The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-13
TEE PHILIPPINE QUESTION
Mr. RawliHs Speaks on the Spoon
eP Bill in lhe Senate.
He Declares That because :hc Fiji
rinos Never Acknowledged .Iea:i-
Net Insurgents - The Admini-tra-
tion Criticised So other business.

policy Of this Government relative to the
Philippine Islands. IN beginning his
speech ne had the cler, read the bill re-
Gently introduced by Mr.. Spooner con-
ferring upon the President authority 10
govern the Philippines until Congress
shall otherwise proyde
He then sent to the desk and had read
the act OF 1903, comforting upon the Pres
ident power to govern the territory of
Louisiana. He said that he desired TO
have the resemblance and the difference
between these two acts clearly under
stood because he desired to quote the
opinions of various authorities upon the
former and to show their bearing upon
the latter.
Continuing on this line. Mr.. Rawlins
read extracts from opinions of Kent and
other English publicists, in which they
argued that a transfer of territory under
treaty did not include the allegiance of
the inhabitants without their consent, ex-
pressed or implied.
He said he regarded Mr. Spooner's bill
as an admission CT the anomalous condi
tons now existing.
Allegiance Not Acknowledged.
THE Fiiipinos," he declared, never ac-
knowledged their allegiance to this Gov
ernment, hence they are not in insurrec-
tion against the United States. a war
of aggression is being waged against them.
The purpose, l believe, in the drafting of
the bill proposed by the Senator is to Sc
cure a recognition by Congress OF state
OF war in the Philippines
Mr.. Rawlins said that the FilipinOs are
hal ..ri IA sci lf-hp
fence against 4 war of subjuSatiOn-a
war that has never been declared by Con-
gress lie referred to the speeches of
Senators Lodge and Beveridge, which he
said he presumed voiced the sentiments
and presented the programme of the Ad-
ministratiOn, and declared that he is op-
posed TO the carrying out of this pro-
gramme.
NO vote Of mine he continued. will
aid in the carrying into effect of the pol
icy outlined by those Senators. l oppose
the programme because il is in violation
of the fundamental principles upon which
our free institutions are erected; because
it is in opposition to the Constitution; be-
cause il proposes TO rule by despotic
power and not by rights secured under
the Constitution; because II is not expan-
sion. but retrogression of all that we have
held highest. and because it is unjust.
immoral. and breach Of the piighted
faith of this nation
Replying 20 question addressed TO him
by Mr. SpGoner Mr. Rawlins, in the course
Of constitutional argument upon the
rights Of inhabitants of the insuiar posses
sioas. said that the Treaty of Paris con-
ferrcd upon Congress the authority to de-
tcrTnine the civil rights and political
status OF the inhabitants Of the islands
acquired from Spain by the United States
in accordance with that treaty. He said,
however that ii did not confer that au
thority upon Congress with regard to other
than native Inhabitants Of the islands, and
hat therefore the Constitution must nee
.ssarily extend over the outlying territory.
and the Americans, Germans. Frenehmen,
and others on the islands could be go~-
erued by Congress only uader the limits-
tlons of the Constitution.
Advice TO Republicans.
Mr.. Rawlins said that If asked by the
majority what advice he would give in re-
lation to the Philippine Islands, he would
advise the Government to 90 what Butler
did when he found himself in an untenable
position on Spion Kop-execute I safe
and mastery retreat. The FiIipiEos. he
said. had been led to believe from the
Presidents proclamation, issued through
General OTIS. and his proclamation Issued
through General Miller, that this great
white Republic had spoken to them with a
deceptive and forked tongue, and 1t was to
that fact that might be ascribed the death
OF the many brave American soldiers and
the waste and bloodshed that had taken
place.
As 10 Mr.. Spooner's bill, Mr.. Rawlins
said. it Was TO take effect only when the
insurrection ceased. and he would like TO
know whether that was to take place in
one year, ten years, or three hundred
years.
Mr.. Spooner remarked that the Senator
from Utah had himself recognized the
existence of hostilties IN the Philippine
Islands when he voted for the Army bill
last session. knowing that the forces were
to be employed there.
Mr.. RaWlins replied that his vote for
that bill did not imply that the Army
should be aggressiyely used for the exter-
mination of a people, or to wage a re-
morseless, unholy, and cruel var
As to the "open door" principle for
which so much credit had been given 10
the present Secretary of State, he said it
seemed to him that it was an English and (
not an American. triumph. What right, !
he asked. had a great trust of nations. like (
Russia. Great Britain. and Germany, TO
say that they would form a conspiracy, and I
declare to the Chinese people obey our
behests, and tear down your tariff walisg'
That. he declared. was a precedent to !
which he could not give his sanction.
That open door" achievement Of the |
Secretary OF State, Mr.. Rawling said, was !
on a par with his other achievement |
known as the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. In [,
conclusion. Mr. Rawlins said: We cannot |
rule Asiatie peoples to their advantage, /
and without detriment to ourselves. ]
Hence. / say that to carry out this policy /
in the Philippine Islands is destructive |
10 all the best interests, material and /
moral. social and political both of the |
pe,.r'. Of the United States and of the !
people of the Philippines
Private Pension bills,
The senate then took Up the private pen
sion bills on the calendar. and all OF them
-eIghty-six tg numbar-were mass '-se
time required Was abo-t Iorty-fye minutes. !
TIE aadiug of the Alaskan bill 122 pages
of which vas read between 10 ocloek n
m and nool WAS continued up 70 the
hour cf adjournment by which time about
hye-sixths Of she 1-u had been re3d, to the
satisfaction OF Mr.. Bate, who remained in
the chamber to see that the constitutional
requirement was complied with and that
the bill was actually read in full
During the morning hour Mr.. Allen In
troduced the following resolution, which
was passed without discussion:
Resolved. That The President be requested. il
not incompatible with the public interest. to i'll
form The Senate whether or not any communicl- |
tion has bsen received by this Government from 4
its consular representative at Pretoria cmbodyirg
the request OF the Presidents of the South Afsi-
can Republics Tor mediation or Intervention viii
G view 10 ending the war now IN progress be-
tween these republics and Great Britain, as re- |
ported in the public press, and IL not incom.
patible Nith the public interest, he furnish the