New-York tribune., 1900-05-25
nv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUTE.l

nv TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
-.-.s+.,ston. May 24.-Mr. Spooner finished
,.-a .bts afternoon his mastery outline OF the
,ozas which have guided American policy
so- rr,e last eighteen months in the Philippines
r,-er-urtions on each Of the three days he has
.,oken stretched the Wisconsin Senator's de-
<snoe Of this country's political and military
-ror-anne 70 perhaps twice its expected length,
hUr no one could possibly regret these devtations
rom The direct line Of argument for they gave
M Spooner that opportunity for extempore re-
tort in which he delights. and lent variety and
freshness of color TO what might otherwise have
been considered too formal and studied an ora
tor4caI display. To-day's challenges TO running
debate came chiefly rom Messrs. Allen and
rer+iS-ayr the leading exponents IN the Senate
chamber Of that rabid zeal which seeks 70 dis
credit everything done in the Philippines by
American civil or military authority since the
signing OF the protocol Of peace with Spain
Neither OF course. could make much headway
against The ready wit and thorough knowledge
Of the Wisconsin orator, and Mr.. Allen gave up
me contest with pointed complaint against
the parriaIity Of the auditors in the galleries
NJ Soooner's speech drew from Mr.. Tillrnan
the compliment that II the greatest piece OF
sDecial pleading ever heard in the Senate" 1t
viii attract less guarded but equally cordial
-udicious turn Of mind No review Of American
policy IN the Philippines will be more sought
after by those who care for a lucid and intelli-
g-ble view Of the conditions under which the
Tinted States has faced the responsibilities
thrust upon II in the Far East by the outcome
u The war T Mr.. Spooner's place among the
few genuinely effective and convincing orators
IN Congress had not long ago been securely es-
-sbIfshed. his three days speech on the bill
which bears his name would easily have earned
him into that rank IN a single bound
OUTBREAK LONG PREMEDITATED
NJ snooner maintained that the facts proved
-nA attack on the United States troops was not
onIv made by Aguinaldo but had been long pre-
-nedirared BY Filipino documents which hao
-eVen into the hands OF the Americans ne
showed that the FTlipinos. under the leadership
- ASyinaIdo. were preparing for an attack on
the American troops and that it had been nAeo
+or February 3. 1899 one day before the out
h-ssu occurred He reviewed at length the
svenrs which led I'D TO the hostilities on FEB
-,srv and declared that nobody but an anu
,r,perialist who by his words and actions de-
sired the dishonor OF his country and the max
ing Of campaign material in q Presidential year
could have so little OF good faith as TO MAKE
.he brutal charge against the President OF the
United States that he had been responsible Tor
the precipitation Of hostilities-
Mr. Spooner quoted a dispatch rom Ieneral
ro-ss giving an account of al interview with
Juage Torres one Of the Filipino Commission
e-s who suggested that q neutral zone be estab-
ushed between The hostile armies General OTIS
informed him that the suggestion Of a neutral
zone or an arrnisrice IN the circumstances would
have 70 come from Agutnaldo. An officer was
sent 70 Ag11fnaIdo by Judge Torres with re-
Guest that an arrufstice be arranged, and for
repIv Ae1ItnaIdo sent 70 General Otis copy Of
his declaration Of It received in the noon
mail to-day continued Mr.. Spooner, "an IN
suItinS letter from the chief Of the so-called
anri-inperialists OF Boston, IN which he de-
raounced General Otis as a liar"
N A CONTROVERSY WITH Mr. ALLEN
Mr. Allen interrupted 70 say that Army
officer, q friend OF his. had Informed him that
that statement Of the interview with Judge
Torres was not true that General Otis had mis-
represented Il
An officer who charges falsehood against his
commanding officer" retorted Mr.. SpOoner,
ought TO make II in the OPEN
He could not Go IL" SAID Mr.. Allen.
Then he ought 70 shut up." declared Mr..
spooner.
IF ne should make the charge IN the open"
said Mr.. Allen. his position would be i'm
per1ned"
We'll" replied Mr.. spooner. 'ff he told the