The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-01-18
PHILIPPINE DEBATE ON.
Senator Beveridge's Argument For
Holding the Archipelago.
THE REPLY. OF SENATOR HOAR.

The Senator From Indiana Points Out the
yalue of tho Islands and Suggests n
Form of GovernInent-Senator Hoar
Makes a Short lie ply-Ouotes Reports
Of General Otis and Admiral Dewey. :
WASHINGTON, D. c. Especially. 1.-The Inn
porta Mt debate which is expected to take
place in the Senate on tho question OF eA-
pansion was opened Tuesday by Senator
Beveridge, OF Indiana. The new Republi-
can Senator from Indiana is the youngest
member OF the body, and this was his first
speech. These facts and the knowledge
that tho question had been made n subject,
OF special study by him in tie Philippine
Archipelago itself attracted wide attention
to his address, and he had an audience on
the floor and in the galleries such as speak
ers in the Senate rarely command.
Senator Beveridge's speech in part was
as follows:
"Mr. President, the times call for candor.
The Philippines arc ours forever, terri
tory belonging to the United States, as
the Constitution calls them. And just be-
yond the Philippines are Chinas illimit-
able markets. Wo will not retreat from
either. We will not repudiate our duty in
the Archipelago. We will not abandon our
opportunity In the Orient.
This island empire is tho last land left
in all the oceans. II Il should prove a mis-
take to abandon it the blunder, once made,
would be irretrievable. II It proves q mis-
take to hold it the error can be corrected
when we will; every other progressive ma
ton stands readyto relieve u.s."
Referring to the war, he said:
"The military situation Is no reason for
abandonment. Our campaign has been as !
perfect as possible with tho force at hand. .
We attempted n great task with insuffi-
cient means; We became impatient that 1t
was not finished before 1t could fairly be
commenced; and 1 pray We may not aid
that other element OF disaster, pausinS In
tho work before It Is thoroughly and for
ever done.
az am prepared to vote either to make !
our work thorough or even now to aban-
don 1t. A lasting peace can be secured
only by overwhelming forces in ceaseless
action until universal and absolutely final
defeat is inflicted on the enemy"
Senator Beverldge said the Fillpinos
were children incapable OF self-govern-
ment, and that the people were indolent
and thoroughly shlftless.
the islands he said the United States should
have:
"a Philippine Office in our Department ,
OF State; an American Governor General in !
Manila, with power to meet daily emerGen-
ces; possibly an Advisory Council, with no J
power except that OF discussing measures ,
with the Governor-General, which council
would be the germ for future Legislatures. /
school in practical government, and an !
American Lieutenant-Goyernor in each !
province, with like council about him."
He then entered upon general defence
OF the policy Of expansion.
Senators In opposition are estopped ,
from denying our constitutional power to ,
govern the Philippines as circumstances !
may demand. For such power Is admitted !
in the case OF Florida, Louisiana and !
Alaska. Does a thousand miles OF ocean
diminish constitutional power more than ,
thousand miles OF land?
"No, no. There is In the ocean no con- ,
stitutional argument against the march Of
the flag, for the oceans, too, are ours. The
great Republic, before I die. will be the
acknowledged lord Of the worlds high
seas.
Senator Hoar in reply said he had lis
ter ed in vain for those words which the
American people have taken on their lips
In solemn crises-"right," Justice"
"duty" and "freedom."
Mr.. Hoar declared that practically every
statement OF fact in the speech was re-
futed by government reports received by
Admiral Dewey, General Otis and from
other official sources. |
He declared the Fillpinos had the Span
lards hemmed in Mani and the latter
we're obliged to surrender. He quoted
General Otis, Admiral Dewey and other
officers to show that when Aguinaldo ar
rived In Luzon from Hong Kong the insur-
gents had an army Of thirty thousand;
that In the island OF Luzon the Philippines (,
maintained courts, schools, municipal gov
.rnments and churches, and that peace
md order prevailed pretty generally.