Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-03-02


of All Factions Mustered
Solid Front-Bacon of Georgia's Ar.
raianment of the Administration for
Coercing Congress Into Enacting
Such Legislation at the Closing
Hours Of the Session Was Sensa-
tionaIy Fierce-Text Of the Amend.
ment as Agreed to.
Washington. Feb. 2S..-Tlr army ap-
preparation bill. containing the PROPOSE
tions of the Republican ma ajorty for the
temporary government Of the Philip
pincs and for the future relations be-
tween the United States and cuba. was
passed ut l2:54 II. III. today.
Many amendments were offered to
both propositions, but Were voted down.
The original Spooncr amendment was
amended regarding franchises rs pro-
posed by Mr. llonr. the latter mopo-
ston having been accepted by the ma
iority on Tuesday.
Throughout the session the army ap-
preparation hill was under discussion,
the controvcrtcd questions l~ing the
Spoonrr Philippine amendment hnd the
Plntt Cuban amendment.
The debate and the final vote on the
amendment were very rcmarknhl" for
two things: First. that Senator lloar.
for the first time in his political career
voted against his party on Il strict party
vote, and. second. that ii reunited th"
democrats of all factions and sections
the party mastering Il So!'d front
against the SpoOner amendment.
Curo,lSly enough. the debate MnS con
fined entirely 10 the democratic shlr
of the chamber. with one exception.
Both amendments were denounced nS
vicious and pcrnicouS legislation. sub
vcrsive of the principles of this govern
mcnt and unparalleled in the history
of legislative cnactmcnts.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia had been
thoroughly aroused by reports that the
Democratic members had been induced
by questionable means To withdraw
their uplostiO ion to the proposed lcglS-
IatiOn. His ariHignmcnt of lhr admin
islrntion for 'coprcing' congress into
rnacting such provisions in the closing
fierce. and he declared That the only
possible object of such action was that
the "plundcrrrS and vulturcs" might
have an opportunity to prey upon the
prostratr land of the EilipnoS.
Senators Turner. Tillnian, Frl,igrrw,
Hour. Teller. Mallory. .Jl&' 'Say, tulhrr-
son. Jones t\rk.,. Money. Allen and
others addressed The senate. i'll of tlrm
dcnounciny the proposed LEGISLATION.
Mr. IIonr expressed the conviction
that IL great change is going on in the
minds of tile American people and of
the Republican party as to the policy
to be pursued in the Philippines.
sour fathers did not penetrate into
position their children cnnnot hold"
he said aud he was statistic Il that when
the light should come they would b'
found to adhere to the great Hcclnra.
tion of Independence. In view of this
change of sentiment he considered it
better to POSTPONE further discussion in
order that the change might 30 on.
"Althou2h," he said. Il am opposed
to the proposition contained in this
amendment to commit TO 1--WE men 1cs-
potic power over l2,0Oo,WOO of men. yet
| bear in mind that tina, power is now
and will for some time in the future
be exercised by one man. do not,
therefore. think ii wise to bring on IN
extra session of congress by what would
in the end be unavalinG opposition."
Continuing Mr.. Ilonr predicted that
the proposed legislation in the Philip
pines would wipe out the last hope
that the example Of the United States
is to continue to work out it's great rc
suit in the ideas of downtroddcn poo
pie of the rest of the world. You may,
he acclaimed, in conclusion. talk about
benevolent assimilation and Use other
honeyed phrases, but your act is pure.
simple, undiluted unchecked deSpo-
tism."
At the night session Mr.. Teller de-
clarcd passionately that he had never
expected to live, indeed he regretted
that he had lived. to see the day when
the ordinary rights of citizens were de
MED people under the American ilag.
1t looked as if the vote was about to
be taken, when the venerable MaSS;i-
chusctts senator. Mr.. llonr. arose.
There is one principle of constitutional
liberty not Yet Slnin." said he, ''and |
will give it Il chance tonight.
He then offered an amendment pro-
viding that no official of the Philip
pines. vested with Legislative power.
should exercise judicial or executive
power and vice versa. ITO The end that
,i,yIl l,, - Law,
men" The amendment was rejected
ayes. 2G; noes. 43.
AT last the decisive moment had ar
rived. 1t was now 1890 p. m. The
senate had been in session continuously
since II o'clock in the morning. The
vote was taken upon the amended
Spooncr resolution. which was adopted
yeas, ~; nays. -. Mr.. Hoar was
the only Republican voting with the
minority.
The Philippine amendment as agreed
to in the senate is as follows:
"All military. civil and judicial pow
crS necessary to govern The Philippine
islands, acquired from Spain by the
treaties concluded at Paris on the 10th
day of December 1893. and ut Washing
ton on the 9TH day Of November, 1900,
shall. until otherwise provided by con-
grcsS. be vested in such manner as he
President of the United States shall di-
rect. for the establishment of civil gov
crnmcnt and for maintaining and pro-
| tectng the inhabitants of said islands
in the free enjoyment of their liberty,
property and religion.
Should Have Waited Week.
Portland. Me-. Feb. "5.--John De-
| costa, Il short term man, who had but
! Il week of his sentence to serve. escaped
from the county Jail here Saturday.
| He was captured at Gorhanl. II miles