Washington sentinel., 1901-03-30
SUFFERS PROTEST.
The Philippine and Cuban Amend.
ments Condemned.

one affecting Cuba and the other
in regard to the Philippines-was
far-reaching beyond calculation.
They 60 to the very foundation oi
our Government. They place in
the hands Of the President unlim-
tied, despotic. and autocratic
power They define and fix an
arbitrary procedure and policy that
may, and, in our opinion, will.
cause endless trouble, enormous
expense, and innumerable lives.
They hazard interminable war.
They present the most important
question for wise, just, and delib-
crate solution and determination
that has confronted the American
Congress since the civil strife, and
their passage through the House
in the manner they were was the
greatest outrage on the rights OF
the minority ever perpetrated in
this country.
Upon that occasion Hon. VIM.
Sulzer spoke as follows:
lfthe matter under consideration were
not so serious, affecting as it does the
lives, the Liberties, the property and the
happiness OF millions and millions of
people under tropic suns, in the Occident
and the Orient-the attitude, the pro-
gramme and the procedure Of the
Republicans would be as absurd as it is
QuioxOtic. This is most momentous
question, and we should have time to
deliberate and the right to propose
amendments. Under the rule we have
neither. The Democratic members are
cut of from their rights. They have no
choice; no opportunity TO give express
sion TO their views. Perhaps we should
be thankful that we can yet vote and let
the people OF the country know that the
Democratic representatives. to man are
opposed to this iniamy.
These two vicious riders that will
destroy every vestige OF freedom in
Cuba and every hOpeoi liberty in the
Philippines, were put on the Army bill
in the Senate. They were put on in
Violation OF all parliamentary procedure
They could not have been adopted in
the first instance in this House. 1t has
been said they were put on in the Senate
by some understanding, some trade,
some unholy bargain. between the
alleged friend 90 hay and the impe-
rialistic Oppon sof freedom, in order
to pass other bins and svoId an extra
session of Congress. Be this as it may,
l know not, although appearances are
sometimes quite convincing; but we all
know these riders, to trample in the
dust in Cuba and the Philippines justice,
liberty and humanity, would never be
here if the Democratic Senators wanted
to defeat them. They never could have
been adopted in the Senate without the
acquiescence OF the Democrats there.
They are responsible for this situation.
These riders are most despotic, most
iniquitous. most unjust, and most in
humal a. They portray in burning letters
the sordid. greedy. and corrupt spirit of
commercialism, which destroys our
highest ideals, makes us ashamed ofour
past, and compels us to bow our heads
in humiliation as we witness the present
aad contemplate the future OF our
country. They make our great Republic
despicaole and a byword of reproach
They reveal and unmask the cruel.
sordid, tTeacherous polio yOf the Admin
istratIon, and expose to full view the
hypocrisy, the perfdv, and the infamy
OF the Republican party. am opposed
to these riders, They will never pass
with my consent or my vote. nCongress
enacts them into law. the President will
be the most powerful. the most despOtics
anG the most autocratic potentate on
earth. arm opposed to delegating the
powers OF Congress TO the President. II
these gradual surrenders of vested
constitutional rights and transfers of
legislative powers to the Executive
continue, the day. in my JUDGMENT, is
not far distant when we shall cease to
be a representative government respOn-
sible to the people.
The gentleman from Ohio mir. Gros-
yenorl has said that the provision
regarding the Philippines IS similar to
the resO luton ena :ted by Congress in
regard to lie temporary government OF
the Louisiana purchase. beG to differ
with the gentleman. He is sadly in
error. To conclusively show the vide
and startling difference let me read the
act Of 1903 regarding the temporary
government OF Ieffersou's Louisiana
purchase:
Until the expiration OF the present
session Of Congress, or unless provision
be sooner maoe for the temporary
government OF the said territories, all
the military, civil, and judicial powers
exercised bV the officers OF the existing
government OF the same shall be vested
/ in such person and persons, and shall be
exercised in such manner as the Presi
dent OF the United States shall direct,
for maintaining and protecting the
inhabitants of Louisiana in the full
enjoyment OF the liberty, property, and
religion.
Compare the two. There is no analogy
between them a casual reading OF the
two acts is sufficient. One is until the
expiration OF the present session o
Congress " The other ia indefinite, anC
for all desired and practical purpose,
surrenders absolute and complete powe
to the President. The Philippine pro
vision and the act of 1903. relating Il
the temporary government OF Louisiana
are as lar apart as the poles. And 1 sa