The National tribune., 1900-03-15


Christian sccts. The land, which belong.
TO the people, and of which they have beer
robbed i'll the past. should be returned t
them. and their titles made secure. W,
should inaugurate and carry forward, il
the most earnest and liberal way, com
prehensive system of popular education
Finally, while we bring prosperity TO The
islands by developing their resources
we should, as rapidly as conditions viii
permit. beStow upon them self-g government
and home rule. Such an outline is the
policy which | believe can be and will bC
require time, patience, honesty, and ability
for its completion, but it is thoroughly
practicable and reasonable.
Senator Lodge devoted some time TO an
analysis of 'the consent of the governed
a phrase, he said, which runs trippingly
upon the tongue but lacks definite mean
ing. He showed that the government of
the colonies, regarding which Jefferson
penned the phrase, rested upon the con
sent of the white males who had the right
10 vote according to the laws of the col
onieS.
In conclusion. he dwelt upon the great
movements of humanity since the world
began, and said that the foothold which
TIE American Nation had secured i'll the
East was in obedience TO laws which were
not to be withstoOd.
He delivered an cioquent eulogy of
the President, whose name, he said would
in the future stand out bright and clear
because he had planted our flag at the
portals of the East.
His peroration, in which he besought Con
greSs and the people 10 remain true to
this country's mission as n great Nation
4 mission which was directed BY Il higher
than mere human law-was q brilliant
piece OF oratory worthy Of tho great sub
ject. When he had concluded lie was
overwhelmed with congratulations from
both sides of the chamber.
Mr.. Proctor, of Vermont, read Il letter
from Col. l.. W. Y. Kennon, in command
of the Thity-fourth Regiment. in the Philip
pines. i'll which he dealt fully with the
situation there. He wrote from personal
observation.
The northern part of the Island of Luzon
had been cleared practically of insurgents
in formidable bodies. the few remaining
being in scattered bands. They hoped
to be able to discourage the Americans by
a guerrilla warfare In the
opinion OF Col. kennon, the ma ajority of the
Filipinos, with the exception of the savage
wanted American control because
the forces under Auginaldo preyed upon
crimes against tho inhabitants This
desire for American rule had taken the
form of burning Aguinaldo in effigy Col
kennon Was certain the EilipinoS had no
capacity for self-government, and needed
the strong hand o! some nation to guide
and direct them. This hand, he thought,
the United States, ought TO extend.
Col. Kennon inclosed with his letter an
official Filipino statement. to prove that
the precipitation of hostilitics, 13 months
ago, was premeditated on the part of Agui-
naldo and his associates, and that that
responsibility did not rest upon the Ameri-
cans.
In the House in the official announce
ment OF the death of Hon. Alfred G.. Har-
mer, Of Pennsylvania, scene was wit
messed unusual in sentiment and occur
renee. Trembling with emotion and grief
for his dead colleague, Gen. Harry Bing-
ham addressed the Speaker soon after the
House had been formally opened for the
transaction of business. AS dean of the
Pennsylvania delegation it was his duty
to apprise that body of the death of one OF
the States members. The announcement
also brought to Gen. Bingham the title of
Father of the House." which Mr.. Har-
mer enjoyed for come time previous to his
death and which Representative W. ID.
Kelley, of Philadelphia, had for many
years. The desk of the dead Pennsylyan-
ian. draped in black and laden with
palm branches and flowers, was conspicu-
Gus III the front row on the Republican side.
In connection with the eulogy of his
colleague and the Offering of the customary
resolutions of regret Gen. Bingham said
that Mr.. Harmer was one of a marked
group OF four men whom the city of Phila-
delphia sent TO the American Congress
men most exceptional in their usefulness
and years OF service to the people of their
own home constituencies, as well as to their
State and Nation. These men, he said.
were Judge W. ID. Kelley, who was elected
10 ID Congresses and who served 20 years:
Mr.. Charles O'Neiii, who was elected to-
Is Congresses, and who served 20 years;
Mr.. Samuel j. Randall, who was elected to
ID Congresses, and who served q years,
md Mr. Harmer, who likewise was elected
% IA Congresses, and served 27 years
The House adjourned, as did the Senate
ater, III honor OF Mr.. Harmer.
In the Senate on March nearly the
whole OF the session was devoted to the
Porto Rican bill. First, Mr. Pettus made
short argument against it, interspersed
With Scrlptural quotations, and then Mr..
in charge of the BILL undertook
o answer all the attacks that have been
made upon it from both sides Of the cham
Der. His remarks We're extended and in
errupted by frequent questions.
Senator Mason introduced in the Senate
/ resolution calling upon the State Depart
nent for all the correspondence between the
Government of the United States and fine
Government of Great Britain relative TO the
sthmian canal authorized by the late
Secretary J. &. Blaine and also "a chrono-
ogical recapitulation Of the contentious
made by the various Secretaries of State
since the signing of the Clavton-Bulwer
reaty as to the validity OF this treaty. the
'eplieS by. the Government of Great Britain,
and the violations of the terms of the treaty
III the part Of Great Britain which have
been held by the Government of the United
States 10 have operated as an abrogation
)f the treaty"
The House unseated CASTOR A. Robbins.
Of Alabama: and bestowed the title of Repre-
upon VIM. +. Aldrich in his stead.
The contestant triumphed by only four
votes. as the substitute resolutions 10 keep
Mr.. Robbins i'll the seat were lost by that
narrow margin. The final resolutions
were carried by seven majority, when II
was sceii that the Democrats had polled
their fuli strength. The vote was taken.
first lipon the minority resolutions declar
ing Mr.. Robbins entitled to retain his seat
Tie substitute resolutions were defeated
13i 10 13S-by strict party vote. The
vote then REQUIRED upon the ma jority reso-
lutions declaring Mr.. Aldrich, the contest
ant, entitled 10 the seat They were
adopted-142 TO 135.
GTor pension discussion on this day see
another coluinn.)