The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-08

In accordance with a notice previously
given by him, Mr. Lodge addressed the
Senate yesterday upon the subject OF the
bill introduced by Mr.. Spooner. which
vests in the President authority 10 govern
the Philippine Islands until Congress shall
otherwise provide.
While confning himself strictly 10 the
text of the printed copy Of his speech,
and reading from it occasionally, Mr..
Lodges delivery was far from monotonous.
Every sentence was pronounced in clear,
strong tones. which were audible in the
remotest parts of the chamber. When he
closed his remarks in defence and praise
of the Administration there was a 1lrtter
of applause in the galleries. where long
pause had given the idea that the perora-
tion had been pronounced. The disorder
was severely condemned by the Presiding
Officer. and the speech was then continued
till Its close.
Mr.. Lodges Speech.
The speech, in part. follows:
This bill is simple but all sufficient.
II makes no declarations and offers no
promises as to a future we cannot yet pre-
dict. Il meets the need of the present and
stops there. The President. under the mil
tary power. which still controls and must
for some time control the islands, could do
all that this bill provides. But it is well
tha. we should have the direct authorize
ton Of Congress and be enabled to meet
any emergency that may arise with the
sanction of the laW-making power, until
that power shall decree otherwise. Above
all it is important that Congress should
assert It's authority; that we should not
leave it TO the Executive acting with the
unlimited authority of the war power TO
go on alone after the conclusion of peace,
but that he should proceed under the au-
thority of Congress whatever he does un-
til Congress shall otherwise and more spe-
cifically provide.
BY this bill we follow the well-settled
American precedents of Jefferson and Mon
roe. which were used still later in the case
of Hawaiis To leave the war power un-
restrained after the end of war is to ao-
dicate our own authority. This bill is the
assertion of Congressional authority and
OF the legislative power Of the Govern
ment To undertake any further or more
far-reaching legislation at this time would
be- in my judgment, great mistake. But
/ believe il to be of great importance TO
define our position. so that II may be per-
fectly understood by the inhabitants Of the
Philippines as well as by our own people.
The questions involved in the future
management of these islands and in our
policy In the Far East are Of a nature to
demand the highest and most sagacious
craftsmanship. l have always Thought,
with Webster, that party politics should
cease at the waters edge He spoke only
in reference 20 our relations with foreign
nations. but l think we might well apply
his patriotic principle to our dealings with
our own insular possessions. both in the
Atlantic and the Pacific. The Philippines
should be an American question, not the
sport of parties or the subject of party
creeds. The responsibility for them rests
upon the American people, not upon the
Democratic or Republican party. If I've
fail in dealing with them We shall all alike
suffer from the failure, and If We succeed
the honor and the profit will rebound in
the end to the glory and the benefit OF all.
This view no doubt seems visionary. 1t
certainly ought not to be so, and in time
/ believe it will be accepted. Unfortunate
ly it is not the case today"
4 Political Issue.
Mr.. Lodge then referred to the fact that
a political issue has been made of the
Philippine question, and said he regretted
that the sc-called anti-expansionists should
insist upon making a party question of
this new and far-reaching problem, SO
fraught with great promise OF good, both
to ourselves and to others.
Mr.. Lodge continued:
I'VE have lad presented to US, it is
true, the policy desired by Aguinaldo and
his followers, that We should acknowledge
him as government, enforce his rule upon
the other eighty-three tribes and upon all
the other islands, and then protect him
from foreign Interference. This plan.
which would involve us in endless wars
With the natives and keep US embroiled
with other nations. loads US with respon-
sibility without power and falls into ruin
and absurdity the moment il is stated.
Another proposition is that we should treat
the Philippines as We treat Cuba. That
is precisely what We are doing. But what
is really meant by this demand is not that
We should treS the Philippines as we treat
Cuba, but that we should make to them
q promise as to the future.
Promises are neither action nor policy,
end. in the form OF legislation, are grave
mistake Those which involve us in pledges
of independence have the additional disad-
vantage of being the one sure means OF
keeping alive war and disorder IN the
Islands. Those who offer them or urge
them proceed on the assumption that you
can deal with an Asiatfc in the same man
ner aud expect from him the same results
as from European OF an American. This
shows, it seems TO me. a fatal misconcep-
tion. The Asiatic mind and habit OF
thought are utterly different from ours.
Words or acts which to us would show
generosity and kindness and would bring
peace and order TO an Asiatic mean sim
ply weakness and timidity and are to him
an incentive to riot, resistance, and blood
shed. Promises of this kind therefore,
are neither effective action nor intelligent
policy. but the sure breeders of war.
II We must abandon The Philippines, let
US abandon them frankly. II we mean to
turn them over TO domestic anarchy or
foreign control, let US do it squarely. If
we are to retain them. let us deal man
fully with the problems as they arise But
do not indulge in the unspeakable cruelty
OF making promises which our successors
may be unable or unwilling to fulfill and
which will serve merely to light the flames
of war once more and bring death to hun
dreds OF natives and to scores OF American
soldiers. Let us not attempt in such a
situation and with such responsibilities to
mortgage an unknown future and give
bonds TO fate which will be redeemed in
blood.
A simple Policy.
The policy we offer is simple and
straightforward. We believe in the frank
acceptance OF existing facts, and in dealing
with them as they are. and not on a the
ory Of what they might or ought to be.
We accept the fact that the Philippine
Islands are ours today. and that we are
responsible for them before the world The
next fact is that there is n war in those
islands, which with its chief in hiding.
nd no semblance of d government. has
ow dog2nerated into mere guerrilla fight
and btigandage Our Immediate duty