River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-01-31
Urges Congress to Give President
Authority TO Establish Civil Gov
ernment i'm Islands-SenatOr Towne
Speaks on His Resolution for Inn
mediate Cessation of HostIIities.

opinion snow tuat ldDOrS OF party to bring
peace will soon be crowned with sue
cess. Until now political parties have at
| tempted formation on plans more or less
| questioning American sovereignty. Our
platform makes main plank sovereignty
OF United States with liberty to each
citizen to pursue peacefully his political
ideas. Hour of peace has sounded. On
our platform are grouped many Filipinos
of hitherto irreconcilable ideas, but some
more obstinate decline to join, for
though willing to accept sovereignty of
United States, the prospect of indefinite
continuance of military government
makes them dlstrust purposes of the
United States and delays their submits
sion.
Adjournment of present congress with
out giving president authority to estab-
fish purely civA government with usual
powers and postponement of at least
year of such government until new
congress, will certainly confirm this dis
trust. Directory of the federal party
believes comforting such authority on
president would inspire confidence, hasten
acceptance of sovereignty of union, and
the coming of peace. Directory there
fore prays both houses of congress to au-
thorize President Mckinley to establish
civil government whenever he believes 1t
opportunc.
FRANK II. BOURNS.
"DR. PARDO DE TAVERO,
"FLORENTINE TERRES
&C. S. ARELLANO,
JOSE MAR TOMAS DEL ROSARIO.
Directory of Federal Party"
Senator Jones (Ark.) presented the
credentials of his colleague, Mr.. Ber-
ny, for the term beginning next
March
senator Towne's Speech.
After the disposal of routine bust
ness Senator Towne (Minn.) was rec
ognized for a speech which was to be
at once his maiden effort and his
valedictory. He spoke on his resolu-
ton of last Friday for the immediate
cessation of hostilities in the Philip
pines. The galleries were well filed
to hear Senator Towne and senator's
also gave him close attention, while
in the rear of the senate was circle
of representatives, who came over
from the house to hear him. Senator
Towne spoke in full and resonant
tones, with more of the graces of
oratory than are usually heard in the
practical debates of the senate.
The Main Points Made.
The main points made in his speech
were as follows:
1T is not easy to fix with accuracy the
time when the design was formed to take
forcible possession of the Philippine is
lands. nor to ascertain the mind in
whose gloomy recesses' this enterprise
OF sacrilege and violence first gathered
form and pressure. There has, indeed
been evidenced a disposition by its most
illustrious sponsors, and If their prophetic
souls already trembled at the inquisition
of after ages, to impute the dubious re-
sponsibility to Providence itself. / 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 vaunt-
ed confidence of the Almighty
No man, no party, no nation can es-
cape accountability for actions by at
tributing their origin to any other source
than human motives and human jujdg-
ment. The policy of the administration
toward the Filipinos must be justified, If
ever justified at all, in the forum of the
reason and the conscience of mankind"
False and sinister Pretense.
'If we are bent on slaughter" said he
'1et 1t be in open guise. If we lust for
this peoples land let us not glaze our
enterprise with false and sinister pre-
tense Rather let us boldly raise the
,
tie scruple down the wind and then
close in upon our feeble victim to the
cry of loot and glory! "
Mr., Towne maintained that the United
States was under the obligation of cir
cumstances, If not indeed, Of actual
promise, TO grant independence 10 the
Fihpinos. and that, among nations. the
former was quite as binding as the latter
Capable of SeIf-GoVernment
Senator Towne then argued at length
in support of his contention that the Fill
ipinos were perfectly capable Of govern
ing themselves, pointing out that so per-
cent. OF the population of Luzon can
read and write, and holding that the gov
eminent established by Aguinaldo was
strong. symbolical and pros rcsslNe. even
in the difficult and disturbing conditions
which surrounded 1t.
He held that II was better to trade lib
erty To the Filipinos for security to the
United States in the islands than to
force "a sulen unwillingness into s,avish
compliance with some of our customs,
by the employment of an army OF 100000
men
Imperialism.
1t was a habit of the defenders Of the
administration policy to sneer at the term
imperialism" he said. but 1t could not
be sneered away.
You can have Imperialism without an
emperor. just as the Romans found that
they could have more than royal master.
though he did not wear the hated name
OF king" asserted Mir Towne THE re-
tention of the Philippines will commit us
TO the whole programme of empire.
HeroiSm of Moral Coinage
God speed the day when the American
people. whose annals blaze with records
of unequaled heroism and who again and
always Ii some great cause demand ii.
would freely pay with life itself the
| price OF its defense, shall have the moral
| courage TO do their civic duty-a rarer
thing than TO face undauuted the can
mons mouth-and with their sovereign
voice declare that this unholy war for
| greed and empire shall be stopped. and
| that no soldier OF the United States shall
ever again In all our history be sent to
! other lands TO war on people fighting for
their liberty.
Il shall not willingly erase TO dream OF
a twentieth century devoted 10 the DEM
! Onstration. the first ina only one in his
tory, that 8 government Of the people,