr.. Teller interposed to say that the
issue had not been raised by Mr..
Bryan, but by men in the senate cham
Der who opposed the ratifiction of the
treaty of peace. 1t was unfair, he
thought, for any man to take the posi-
ton that Mr.. Bryan was the author of
the doctrine of anti-imperialism.
, Mr.. Bryan is one of the principals in
the employment of the a~nti-imperiat-
istic doctrine" declared Mr.. Spooner,
and since the ratification of the treaty
of peace he has not omitted it from a
single speech. l say there is 40 issue
as between imperialism and anti-imper-
ialism except as it has been made for
political effect. The Philippines are ter
ritory of the United States. Who can
dispose of it? The president? No. 1t is
for congress to say whether we shall
hold these hands or cede them to some
body else. That issue is not here now
except for party and partisan purposes.
1t is a forced issue. a wicked issue. 1t
is my opinion that it has already caus-
ed the expenditure Of millions of money
and the loss of many, many valuable
lives. and at a time, too when no party
can make it a legitimate ISSUE
"What does the senator propose to do
with the Philippines?' inquired Mr.. AL
len.
Mr.. Spooner-To enforce the authority
of the government in the islands.
MI. Allen-Then what?
Mr.. Spooner-To give the people even
handed justice and good government: to
protect life and property; to fill the land
with school houses; to give the people
such part in the. government as they
may show themselves fitted for; to main
tain the laws 50 honestly and firmly that
no man, however rich, shall be beyond
their reach, and M man SO humble that
he may not nave their protection.
Mr.. Allen-That will take years.
Yes. it will take years. replied Mr..
Spooner, but all these things being ac-
complished where is your issue of i'm
perialism?'
Mr.. Allen-What do you propose to doc
Mr.. Spooner-I do not expect to be
here. 1t will take years. That is why I
say it is wicked and baneful to en-
deavOr to make the issue now.
will the time ever come when the
people will govern themselves?' urged
Mr.. Allen.
The power to give those people self
government lies with no president" re-
sponded Mr.. Spooner. 1T lies with con-
gress. II the time shall come when the
Filipino people show an ability to gov
ern themselves, the American people
will give them self-government."
Mr.. Allen-Yes, but will the republican
party give it to them?
Mr.. Spooner-Ah, there is the trouble
With the senator from Nebraska, and
hose who think with him. 1t is party
-party-party. They never rise above
party.
Turning to Mr.. Allen. he asked
party do?"
The peoples party would do what
the republican party is too cowardly
to do replied Mr.. Allen, warmly. I'VE
ings of civil liberty Immediately and
not go to them with hot and shell.
Then we would protect them against
the greed and encroachments of Eu-
! rope"
'.That is all very well,' replied Mr..
Spooner, merely to listen to, but I
do not think the senator knows what
the populist or democratic party would
do five years from this time. The peo-
pie of this country will not be deceived.
They will realize that our soldiers in
the Philippines are suffering because
of your efforts here to manufacture an
issue to obscure our real duty and re-
sp~onsibility.
After explaining the bill under dis
cussion and saying that it was merely
a Temporary measure to indicate that
congress was behind the president in
his effort to give a good government to
his people 1000 miles away, Mr.. Spooner
said in conclusion:
The American people will stand be-
hind the American army wherever it
may be under the flag"
Fright or wrong interjected Mr..
Pettigrew.
1T will he right responded Mr..