The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-02-02
Senator Towne Talks on His Phil.
ippine Resolution.
FAyORS CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES.
His Eloquent Address ON the Subject
Closes His Career MS Senator
His Successor, MIR. Clapp,
Qualities.

neSOta. since ne entered the senate, q
few weeks ago, on appointment of
Gov. Lind, the young Minnesotan has
had little opportunity to display his
talents. AS his reputation as an ora
tor had preceded him, there was much
interest in his speech, which was in
advocacy of his resolution for cessa-
ton of hostiIities in the Philippines.
The floor was crowded with senator's
and members of the house of represent
atives, the latter including Represent
atives l.ittletield, Mccall, Cooper and
others who have been prominent in
insuIar legislation. The galleries. pub
lie and private, were crowded to over
flowing. The senators on the demo-
cratic side gave Senator Towne marked
attention. On the republican side the
attention was less noticeable, although
Senators Hoar and Hale at first fol-
lowed the speech closely, at times eX-
changing smiling comment on some
of the utterances. AT one point Sen
ator Depew took a front seat and lis
tened alten1ively. Senator Towne's
style of delivery was clear and forcible.
Although restricted by manuscript, he
had the subject we'll in hand. and rolled
out he fine periods with fervor that
sent, them echoiny through the cham
Der. The speech abounded in apotheoses
to liberty and patriotism, and. scath-
ing and scornful arraignment of the
policy by which the Filipinos were be-
ing annihilated. At one time an out
burst of applause from the galleries
led to a vigorous warning from the
presiding officer against demonstra-
lions of approval or dissent. AS the
orator closed his brilliant peroration
there was another outburst of APP
plause. despite the warnings of the
chair.
The Main Points Made.
The main points made in his speech
were as follows:
at 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 sacriege and violence first gathered
form and pressure. There has, indeed,
been evidenced a disposition by its most
fllustrious sponsors, and if their prophetic
souls already trembled at the inquisition
OF after ages, to impute the dubious re-
sponsibility to Providence itself. 1 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 administra ton
toward the Filipinos must be justified, if
ever justified at all. in the forum of the
reason and the conscience of mankind"
Fnlse ana Sinister Pretense.
eff we are bent on Slaughter" said he
'let it 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
somher flag Of international piracy, whis-
tie scrup1e 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 to the
Filipnos. and that. among nations, the
former was quite as binding as the latter
Capable of Self-Government,
Senator Towne then argued at length
in support of his contention that the Fill
ipinos were perfectly capable of govern
cent of the population of Luzon can
read and write, and holding that the gov
eminent established by Aguinaldo was
strong. symbolical and progressive, even
in the difficult and disturbing conditions
which surrounded 1t.
He held that it was better to trade lib
erty to the Filipinos for security to the
United States In the islands than to
force "a sullen unwilingness into slaytsh
compliance with some of our customs"
by the employment of an army of 100000
men.
IMperialissn.
1t was habit of the defenders of the
administration policy to sneer at the term
imperialism" he said, but it could not
be Sncered away.
You can have Imperialism without an
emperor just as the Romans found that
they could have a more than royal master
though he did not wear the hated name
Of king" asserted Mr.. Towne. THE re-
tention of the Philippines will comnit US
to the whole programme of empire.
IIer"ixm of MornI Coinage,
"God speed the day when the American
of unequaled heroism and who again and
always If some great cause demand it.
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 undaunted the can
mons mouth--and with their sovereian
voice declare that this upholy 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.
II shall not willingly cease to dream of
twentieth century devoted to the DEM
onstration. the first and only one in his
tory, that "a government of the people,
for the people and by the people, need
not perish from the earth There is an
Inspiration in the thought that to our
beloved country may he reserved the Gull
mnatinx glory of the ages in browning
with success the long experiment Of
righteous selr-Rovernment"
Immediately following Senator
Towne's speech. the credentials of his
successor. Mr.. Clapp. of Minnesota,
were presented. and after being sworn
in the new senator took his seat and
Senator Towne retired The creden-
tiaIs Of Joseph W. Bailey as senator
from Texas. and OF F. NJ. Simmons as
senator from North Carolina. also were
presented.
The rest of the day was devoted to
the Indian appropriation bill, the dis.
cussion turning on irrigation, and lit
tie progress being made.
House.
Washington, Jan. 29.-At the open
ing of the session of the house Mon
day the speaker appointed Messrs.
Dalzell Pa), Grosvenor co., and
Richardson (Tenn.) members Of the