The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-01-31
Senator Clapp was sworn in at $3.50
o. D'c1Oc1r t4e'

X X X X x x X X X X X X X X x X x x X
preparations yesterday to listen to a speech,
which partook of the character of an oration
from Senator Towne, of Minnesota.
Since he entered the senate a few weeks
ago, on appointment of Gov. Lind, the
young Minnesotan has had little oppOrtun-
ity to display his talents
AS his reputation as an orator had pre-
ceded him, there was much interest in his
speech yesterday, which was in advocacy OF
his resolution for a cessation of hostiiities
in the Philippines.
The floor was crowded with senators and
members Of the house of representatives,
the latter including Representatives Little
feld Mccall, Cooper and others who have
been prominent in insular legislation.
The galleries. public and private, were
crowded to overf1owing.
The senators on the Democratic side gave
Mr.. Towne marked attention
On the Republican side the attention was
less noticeable, although. M. Iiuar and Mr.
Hale at first followed the speech closely at
times exchanging smiling comment on some
| of the utterances.
At one point Mr.. Depew took front seat
and listened attentively.
Mr.. Towne's style of delivery was clear
| and forcble. Although restricted by man
uscript he had the subject we'll in hand.
and rolled out the fine periods with fervor
! POLICY IS ARRAIGNED.
| The speech abounded in apotheoses to lib
| erty and patriotism, and scathing and scorn-
| ful arraignment of the policy by which the
Fflipinos were being annihilated.
At one time an outburst of applause from
| the galleries led to vigorous warning from
| the presiding officer against demonstrations
| of approval or dissent.
AS the orator closed his brilliant perora
tion there was another outburst of applause.
despite the warnings of the chair. Imme-
ola!ely Iollowing Mr. Townes speech the
credentials OF his successor, Mr.. Clapp, Min
nesnta, were presented, and after being
sworn In the new senator took his seat.
| and Mr.. Towne retired.
The rest Of the day was devoted to the
Indian appropriation bill, the discussion
turning on irrigation and little pro9ress be-.
ing made
Mr. TOwne spoke in full and resonant
tones, with more of the graces of oratorv
| than are usually heard in the practical
| debates of the senate.
| In opening his address Mr. Towne referred
| to the petition presented to the senate a
few days ago by 2,0O6 Filipinos for a cessa
| tion of hostilities and for the granting OF
independence to the people Of the Philip
| pines.
He maintained that it would prove "a
| Quickening appeal to the ancient spirit of
the republic. or its rejection as to dedicate
the Twenleth century to reaction preju-
| dicial. II not fatal, to free institutions
| While discussing events which led the
| United States forces to the Philippines, Mr.
| Towne referred with particularly to the
| charge .hs: ASainaldo had sold his country
| to the Spaniards for a bribe.
| He declared the accusation was "pratuf-
i tcus In its calumny, when we consider that
| the official publications of our own govern
! ment contradict and destroy it,"
! The senator declared that I'VE were in
alliance with the Filipinos, an alliance
| sought by ourselves, availed of by us for our
| own advantage and finally, to our eyerlast-
| ing shame in the estimation of honorable
men, repudiated by us when we found it no
/ longer necessary and when lust of empire
| had so blunted our moral sensibilfty that
| we could mount from such an act of perfidy
! to the grand larceny of a nation.
| SENATOR TONNES SPEECH.
! Referring to Admiral Deweys denial that
| he had ever treated the insurgents as allies
| Mr.. Towne said sarcastically:
! Il fear that the honest sailors termin-
ology has suffered from recent contact with
! the nice determinations of American di-
plOmacy.
Discussing the acquisition of the Philip
| pines, Senator TOwne said:
1t is not easy tu fxe with accuracy the
| time when the design was formed to take
| forcible possession Of the Philippine islands,
nor to ascertain the mind in whose gloomy
violence first gathered form and pressure.
There has indeed been evidenced q dispo-
sition by its most illustrious sponsors as
| if their prophetic souls already trembled at
the inQuisition of after ages, to impute the
dubious responsibility to Providence itself.
Il know not which to admire the more.
whether the modesty which disclaims credit
for the policy or the colossal presumption
which challenges and betrays the vaunted
confidence of the Almighty.
n
accountability for actions attributing their
/ origin to any other source than human
motives and human Judgment.
The policy Of the administration towards
the Filipincs must be justified, IL ever
justified at all, in the forum Of the reason
and the conscience Of mankind"
! Mr.. Towne declared that upon the arrival
of n. Merritt at Manila "a distinct change
of tone was observable" between the United
States officials and the Filipinos, the altered
attitude being so marked as 10 force the
conclusion that part of Gen. Merritt's pre-
arranged task was to monoeuver out Of an
awkward friendliness with Aguinaldo and
thus to reach footing for the convenient
development Of some secret policy with
which he had come fresh freighted from
Washington"
DOUBT BANIsHED.
If there was doubt of the prearrangement
of the ..lan it was banished, in Mr.. Towne's
OplulOu, ny tue pFCSiueuJ utuSeN. 4uc tulTu
article of the protocol with Spain reads:
The United States will occupy and hold
the city, bay and harbor of Manila pending
the conclusion of a treaty of peace which
shall determine the control, disposition and
government OF the Philippines
Yet, despite that definite provision, the
president, the senator urged, issued on Dec.
21 1885, his famous benevolent assiraila-
ton proclamation"
thus. he continued. ..the dilemma is
this: Either that article Of the protocol
does not mean what 1t says, or the president
of the United States, in causing the issu-
anee of the proclamation to which l have
referred, broke the plighted faith OF this
government.
1T is not agreeable to me to use this Ian
guage but devoutly believe that the re-
public Ia at the gravest crisis OF its history.
and l feel that necessary preliminary 10
its getting safely out is to cause the people !
to realize how it came to get In.
Mr. Towne said OF the presidents proc
laynation that among the roses OF It's soft
a. Rnf csHs.a a hrlV