The Portland daily press., 1900-02-07
Slight DEPRESSION Concerning South
African War.
Commercial Aspects of
the Acquisition.
General Debate on Diplomatic
Bill.

Washington, February 6.-The Philip
pine question again oooupisa the attention
Of the HOUSE today with slight disrss-
sion concerning the war In South Africa
The feature Of the debate was the
spesoh Of Mr.. Williams Of Mississippi,
who presented an argument against the
annexation Of the Philippines which at
sracted much attention. II was devoted
almost entirely 10 the commercial aspects
Of the acquisition, holding that the alb
sorption OF the islands would be ultimate.
| IL ruinous 10 the American producers OF
cotton, r1oe, tobacco, hemp an5 sugar.
Mr.. Morris OF Minnesota, made an ex-
haustive legal argument In support OF
the right to hold and govern the islands.
| The other speakers wers Messra. Gibson
Of Tennessee, W. A. and h. 9. Smith Of
Michigan, Cochran Of Missouri and
Neville, of Nebraska.
The general debate on the diplom alto
bill closed today and tomorrow 1t will be
taken up for amendment under the tive
minute rule.
At the opening Of the sossion today the
Speaker laid before the HOUSE an invita-
ton to Congress from Secretary Root to
attend the funeral services over the re-
maias of the late Gen. Lawton. at the
| Church Of the Covenant. Friday after
noun.
urgency dsflciency bill Was agreed to.
| The de bate on the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation bill was then resumed
under an agreement to close general de-
bate at O'Clock today.
Mr.. Gibson OF Tennes $50 opened the de-
bate today with general argument In
favor Of expansion, reviewing ths 90
a sisistons Of territory from the founda-
| tion Of. the governments 70 show that
expan siou had bean q national policy
since It's inception.
| We were, he said, expansionists By he
elected President In 1885. Instead Ut Nc
Kinley. MIR. Gibson aaid. he believed the
Spanish war would have occurred ~ II
did, Dewey would have fought Aontojo
| In Manila Bay, the United states would
have acquired this Philippines. Bryan
down the insurreotion and every Demo-
ormt ON the other side would have besn
| shouting ''hurrah," and "amen."
Mr.. Williams Of Mississippi, . member
of the foreign affairs committees. submit
ted an argumen againse the ANNEXATION
| Of the Philippines from commercial
standpoint. 1t was NOS very lofty 90 dis
cuss this question from the standpoint
of dollars and csnts, but the spirit Of
oommeroialism made 10 necessary. He
said he would undertake 10 show that
from the standpoint Of American agri-
cultural industry and American labor,
the annexation Of the Philippines would
| be disadvanuAgsous In comparison with
| what could be done under comparative
II free trade relations. He believed that
| II We aided tina Filipinos IN setting up
a stable government there we could Oh
Co. 4n
and escape the question that ts perplsx-
ing ua-
OC0 men, which would be necessary II we
retained the Phiiippines would be three
times the value OF imports and exports OF
the islands.
Mr.. Norris Of Minnesota followed
Mr.. Williams. He thought there were
higher and nobler issues involved In the
aoquisition Of the Philippines than the
benefits to our trade.
He devoted himself 70 the conftitution.
90 acquire territory had beoome estab-
lished BY the decision Of the courts.
Mr.. Neville Of Nebraska, In opposing
annexation, said he had promised his
constituents never TO vote q. dollar for
the support Of the Sultan Of Sulu with
his eight wives and 146 slaves.
Ar. Cochran Of Missouri, said that IL
we were 10 govern the Philippines under
the Constitution it must be subject to
all tina limitations OF that tnstru ment.
He called attention tothe race that the
agreement made with the Sultan OF Sutu
| recognized slavery and was therefore In
violation Of ths amendnsnt TO the Con-
ssitution which provided that slayery be
forever prohibited not only In the United
States, but In all territory over which
10 exsroised jurisdiction.
Nj. Cochran said that many OF the
-. s,,xl., Ar lar M
or the descendants Of Christians, captured
by the piratical Moors. The day the
American flag was RAISED over those ISL
ands was . day OF disgrace.
Mr.. William Aid IN Smith Of Michigan,
the mem srs Of the foreign affairs DOM :
mites, who offered m amen tment In
the conuittee for q minister resident TO
the South African republic and the
Orange Free State, said he knew 10 would
be useless TO offer the amendment In the
House. No o siugle ob1eotion would de-
feat 10. He should therefore urge . sepa-
rate bill, not 10 embarrass the govern
ment, but because he believed diplo-
matic officer Of the government was need
ed In South Africa Turning TO the
Philippine question, Mr.. Smith said 10
was useless TO attempt to please the 9TH
or side of tbs House. Tbs Democrats
were always In the opposition, Speak
ing Of Cuba, he expressed his regret that
tie governms had been committed 20
policy there BY the Teller resolutions
which. ne said, had been placed In the
resolutions by senator Teller As sop to
the powers Of Europe. Recurring 20 the
question OF the 1rausvaal war, he said
the meetings held all over the country
evidenced the popular sympaty with the
i Bora Bat wuoh az his sympath1es
went ont 70 tbs Beers, he wished only for
Eneland renown, glory and power, be-
Gauss he believed the glory OF England
would rebound 10 the hsnefit OF Anglo
saxon cisilizstiop every WHERE. ROW
when there was popular demand taat
the presidsnt shenid oner TO msdiAts IN
the struggle In South Africa, he thought
we could properly wait until the rms
judsmspt Of the President should decide
that the time had come to aee zap
| nlausal