Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-05-24
|SPOONER- DISCUSSES
PHILIPPINES PROBLEM
Wisconsin Senator E|oquentIy De-
tends the Policy Of the Ad-
ministration.
HAS A TILT WITH pi11leRew
south Dnkotnn Denies Authenticity
Of n Proclamation Quoted by
Spooncr-..Thc Constitu-
tional l'hases.

Washington, May 24.-In the senate
yesterday afternoon Senator Spooner
of Wisconsin, made notable speech
in favor of his bill providing that up
on the suppression of the insurrectior
In the Philippines the government OF
the islands shall devolve upon the
president until such time as congress
might direct otherwise.
Senator Spooner was almost too III
to stand, but he defended with char.
acteristic vigor and eloquence the pol
icy of the administration in the Phil
ippines, maintaining that none other
could have been adopted without dis
honor to the country.
Late i'll the afternoon Senator Car
ter, OF Montana, presented the creden-
tails of Senator Clark, of his state.
They will lie on the table for the pres
ent.
spooncr's Address.
Senator Spooner. of Wisconsin, then
addressed the senate on his bill in re-
lation to the suppression of the in
surrection in the Philippines. 1t pro-
vides that when insurrection shall
have been completely suppressed by
the military and naval forces of the
United States all military. civil and
the islands SHALL until otherwise pro-
vided by congress, be vested in such
person or persons and shall be exer-
cised in such manner as the presi-
dent of the United States shall direct
for maintaining and protecting the in
habitants, of said islands i'm the free
enjoyment of their liberty, property
and religion. Senator Spooner said
he did not believe the problems now
presented to this government We're
presented because it had devolved up
on the United States to Christianize
the world. While ours was mission
airy people the government is not a
missionary government.
1--WE have problems of our own" de-
clared Senator Spooner, land our first
duty is to subserve the interests of
our own people. In our acquisition of
the islands there was no lust of en-
pire among the American people,
Senator Spooner continued. "No peo-
pie can give more convincing evidence
of the highest divotion to liberty than
was given by the American people
when they demanded the withdrawal
of Spain from Cuba. l did not take
kindly to the acquisition of the Phil
ippines by the treaty of Paris; and at
one time, | think, ! might have voted
against the treaty's ratification. But
| have never been able to see how the
president could have concluded a
treaty with Spain that did not include
Il cession of the Philippine islands.
That sentiment-the sentiment for
the acquisition of those islands-per-
yaded our entire people. 1t has been
contenaed:that we ought to have de-
manded that Spain relinquish to us
the sovereignty of the Philippines -
said he, land then have left them to
he governed by their Own inhabitants;
but this could not have been done.
We could not quit claim them to the
world in the interest of philanthropy.
There has not been an hour since he
capitulation of Manila to our forces,
when, without dishonor to our co,ln-
try, we could have sailed away from
Manila. Our duty was then to main-
tain our honor and to protect the in
habitants of the city"
Senator Spooner then referred to
those senators who have seemed to
cxult sometimes in coupling the
names of the half-caste Filipinos with
that of our own Washington, and he
read portion of proclamation is
sued by one of Aguinaldo's leaders
warning the Filipinos in Manila that
upon n specified date "aH others will
be eNterminated without compassion
after the determination of the army
of occupation.
WAS there ever anything worse
than that?" he demanded.
Pettigrew Interrupts.
Senator Pettigrew interrupted SEN
ntor Spooner to declare that no such
order or: proclamation was ever is
sued.
81 asked for and received from the
war department six months ago a
copy of that ORDER" INTERCEPTED Sen
ntor Davis, chairman of the foreign re-
lations committee.
81 deny that any such order was
ever issued shouted Senator Petit
grew, either by Aguinalto or any OF
his subordinates."
"The trouble with the senator from
South Dakota replied Senator Spoon
err, SIS that everybody is a liar who
does not help to make his case against
this government. (Applause.)
Il protest against the use of such
a document" urged Senator Petit.
grew. cit is false and 1t ought not to
,."Wg4f,: :ig IS here" replied Senator
.SpQelye aIlpls land it is going to
Xff&3s.an official Jlocument?
@!Ee11, Git may bc an official docu-
mes}t= of. General otis.'' replied Sen
Rn& ;Pettigrew, "but it is contradic.
1tf6H of otfer information from the
1~hilippineE;"
The seAstor may have sources OF
informationsR1n ong his friends in the
Philippines, dAt may be permitted.'
suggested Senator Spooner, suavely
"to doubt that they are better than
General OBS" la,ughter)
Constitutional Questions.
Senator Spooner then entered upon
b discussion of the constitutional
phases of the Philippines question. He
said our 6S,0QO troops We're in the Phil.
ippin& f6r>fhe purpose of maintain.
ing order in territory which had been
acquired by the United States.
Whe United States 'havihg acquired
the Philippines BY. the treaty of Paris
Senator Spooner continued, the presi.
,dent could do no less than send troops
to that archipelago. He could not
.a,s,Eski,ho Legend OF The Raven
San FHnciseo Call: The following
fable of how. the raven became blacl,
is common to every Eskimo, house.
hold: Once upon n time (all their