The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-29
Tuesdays Proceedings.

In the Senate Tuesday Mr.. Spooner, Of
Wisconsin, addressed himself TO his biA
providing that upon the suppression ~
the insurrection in the Philippines the
government 0f the islands would devolve
upon the President until such time as
Congress might direct otherwise. Not
vithstandlng the fact that he was almost
too 81 20 stand, Mr.. Spooner's effort was
one OF the notable ones OF the present
session. He defended with Characteristic
vIgor and el0quence the policy OF the ad-
minlstration in the Philippines, maintain
Ing that no other policy in the crcum-
stances was possible and that none other
could have been adopted without dishonor
10 the country. Without concluding his
remarks Mr. SpC0ner yielded the floor
until to-day. Senator Petugrew gave no.
tice OF a substitute which provides for the
cessation of hosiIities and negotiations
for the establishment Of an Independent
government IN the Philippines.
Mr.. SpOoner agreed with much OF the
speech OF Senator Lodge, but he was less
radical II there had been no war with
Spain, he said. treaty transferring the
Philippines 10 the United States would
scarcely have received vote in the Sen
ate The trusyeeship under God would
said our first duty was to our own people.
Cannot Leave the Philippines.
AdvCrting 10 the proposition that the
United states ought 10 retire from the
T'huiJp!res and leave the islands to their
Inhabitants. Mr.. SpOoner declared such
action would have made lhe government
appear to have carried the flag Of liberty
tC the mountain tC3 and then TO have
shrunk away from the duty OF maintain
ing the flag there. II this country had
yielded up the Philippines at the close
of the war he had TO reason 10 doubt
that Spain would have taken possession
and held the islands When our forces
left Manila, the Spanish troops again
would have taken possession OF the city
This would have been in accord with The
desires Of foreign governments, many
OF whose citizens would have been enddn-
eered without d stable government IN
the city.
1t has been contended that we ought
10 have demanded that Spain relinquish
10 US the sovereignty of the Philippines
said he. "and then left them 10 be gov
erned by their own inhabitants; bur this
could not have been done. We could not
otit-claim them 10 the world in the inter
ests Of philanthropy.
There never has been an hour since
the capitulation of Manila to our forces
when. without dishonor to our country,
we could have sailed away from Manila.
Our duty was there TO maintain our
honor and to protect the inhabitants Of
the city.
Mr.. Spooner then referred 10 those Sen
ators who have seemed to eXult some
times in coupling the names of the half
cast Filipinos with that Of our own
Washington" and read a portion of
proclamation issued by one of AguinaldO's
leaders warning the Filipinos in Manila
that upon a specified date all others will
be exterminated without compassion, aft
er the determination of the army of oc-
cupation."
Was there ever anything worse than
that?' he demanded. Would we with
draw our army now and leave without
protecting the British citizens, the Ger
man citizens, the citizens of Holland, and
those of America, not to mention the
friendly FilipinOs. against whom the direst
threats have been made?"
sharp Tilt with Pettigrew.
Mr. Pettigrew interrupted Mr.. Spooner
to declare that no such order or procIa-
nation as he had read was ever issued
Mr.. SpOOneT replied that il was contained
in an official document issued by the gov
ernment. and was quite as accurate as
much of the matter Mr.. Pettigrew him.
self had used.
Il asked for and received from the War
Department six months ago a copy of
that very order" interjected Mr.. Davis.
chairman of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee.
Il deny that any such order was ever
issued" shouted Mr.. Pettigrew, either
a a nfs lvNT Of IA
The trouble with the Senator from
South Dakota" replied Mr.. Spooner, 'is
that everybody is a liar who does not help
10 make his case against this govern
ment." Applause)
Il protest against the use of such a
document" urged Mr.. Pettigrew 1T Is
false and 1t ought not TO be here"
We'll, IL is here" retOrted Mr. SpOone-.
warmly, "and it is going to stay here.
Does the senator deny that this is an OH
cial document
We'll, it may be an official report of
Gen otis" replied Mr.. Pettigrew. but
II is a contradiction of other information
from the Philippines"
The Senator may have sources of in
formation among his friends in the Fill
plnos, but | may be permitted" suggested
Mr.. Spooner, suayely, Ito doubt that they
are better than those OF Gen Otis.'
Q-aughterD
Tile Held a COnquerOrs.
Mr. Spooner then entered upon a discus
sion Of the constitutional phases of the
Philippine question, particularly as relat-
ed 10 the acquisition Of tie islands. He
controvertcd the assertion Of former Sec
rotary of State Day that the islands had
not been conquered, but had been acquired
by purchase. He held that the protocol
proved that the United States had de-
manded the cession Of the Philippines and
they had been yielded by Spain under pro-
test and TO a conqueTing power
The United States having acquired the
Philippines by the treaty of Paris. Mr.
Spooner continued. the President could do
no less than send troops 10 that archipel-
ago. Had he not taken this course, ht
would have been subject To unanswerable
criticism. He could not have asked Agui.
rGldo for an armistice. say what you
choose" Mr.. Spooner exclaimed. about
the President. ne has been grossly insult
Cd In this chamber. hut he has done his
DUTY. and done IL IN a way TO impress on
the Fiipinos his desire and the desire ot
the American people 20 dc them gOod--t,
give them the largest liberty possible and
h. has done q In dis gard Of hostile crit.
his oath ne WAS obliged 10 do. he has sent
United States troops 10 enforce the au-
rhoTtty Of the United States over terri
tory Of the United States"
introduced i'm the senate.
Bills and resolutions introduced in III.
Senate Tuesday:
BY Mr. Pettlgrew, resolution discharg
Ing the Committee on Privileges and Elec
tons from the consideration OF the JONI
resolution for the election Of United State.
Senators by direct vote Of the people. N,
resolution 10 be reported 10 the Senat,
and placed upon the calendar Cor consid