The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-27

WmshingtOn-Near Two Hun
dred People Sat Down to Tables.
The Minnesota Congregational club met
last night at the Peoples church, and,
after discussing an excellent dinner with
good result, dropped into the vernacular
and took up the subject of expansion.
What Washington has written tending to
bear on the general idea of territorial
extension gave the basis for the debate.
Rev. G. w. Gallagher started discus
Sic which developed considerable
warmth by presenting a carefully written
paper on expansion and anti-imperialfsm.
He arraigned the administration for ag-
erosion unwarranted and believed that
the record Of the present administration
would shake the confidence Of the people
in the wisdom of trusting the government
of the United States to men selected I'M
der present methods. He advanced the
opinion that the course Of President Nc
Kfnley had been contrary to the princi-
pies advocated by Washington, directly
opposite the policy of Abraham Lincoln
and in contradiction to the policy Of 1.-The
consent of the governed" He said:
when the United States government
concluded the Philippine treaty 1t gained
nothing but the walled city of Manila, a
strip Of land approximately forty miles in
breadth, held by United States troops,
and one or two unimportant towns"
1t was this point which George Hend-
ley. Of Elk River, took especial excep-
ton to. He held that the islands had
been under the control of the Spanish
government for 300 years. and considered
1t contrary to fact to assert that the
United States had gained nothing in ad-
dition to the ground held by United States
troops. He arraigned the course pursued
by Edward Atkinson and his followers,
and held that under a government less
lenient all such would have been hung
for treason" He thought it the provi-
dence Of God that the Philippines had
come under American control and had
faith to believe that right would be done
in the end.
At the conclusion of the general debate
the subject was thrown open, and a num-
Der Of speakers took occasion to express
pointed views. The accuracy of Rev.
Gallaghers information was called in
question by DR.. Hal1ock, provoking a
heated answer by that gentleman, in
which he asserted that his facts were
culled from government records. L. A.
Rosing. Lieut.. Hanft. formerly of the
Thirteenth, and DR.. Borwn were others
who took part In the discussion. After
an hours talk, Rev Alex McGregor took
occasion to make a few remarks.
with all these glittering generalities
our minds are more or less obscured, y
said he. 81 do not suppose that more
than half of the facts advanced In sup
port of these two opposing views of the
situation will bear more than a passing
scrutiny. Political views differ. We must
trust, however, to the justice and sense
of right of the mass Of the American
people, In whom we have a confidence,
the result Of their past history. What
ever the outcome, their verdict will not
err
The attendance was large. A number
of visiting pastors were present, and the
attendance from the cityJw excellent.
Nearly 200 persons sat at the tables, and
the social side of the event was pleasant.
The tables were handsomely decorated
with plants and flowers.