The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-18

duties on goods going from the United
States into the Philippines. He said this
really gave to this country the power
to fix both price at which the proprietors
should sell their goods TO us and also
purchase ours; that this was power
which no just nation wanted to exercise
and which could not be exercised with
out abuse and oppression. He insisted
that it was precisely the same power that
the British parliament sought to exercise
over the American colonies, against which
they rebelled.
He said the Philippine sugar to en-
ter our markets must pay 2 duty of $50
per ton while ours could be sold in their
markets upon the payment of ST per
ton; that their hemp must pay a duty
Of $40, while ours could enter the Phil
ippines at $11 per ton; that our coal
could enter at 25 cents per ton, while
theirs when sold her pay 81 cents per
ton. That our tobacco enters their mar
kets on payment of S8 cents per pound
while theirs must pay hera s1.S5 per
pound. He said fit place for such bill
was in the Cortes of Spain and not in the
Congress of the United States. He point
ed out that the President and The Secre-
tary Of War favored making generous
concessions in tariff duties on importa-
tiOns of sugar and tobacco from Cuba,
yet this bill failed to make any con-
cessions on the same importationS from
the Philippines. He argued and insisted
that the inhabitants of the Philippines
had greater claims on us than those of
Cuba who would soon be independent He
pointed out that the present reciprocity
treaties pending in the Senate permitted
rebate from the Dingley rates of from
121a to 20 per cent on sugars imported
from Argentina and British possessions,
yet this bill gives no rebate or reduction
On sugars imported from tho Philippines
and he argued the injustice Of this. He
said that if the policy of the Republican
party was to prevail, it was better in or
der to get trade concesS Sions from the
United States to be a subject of Great
Britain than to be an inhabitant of the
Philippine Islands, which we hold as
part and parcel of this country.
He argued that to hold the Philippines
by force weakened instead of strength
ened our military standing III the East.
He said that if the money now wasted in
the Philippine Islands were used for
building and maintaining ? navy. it would
give us the largest navy IL the world
and establish our naval supremacy. He
claimed this would give us greater pres
tige, make us the first power In the world
and enable us to defend our commerce
and interests under all circumstances. He
said that a proper solution Of the Phil
ippine question would be declaration
by Congress that the inha bitants of the
islands should be given independence as
soon as a safe and stable government
could be maintained.
THE FILIPINOS UNCONouERED.
Mr.. Thayer (Mass.), followed Mr.. Swan
son with a fifteen minute speech in ex-
planation Of tie reasons which induced
him to oppose, the passage OF the bill. He
declared that we had overpowered the
Filipinos, but had not conquered them;
that the same spirit of liberty whrh led
them to rebel against the tyranny of
Spain still animated them.
GROSvENOR'S DEFENSE.
Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio), followed Mr..
Thayer..
Mr.. Grosvenor reverted to the fact that
the Republican administration had tried TO
avoid the war with Spain. AT that
time said he, "the same thoughtless
cry of liberty rang through this hall. |
believe if it had not been FIR the explo-
sion of the Maine there would not have
been any war but that all the results
which have followed would have been
worked out except the acquisition of the
Philippines. / wish the opposition would
stand with us as Loyalty IN bearing the
burdens Of that war as they were in
driving us into it," (Applausel.
Speaking of the TAFT Commission, he
was saying that one of the members of
that commission was distinu;shed Ten
nessee Democrat when .dr. Pearce
(Tenn.), interrupted to say that in the
campain of 1900 Luke E. Wriht, to whom
Mr.. Grosvenor, had refeed, had voted the
straiht Republican ticket
THAT comes observed Mr.. Grosvenor,
amid applause, from associating with
great men in great enterprises"
81 will venture to predict that in 1904
the old Democratic party purgcd Of pop
ulism and the free silver heresy. badly
battered but still in the ring, will come
forward under the guidance and control
of men who stood where Luke Wright
stood a year and a half ago.
MT. SudlIOlu tSOio.J WIN ho' ASNNAi'A1
returned from the Philippines, vigorous
ly opposed the bill He declared that
there were many popular misapprehen-
sions about the Filipino people. There
was highly educated class among them,
perfectly capable of conducting govern
ment and of governing themselves.
government by strangers must fail in
many respects.
LEGISLATION A LA EMPIRE.
Mr. DeArmonds (Mo.) who has recently
returned from the Philippines, was the
next speaker and aroused much enthu-
siasm on the Democratic side by a denun-
citation of the pending measure, and the
entire Philippine policy of the admins
tration. He declared that the bill pro-
posed legislating after the manner of
the empire. 1t disregarded the rights of
the Filipinos as we'll as the American
representative. 1t was legislation by the
War apartment, legislation by alien for
alien. He denied the necessity of taking
the islands or of keeping them. (Dem-
ocratic applause).
1--WE acquired them in folly" said he,
"let us DISPOSE of them in wisdom. AL
most every man in the islands longs for
independence and liberty. How long
will it be before another insurrection
breaks out? Any disposition of them IS
better than their retention