The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-02-09

for cessation OF hostilties and for the
granting of independence to the people
of the Philippines. He maintained that
it would prove "a quickening appeal to
the ancient spirit Of the republic or Its
rejection must dedicate the twentieth
century TO reaction prejudicial, If not
fatal, to free institutions, He declared
the charge that Aguinaldo had sold his
country to the Spaniards for bride was
"gratuitous in its calumny, when we
consider that the official publications OF
our own government contradict and de
stroy 1t. - He also declared that I'VE
were in alliance with the Filipinos, an
alliance sought by ourselves, awaited OF
by us for our own advantage, and final.
ly, to our everlasting shame In the es'
timation Of honorable men, repudiated
by us when we found 1t no longer neces.
sary, and when lust of empire had SO
blunted our moral sensibilities that we
could mount from an act Of perfidy to
the grand larceny Of Il nation.
Mr.. Towne discussed the president 6
proclamation to the Filipinos, and said
that "among the roses of its soft rhet'
oric, It's fair speech about our coming
not as invaders or conquerors, but as
friends, OF the mild sway Of Justice
and of benevolent assimilation, the
already justly awakened distrust of the
Filipinos clearly beheld the unsheathed
and glittering steel of despotism, -
III we are bent on slaughter, - said
he, ''et it be in open guise' If we lust
for the peoples land, let us not gloss
our enterprise with false and sinister
pretense. Rather let us boldly raise the
somber flag Of international piracy,
whistle scruple down the wind. and then
close in upon our feeble victim to the
cry of loot and glory. -
Mr.. Towne maintained that the Unit
ed States was under the obligation OF
circumstances, II not, indeed, Of actual
promise. to grant independence to the
Filipinos, and that, among nations, the
former was quite AZ binding rs the
latter.
Senator Towne then argued at length
In support Of his contention that the
Filipinos were perfectly capable OF
governing themselves, pointing out that
80 per cent. Of the population of Luzon
can read and write, and holding that
the government established by Aguinal-
do was strong, symmetrical, and progress
sive, even In the difficult and disturbing
conditions which surround 1t. There
Is excellent reason TO believe that even
at this day the existing Filipino govern
ment, - he said, "low ~ 1t Is In estate
and migratory TO some extent as to
location, exercises q wide and respected
authority In the Philippine Islands, and
ia obeyed quite generally by the local
authorities In the interior.
The statement made In the campaign
that the insurrection would end NJ 1901
IN the anti.imperialists were defeated
was met by the statement that the re
sistance In the Philippines has In
creased and that IT had been announced
In the Senate within u week that 80, OO'
American soldiers would be needed II
the islands for an Indefinite period.
us II not clear, he inquired, "tha
the way Of duty Is equally the way o
proRtY DO we need to own people Il
order to trade with them2 Is 1t no
better to allow our customers to live
TO have their good will, and to leav
them the means Of payment, than ;
kill the strongest Of them, TO earn III
hatred Of the survivors, and to Empower
ish all by desolating war; He he'll
that It was better to trade liberty to tn
Filipinos for security to the Unite
States In the islands than TO force 81
sullen unwillingness into slavish com
plinnce with some Of our customs b,
the employment Of IN army Of 100, 0o
men.
II was q habit Of the defenders OF tn
administration 9 policy to sneer at tn
term imperialism, - he said, bat
could not be sneered away. lyon cal
have Imperialism without an emperor
Just NJ the Romans found that the,
could have n more than royal master
though he did not bear the hated nam,
| Of king, " asserted Mr.. Towne.
In conclusion, Senator Towne said;
"The retention Of the Philippines vii
commit US to the whole programme o
empire, There Is law among nations
w Hamlet says there " among men, b.
which bad appetite grows by what
feeds on, No nation IN history has 70
sisted Il, and TO every nation that ha
yielded to II II has brought disaster
Athens succumbed to It and persisted
Rome INDUCED the mad ambition IN
followed II TO her doom. II was tn
ruin OF Venice. II will work the do
struction Of England, In my opinion
before the close OF this fateful century
Arc we. with oil the lessons Of histor
before us, 10 prove the next Victims Q
this inuAtiats passion, thu greatest, moi
lamsntsble, most gratuitous sacrifice !
MI human tragedy
~ do not wish " convey the imprs,
sion that IN my opinion the present 20
'icv will M one fell gwoop convert IN