The National tribune., 1900-04-26
IN CONGRESS.
Synopsis OF the More Important
Proceedings of Both Houses.

Proceedings of Both Houses.
In the Senate on Tuesday, April II, Mr.
Hoar occupied the attention of the Senate
with a speech in opposition to the policy
of Imperialism" upon which, he main
tained, this Government has embarked
One of the parts of the address was eulogy
of Aguinaldo. Mr.. Hoar did not Gken
the insurgcnt leader to Washington, as has
been done heretofore, but to Kossuth, Dom
Paul, Joubert and Nathan Hale. In
statccraft he likened Aguinaldo and his
associates in the leadership of the F'ilipinos
to the best minds ever produced in the
Asiatic race, race which handed down to
us the Scriptures of the Old and New
TeStaments, the poetry of David, the elo-
quence of Isaiah, the wisdom of Solomon,
and the profound philosophy of Paul"
I'VE are told" said Mr.. Hoar toward the
close, that if we oppose the policy of our
imperialistic and expanding friends, we are
bound TO suggest some policy of our own
as substitute for theirs. We are asked
what We would do in this difficult emer-
gency. 1t is question not difficult to
answer. for one am ready to answer it. !"
Next he said:
81 would declare now that we will not
take these islands to govern them against
their will. | would reject cession of
sovereignty which implies that sovereignty
may be bought and sold and delivered
without the consent of the people. Spain
had no rightful sovereignty over the Philip
pine Islands. She could not rightfully
sell It TO us. We can not rlghtfully buy it
from her.
q would require all foreign Governments
to keep out of these islands | would offer
to the people of the Philippines our help in
maintaining order until they have a reason
able opportunity to establish Government
of their own. | would aid them by advice,
if they desire it, 10 set up a free and indie
pendent Government. | would invite all
the great powers OF Europe 10 unite in an
agreement that that independence shall not
be interfered with by us, by themselves, or
by any one of them with the consent of the
others.
81 would declare that the United States
will enforce the same doctrine as applica BILE
to the Philippines that we declared as to
Mexico and Haiti and the South American
Republics. 1t is true that the Monroe
Doctrine, doctrine based largely on our
regard for our own interests. Is not appll-
cable either in terms or in principle to
distant ASiatic territory. But undoubt-
edly, having driven out Spain, We are
bound, and have the right, 10 secure TO the
people we have liberated an opportunity,
undiSturbed. and in peace, TO establish
new Government for themselves.
81 would then, i'll a not distant future,
leave them 10 work out their own salvation,
as every nation on earth, from the begin
ming of time, has wrought out its own
salvation. Let them work out their own
as our own ancestors slowly
and in long centuries wrought out theirs;
as Germany, as Switzerland, as France,
in brieler periods, wrought out theirs; as
Mexico and the South American Republics
h1y al of tharn
within a century. some of them within the
life of a generation. To attempt TO confer
the gift of freedom from without, or to i'm
pose freedom from without on any people,
is to disregard all the lessons OF history.
q would strike out of your legislation the
oath of allegiance to us and substitute an
oath of allegiance to their own country"
In the House the second days debate on
the Naval appropriation bill was confined to
the questions of armor plate and the build
ing of warshipS. A synopsis of the bill
has already been published in these
columns.
After extended meetings an unanimous
agreement was reached by the Senate and
House conferees on the Hawaiian Govern
ment bill. AS it went to conference the
House substituted an entirely new measure
previously enacted by the Senate. The
Senate confereeS yielded to the House
measure as a whole, although number of
were IlduC. LII UlSlill,
however, the form of Government as finally
determined upon is that provided by the
House. The main amendments are in
providing a District Court instead of a
Federal court, organized under general
laws, and the striking out of the House
provision posttPoning for one year the time
for applying the coaSting laws to Hawaii.
The prohibition OF saloons in Hawaii, as
provided by the House bill, is retained in a
modified form, in effect leaving the matter
to local option. The appointment Of Cir
cult Judges, which was the subject of rather
earnest difference, was finally decided
by leaving the appointments to the Pre5i-
dent.
The bill establishes complete form Of
G Government for the islands, with Governor
and other executive officers, a Legislature
of two branches, and Judicial branch
consisting Of a Supreme Court, Circuit
Courts. and Inferior Courts The bill pro-
videS that Hawaii shall be represented in
Congress by a Delegate, who shall have a
seat in the House Of Representatives, with
q right Of debate but not vote; the Delegate
is 10 be chosen at an election Of the people.
There is no tariff provision Of the bill, as
the tariff laws Of the United States are
extended over the island. The Chinese on
the island are given one year TO obtain
certificates Of residence.
In the Senate on Wednesday routine
matters occupied the day. The Alaskan
civil code was discussed.
In the House some progress was made
with the Naval bill, the debate under the
five-minute rule drifting into politics. Some
Of the Democrats began worrying Mr.
Hawley, of Texas, by pointedly asking
if the President had not changed his mind
on the Porto Rican tariff question. and
Gen. Grosyenor finally threw himself into
the breach. Mr.. Williams made an in
terruption that drew a sharp rejoinder from
the Ohioan about the unfair" advantage
taken by the Nississippian. This aroused
the wrath of the latter, and after Gen.
Grosvenor had concluded, he made sting
ing response, in which he said parla-
mentary language would not permit him
properly to characterize Gen. Grosvenor's
offense. Later Gen. Grosvenor disclaimed
intentional affront.
Gen. Grosyenor's reply to the questions
about a change of mind, ETC., included the
following:
at may be possible that the President of
the United States has changed his mind.
1t is great thing that the Democratic
party on this floor has got one little thing
TO talk about. They had President for
eight years and they tried to get him for IL
years, and they have cursed him during
the last 10 years and are cursing him
now.
I'VE have President" added Gen.
Grosvenor in ringing tones that brought
out rounds OF applause from tie Repubi-
cans, who has held Office for three years
nd will l,lJ