The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-01
LAID BEFORE THE SENATE AND EFFORT
TO HAVE THEM REFERRED.
SENATORH0AR MAKES OBJECTION
On the Ground That Such Course
Should be Pursued Only Under Most
Urgent Conditions-Senator Towne
Speaks on His Philippine Resolution.
The House Passes the Postal Law
Codifcation Bill-A Sensational Epi-
sode in the House.
SENATE.

washington, January, 28.-The senate
turned from the grind of appropriation
bills today to listen to a speech, which
partOok of the characte of an Grafton,
from Senate Towne, of Minnesota, in
advocacy of his resolution for a cessa-
ton of hostilities in the Philippines.
Both the floor and galleries were
crowded. The rest of the day was de-
voted to the Indian Appropriation bill.
Senator Frye, the presiding officer,
aid before the senate a cablegram
from the directory of the federal party
in the Philippines addressed to the
senate and house. praying authorize
ton for President Mckinley to.estab-
Iish civil government in the Philippines
whenever he deems it opportune.
Senator Towne then spoke. The
charge that Aguinaldo had sold his
country 10 the S~paniards for a bride,
he declared, was "~gratufIous in it's cal
umny, when we consider that h Off
cial publications of our own govern
ment contradict and destroy it."
b senator declared hat I'VE were
in alliance with the Filipinos, an all1-
ance sought by ourselves, awaited OF by
us Tor Our own ana nndlly,
to our everlasting shame repudiated by
US when We found il 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 a nation.
1T is not easy to fix with accuracy
the time when the design was formed
to take forcible possession of the Phil
ippine islands," said Senator Towne.
81 rnnn tho trivial nf General Merritt
at Manila a distinct change of tone was
observable" between the United states
officials and the Filipinos, the altered
attitude being so marked as to force
the conclusion that part OF General
Merritt's pre-arranged task was to
maneuver out of an awkward
ness with Aguinaldo, and thus to reach
a. footing for the convenient develop
ment of some of the secret policy with
which he had come fresh-freighted
from Washington"
Either the third article of the pro-
tocol with Spain does not mean what
it says, aid he, 'or the president or
the United States in causing the lsSu-
ance on December q, 1898 Of his fam
Gus assimilation proclama-
ton broke the plighted faith of this
government. .
IF we are bent On slaughter, said
he, ''Iet it be in open guise. If we lust
for the peoples lanu, let us LoI SioHe
our prise with false and sinister
pretense. Rather let us boldly raise the
sombre flag OF ~ernation piracy
whistle scruple down the wind, and
then close in upon our feeble victim tc
the cry OF loot and glory.
Senator Towne maintained that the
United States was under obligation OF
circumstances, if not. indeed, of actual
romis to grant independence to the
Filipinos, who he commended were able
to govern themselves
Immediately following Senator
Towne's speech the credentials of his
successor, Moses E. Clapp, OF Mime
sofa, were presented and he was duly
sworn in
The credentials of Joseph w. Bailey
as senator from Texas, and OF f. M
Simmons, as senator from North Car
DINA also were presented
Senate McComas, OF Maryland
moved that the credentials OF the Nortf
Carolina senator be referred to thu
committee on privileges and elections
Senator Hoar, OF Massachusetts EN-
phaticaIIy objected, saying the peopl
had the right to change the politica
complexion of the senate every tive
years that there should be no IN
terruption in the reception of creden
tails except unde most urgent condl
tions and after full explanation.
Senator McComas explained that h,
had merely sought to defer action unit