Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-09-19

lives in this state Ia probably Justified
In suggesting MIR. Hanna. (Applause) hut
while know that there has been grow
Ing feeling among the Republicans of late
years that Mr.. Hanna Is not bound by the
constitution, dissent from that opinion.
(Great applause and laughter)
My friends, this nation has upon it tbe
responsibility for the settlement OF the
Philippine question, and this nation must
settle 1t according to American Ideas (Ap.
plause).
The First Mistake.
II this nation had adopted American
ideas IN dealing with the Filipinos. there
never would have been one drop of blood
shed In the Philippine Islands. (Great ap-
plause and cheering) You ask me where
the first mistake was made? I say IL was
made when This administration made a
difference between Cuba and the PhiIin-
pine Islands (Great applause). When
that treaty was made, II II had recog-
nized the right Of the Filipinos to inde-
pendence then there would have been no
trouble, but that difficulty, that error. In
the making OF the treaty, could be cor
rected by this government because IL
Spain gave Us something that she did not
have title to, we have a right to give
the same to the people who have a title
to 1t. Great applause).
That treaty could have been cured by
declaration OF the nations purpose to
do with the Philippines what we have
promised to do with the people of Cuba.
We told the people Of Cubs. that We were
not fighting for land Tut for liberty, and
the Bacon resolution told the Filipinos
the same thing. but the Republican party
would not have the Bacon resolution.
The vote Of o Republican vice president
defeated the
that day to this the Republican party
has not passed a resolution declaring the
nations policy. The McEnery resolution
did not declare the nations policy. It
declared what the nation would not do
but 1T did not declare what the nation
would do. The McEnery resolution, sup
ported by the Republicans, declared that
the Philippine Islands should never be
an integral part Of the United States, and
that resolution left the settlement OF the
question to the future action of con-
gress; and the nearest approach that the
Republican party has made to declaring
itseif on the Philippine question is to he
round In the Spooner resolution. The
Spooner resolution was not adopted by
the senate; II was not voted upon but 1t
was the only resolution that seemed to
receive any support among the Republic
cans. But 1t was too definite and they
didn't try to pass 1t. Do you know what
that Spooner resolution was? 1t was like
TINS: 1t declared that whenever the war
was over, the president should esta blish
a government and maintain it until con-
gress made some legislative provision for
the matter.
Spooner's Ambiguous Plan.
Well, now. that is not very definite. but
AZ you want to see how definite 1t is, just
lei me put In few explanatory words,
ana with those explanatory words, It
would read like this when the war is over
I'VE don't know when 1t will be-the presi-
dent is to do something-we don't know
what-and keep on doing tive don't
know how long-until congress does some
thing--nobody can guess what. Great
applause and cheering)
Republicans, that is the nearest ap-
proach that you have made to definite
policy, II you have no title to the Phil
ippine Islands, IL you have no title to
the sovereignty of the Filipino. IL you are
going to keep them under the control Of
the United States. why does not your
party outline it's policy and ask the judg-
ment or the American people? (Great
applause).
We have a policy. IT has been advo-
Gated for year and a half ID is so
plain that everybody understands 1t. That
policy is set forth in the Democratic plat
form. 1t Is that we shall at once de-
clare the nations purpose-not after a
while, but now. (Great applause and
cheerlng).
The Democratic Policy.
And what shall that purpose be? First
to establish stable government In the
Philippine Islands in the place of the gov
eminent we, overthrew Just as we are es-
tablishing stable government in Cuba
in PLACE OF the one we overthrow Then
what? That we shall give independence
to the Filipinos as soon as the government
Is established just as we have promised
to give Independence 10 the Cubans as soon
as their government is established, and,
third, that we shall protect them from
outside interference while they work out
their destiny, just as we promised to pro-
tect Cuba while she works out her destiny
(Great applause and long continued cheer.
ing).,
Despotic Rule Of Porto Rico.
That Is a plan. and that is a certain,
positive plan, which is presented to you
as against the uncertainty of the Repub-
lican plan. But while the Republican
party has not declared through any off,
cial or. through any one authorized to
speak what II is going to do in the Philip
pine Islands, We do not have to wait for
a declaration. We know by what 1t has
done In Porto Rico what It intends to do
In the Philippine Islands. Republicans,
you say imperialism is thing used mere-
ly to frighten the people. The president
says that nobody wants Imperialism. We
are not talking OF the future but OF the
present, VIZ point you to the Porto Rican
bill, a thing that is, and we charge that
the Porto Rican bill cannot exist except
upon an imperiallstic theory OF govern
mept. Great applause,) We are not
looking for the future but for the pres
ent, tApplause) What does that bill
assert? 1t asserts that a president, elect
ed by the people OF this county. holding
once under the constitution, is not bound
BY the constitution. 1t is built upon the
theory that a congress, created by the
constitution, is not restrained by that
constitution when a bill deals with the
people OF Porto Rico. My friends, II that
Ia true OF the people OF Porto Rico, II
may be true OF any number of people any
where, challenge you to hnd In oil the
history OF the world power exercised by
tyrant or despot more arbitrary than the
power asserted by the Porto Rican bill
(Great applause.)
Go beyond your constitution, and what
are you restrictions2 The people OF this
country are not willing TO risk their lib.
erty In the hands OF a president and con.
gress elected by themselves and yet you
want the Porto Ricans to risk their lib.
critics In the hands OF a president anG
congress elected by somebody else.
We demand the guarantees OF the con-
stitution for our protection against peo.
pie whom you elect and yet you are not
willing 10 give 10 the Porto Ricans the
guarantee OF a constitution to protect