The Forrest City times., 1901-02-08
PLEA FOR FILIPINOS.
Senator Towne Arraigns the Re
 publican Administration.
Minnesota Statesman Presents Strong Arguments in Favor of Philip pine Independence Our
 Nations Peril.


 speech in behalf of Philippine inde- pendence. His efforts were applauded by both sides and his speech was rec ognized as notable oration.
 While discussing events which led the United States forces to the Phil ippines, Senator Towne referred with particularly to the charge that Agui- naldo had sold his country to the Spaniards for bribe. He declared the accusation was ''gratuitous in its calumny, when we consider that the official publications of our own gov ernment contradict and destroy it."
 The senator declared that we were in alliance with the Filipinos, an alli- ance sought by ourselves, availed of by us for our own advantage and finally to our everlasting shame in the estimation of honorable men repudi- ated by us when we found it no long, CT necessary and when lust of empire had so blunted our moral sensibilities that we could mount from an act of perfdy to- the grana larceny of na- tion"
 Referring to Admiral Dewey's de- nial that he had ever treated the in- surgents as allies, Mir. Towne said sar- castically: "I fear the honest sail or's terminology has suffered from re- cent contact with the nice discrim- nations of administration diplomacy"
 Acquisition of the Philippines.
 Discussing the acquisition of the Philippines, Senator Towne said:
 Tt 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 sacrl- iege and violence first gathered form and pressure. There has indeed been evidenced disposition by its most illustrious spon- sors as if their prophetic souls already trembled at the inQuisition of after ages to impute the dubious responsibility to Providence itself. I 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.
 No man, no party. no nation can escape accountability for actions by attributing their origin to any other source than hu- man motives and human judgment. 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"
 Senator Towne declared that upon the arrival of Gen. Merritt at Manila "a distinct change of tone was ob- servable" between the United States officials and the tilipinos, the altered attitude being so marked as to force the conclusion that part of Gen. 
 maneuver out of an awkward friendli- ness with Aguinaldo and thus to reach a footing for the convenient develop ment of some secret policy with which he had come fresh-freighted from Washington
 If there was doubt of the prear- rangement of the plan it was ban ished. in Senator Towne's opinion, by the president himself The third ar ticle of the protocol with Spain reads:
 'The United States will occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor of Manila pend ing the conclusion of treaty of peace which shall determine the control, disposi- tion and government of the Philippines"
 The Republic at a Crisis.
 Yet. despite that definite provision the president, the senator urged, is sued on December 21, 1898, his famous "benevolent assimilation proc,ama- tion." He continued:
 Thus the dilemma is this: Either that article of the protocol does not mean what 1t says or the president of the United States Tn causing the issuance of the proclama- uon to which l have referred broke the phghted faith of this government. It is not agreeable to me to use this language. de txr 1.1l .l~,N l., .lxy yta IS at the gravest crisis of its history. and reel that necessary preliminary to it's getting safely out is to cause the people 10 realize how it came to get in"
 Senator Towne said of the pres ldents proclamation tLat among the roses of it's soft rhetoric of love, it's lar 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 Fili- pinos clearly beheld the unsheathed and glittering steel of despotism."
 If we are bent on slaughter" said he, let it be in open guise. If we lust for this peoples land, let us not gloss our enterprise with false and sinister pretense. Rather let us bold y raise the somber flag of interna- uonal piracy, whistle scruple down the wind and then close in on our feeble victim to the cry of loot and gloryl'"
 Would Grant Independence.
 Senator Towne maintained that the ohted States was under the obliga- 'oh of circumstances, if not, indeed, oi actual promise, to grant independ- enee tc the Filipinos, and that among naNlons the former was quite as bind ing as the latter.
 senator Towne then argued at 4ehgth in support of his contention mat the Filipinos were perfectly ca panie of governing themselves, point ing out that so per cent. of the popu- dtlon of Luzon can read and write 'na holding that the government es- 1aolished by Aguinaldo was strong, symmetrical and progressive even in