Washington sentinel., 1901-06-22
THE ISSUE.
fought the Constitution Follow
the FIag2"

l away AAS NAAN - ~ ~Uee'
age OF silver and similar issues, tn
Democratic leaders propose L
make the next campaign-whicl
will be the Congressional fight o
I9os-upon the Philippine Ques
ton. And when men like Senate
Jones. of Arkansas, casually re
mark, as he did recently, that Mr.
Bryan is not likely r. n
inee OF the party in 1904, it begin!
to look as if some light was break
ing in upon the Democratic mind
Senator Jones is the national
chairman OF the Democratic parry
1t was quite natural, therefore,
when in the city last week, that he
should be asked to outline the is
sues which will be made prominent
in the next session Of Congress,
with especial reference to their i'm
portant bearing upon the Congress
sional campaign, and also what
would be the Democratic position
on the fnture of the Philippines.
In answer to the FIRST question he
said that in his judgment, the next
session Of Congress will devote a
very large portion of its time to
the question upon which the next
campaign will be fought. This
will be the Philippine question.
"But did not the Supreme Court
settle that question:" he was
asked.
mot by any manner Of means.
The Supreme Court, il I have
read the decision rightly, simply
said that Congress would have to
deal with the Philippines. AS soon
as Congress meets it must take up
the whole problem, and therein
will be the opening skirmish Of
the campaign. Until the Supreme
Court acted, the question was:
Does the Constitution follow the
flag1" II the Republican majority
in Congress, which will be respon-
sible for all that is done, shall by
its action declare that the Consti-
tuition ought not to follow the flag,
/ think that there will be a day OF
reckoning at the polls which will
surprise the Republican leaders"
81 cannot assume to speak Tor
the party" he continued, "but
have very clear idea as to where
| stand. do not believe that we
have the right TO hold any people
as vsssals and subjects. believe
that any people coming under the
control OF the United States have
the, protection OF the Constitution
and can enjoy all the rights and
privileges which that document
affords, Unless they have these
rights and privileges we have no
right to bring them under our sub
jection."
"You would allow them to exer-
else an independent government"
Certainly. i think we ought
to give the Filjpinos our earnest,
sympathetic and' material support
in their effort to establish a gov
ernment of their own"
"But you would not hold the
islands permanently"
81 would not"
And after they had become in
DEPENDENT"
"Then l think that the United
States ought to stand up for them
against the whole world. We
ought to glory in the establish
ment of an independent govern
ment and let all the powers know
that we propose to see the expert
ment made a success. And" con-
Iinued the Senator, "I want to see
the Filipinos given their independ-
ence quickly. We lived for some
years in the South under a carpet
bag government and do not want |
any people to suffer as we did. l
don't believe, though, that the Re-
publicans ever propose to let the
FIlipinos enjoy the possession OF
the islands, but will arrange to
hold the country for the money
that can be made out oil it. Against
that programme l shall enter my
vigorous opposition. And I be-
lieve," he added, "that many men
will vote their honest convictions
in the next campaign who did not
do so last year, because they then
regarded the question OF dollars
and cents as uppermost. Next
year, not having to consider
whether upon their vote hinges
the continuance Of good times,
they will speak their honest senti-
ments upon the Philippine ques.
tion."
Free Trade for Porto Rico
1t is by no means improbable
that fhe situation which ;e dAvei