The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-28
ABSTRACT Of TILE
To the Philippines Is Fur
nished by 0epew
AGUlNALDO'S QUIT-CLAIM
To Spain Removed the Only
Possible Cloud.
AGUlNALDO'S QUIT-CLAIM

Washington, Feb. 27-Mr. Depew Of New
| York addressed the senate today on the
Philippine question His grafton was
beautiful in thought and dictation. He
strongly upheld the policy Of the admin
istration and in conclusion pictured so
brilliantly cor merce and civilization NOV
| ing hand in hand fort he happiness amt
uplifting of the people OF the Philippines
| as well as those of his country tSat the
| galleries were swept by a storm Of ap-
| plause. After Mr.. Turley had concluded
his speech on the Quay case, the Hawa-
] iian government bill was again taken up,
! but little progress was made. An agree
ment was reached that a final vote
! should be taken on the measure tomor
row.
Mr.. Depew in his speech addressed him
self to the resolutions offered on the
Philippine question, particularly to that
| proposed by Mr.. Beverage Qnd) declara-
tory of policy of the United States to-
| ward the Philippine islands. He said in
part:
'In the wide range which, as been CIV
en- to the discussion of the Philippine
subject, many questions have been raised
which in my judgment, have been settled
by events. They embrace our right to
govern the Philippines, to stay there, the
existence of de facto Philippine govern
ment, alleged understandings from our
government to the Filipino government
for a recognition of its independence, the
title of the United States to the archipel-
ago. the power of the United States to
subdue insurrection within the islands or
to impose its laws upon the people, and
the power. under the constitution, for the
United States to acquire territories and
govern them, except under the familiar
territorial form, with the understanding
that at the proper time they shall be adj
mitted as states.
Most of Glese questions are purely
academic. There are well meaning and
honest people who gather every year in
London and did last year in Boston, to
protest against the beheading Of Charles
the First But Charles the First was be-
headed two hundred and fifty years ago
By his death the chains which bound a
free people were broken. Cromwell with
all his mistakes, all his errors, and all the
injustice which can be charged against
him, created the reign of individual judg-
ment and conscience which has evOluted
into civil and religious liberty, which has
created the commercial spirit Of the Eng
disappearing peoples, which has made
them explorers, travellers, masters upon
the sea and land, as settlers and colon
izers, and has carried with their in
fuence, se1f-government and representa-
tive institutions all over the world, 1t is
still an academic discussion wheihe
President Lincoln had the right to coerce
a sovereignst ate, but the exercise of that
right saved and re-created this republic
and has made it the foremost power of
the world There are constitutions law
yers and writers upon public questions
who will discuss the power of Abraham
Lincoln to issue the emancipation procla-
nation, but he did issue it, slavery was
abolished, and the blessings of the act
are enjoyed by owner and bondman
equally, by the free states, and by those
that were once known as the slave states.
we hear the alleged Filipino republic
and the alleged assault upon it by the
United States. That Dewey, that Mer-
rift, that Anderson used the natives for
the purpose Of fighting Spain no one de-
MES. 1t was within the discretion Of the
commanding generals TO utilize the enc
mics of Spain in such a manner as in
their judgment would best cripple the
enemy. When Dewey, before sailing
from Honkong. sent the commander of
the Petrol to Aguinaldo to secure his ser
vices. Aguinaldo refused, saying that he
had sold out, had taken SPANS money,
and was under obligations not to fight
her any more; and it was not until after
the battle OF Manila that he concluded to
go back on his bargain.
Il think it will Zoe admitted there was
in the far east no one who could bind our
government to treaty obligations. There
has been read here mass OF serenade
speeches and banquet addresses and let
tiers from consular agents of this country
in China and the Philippines. A consul /
has no diplomatic authority. His commits /
sion covers only commercial questions in
the port where he resides. Only the
presideat of the United States could bind
the country. and ne only with the sub
sequent assent of the senate. Only when !
war is proAe ssing can the COMMANDMENT |
chief Of the army or the admiral OF the
navy make a committal which the presi- I
dent would pc bound in any form TO cor /
slider or respect Admiral Dewey alone /
had that power and he most emphaucally I
denies any committaI whatever 10 Aguin- /
aldo for the independence OF his so-called T.
government President SchUrman also !
emphaticaliy denies any connlittal on the 4
subject Oh the part OF the Philippine (
commission. The instant that there IVES +
brought to the notice Of the president z
and the state department a statement 4
that authorized persons, holding commits (
si0ns from the United States for anoti<r /
purpose, had made any such suggestions, .
they were Immediately and authoritative (
y repudiated.
The alleged government, called here I
the &c fsc,o government 81 Aguinaldo, /
rests upon an equally fimsy basis. Spain /
had held these Islands with slight in /
terTuptI1a. when seized by Great Britain. 1
for three hundred years her Sovereignty
over them had -been recognized by all the !
powers Of Europe Her bad government
produced frequent Instructions. which
were always suppressed and always locat 4
10 one island ar 10 p part Of an island
Some tiues these instructions were stiTr-
ed Up by the captatn-zeneral ard spanish
officials for the purpose 81 securing the
larger appropriations and the greater eT-
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