Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-29
Daily ksnneber Journal
Ssh CONGRESS-.
Continued from page -

appeal TO the ancient spirit of the re-
public, or it's rejection must dedicate
the Goth century to a reaction prejudi-
rial. if not fatal. to free institutions
While discussing events which led
tho United States forces to the Philip
mines. Towne referred with particular
inv to the charge that Aguinaldo had
sold his country to the Spaniards for n
hribe. He declared the accusation was
aoratuitous in the calumny, when we
consider that the official public atten-
lions of our government contradict and
destroy it.
Tho senator declared that we were in
oriance with the Filipinos, an alliance
sn,,rht by ourselves, awaited Of by us for
arr own advantage. and finally. to our
evrrtasting Shame in the estimation of
hnnorabie men, re1udiated by us when
when lust of empire had SO blunted our
moral sensibilities that we could mount
from an act of perfidy TO the grand lar
ceny of nation
.hat he had ever treated the INSURGENTS
as allies. Towne said, sarcastically:
II fear the honest sailors terminology
has suffered from recent contact with the
nice determinations of adminiStra ton di-
piomacy. .......,,.a !,
mines, Towne said;
M is not easy to fix with accuracy the
time When the design was formed to take
fnrrthle possession of the Philippine
isands nor to ascertain the mind in
whose gloomy receSseS this enterprise
If sacrilege and violence first gathered
heen evidenced by its most illustrious
snonsors, as If their prophetic souls al
ready tremblCd AZ the inquisition Of after
ages. to mpute the dubious responsibility
.l.. ,.,f MI.
to admire the more, whether the modesty
which disclaims credit for the policy. or
the colossal presumption which chal-
leugps and betrays the yaunted confidence
of the Almighty
"No man. no party. no nation. can es-
cane accountability for actions by at
Printing their origin to any other source
than human motives and human judg-
ment The policy of the administration
toward the FiipinoS must he justified il
ever Justified at all. in the forum of the
reason and the conscience of mankind"
Towne declared that upon the arrival of
General Merritt at Manila. "a distinct
change of tone was observable" between
the United States and the Filipnos. the
altered attitude being 50 marked as to
force the conclusion that part of Gen.
Merrltts pre-arransed task was 10
maneuvre out of an awkward friendliness
with Agunaldo and thus to reach a foot
ing for the convenient development of
some secret policy with which he had
come fresh freishted from Washington.
II there was doubt of the pre-arrange
ment of the plan it was banished. in
Townes opinion, by the President him
self, The third article Of the protocol with
Spain read: The United States will oc
cupy and hold the city. bay and harbor
of Manila pending the conclusion of Il
treaty of peace which shall determine the
control disposition and government OF
the Philippines,
Yet despite that definite provision. the
sol
Dec. q. 1898. his famous benevolent as
similation proclamation.
Thus" he continued. THE dilemma is
this: Either that article of the protocol
does not mean what 1t says. or the Presi-
dent of the United States, in causing the
issuance of the proclamation to which
have referred broke the plighted faith of
this government. II is not agreeable TO
me to use this language, but L devoutly
believe that this republic is in the gray
est crisis of its history, and | feel that
necessary preliminary to its getting safe
out is to cause the people to realize how
ii came to get in
Towne said of the Presidents proclama
ton that among the roses of its soft
rhetoric of love. its fair speech about our
coming not as invaders or conquerors put
as friends of the mild sway of justice
and of benevolent assimilation, the al
ready justly awakened diStrust of the
Filipinos clearly beheld the unsheathed
and glttering 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 pre-
tence. Rather let us bodily raise the SOM
bre flag of international piracy, whistle
scruple down the wind and then close in
upon our feeble victim to the cries loot
and glory "
Towne then argued at length in sup
port of his contention that the FilipinoS
were capable of governing themselves,
pointing out that so per cent of the pop
ulation of Luzon can read and write ana
holding that the government established
by ASuinaldo was strong. symmetrical
and progressive. even in the difficult ana
disturbing conditions which surrounded
it. He declared that there is excellent
reason to believe that even at this day
the existing Filipino government, low as
II is in estate and migratory to some eX-
tent as to location. exercises wide ana
respected authority in the Philippine
islands and is obeycd quite generally by
the local authorities in the interior.
There is not the slightest ground for
believing that any appreciable impression
has been made upon the determination OF
the Philippine people to resist us 70 the
end
Is it not clear" the speaker inquired
that the way of duty is equally the pain
OF protit2 DO we need to own people IN
order to trade with them? Is II not bet
, Ter to allow our customers to live. to nave
their good will and to leave them the
means of payment, than to kill the
strongest of them, to earn the hatred Of
the survivors and to impoverish all by
desoating war"
Towne closed at 3.15 T. NJ, having spo-
Ken just three hours. He was heartily
congratulated by senators and represent
atives
Almost Immediately following Towncs
speech, his successor. Moses L. Ciapp Of
Minnesota, was sworn in. Tho cred"n-
Idls of Joseph w. Bailey as senator from
leXas, and of F. NJ. Simmons from North
carolina. also were presented.
McComaS. Md. created something of
stir by moving that the credentials of the
North Carolina senator be referred 10 the
committee on privileges and elections.
fflnoar, Mass. emphatically objected, and
ohandler Of the committee on privileges
save assurances that no rights would be
waived by the present reading of the ere
uehtlals MCComas then withdrew his
motion
me Indian appropriation bill was then
,ns TO irrigation along the San Carlos
Tn. .r for the benefit of the Indian lands.
rettisrew remarked that he was con-
Mihced that the ship subsidy bill had been
aodhdoned by the Republican senator's.
~ they had taken two days to discuss
Jus minor amendment. The general sub
~ OF irrigation was hten discussed. The
sdh Carlos irrigation amendment was
'ss,eed TO with some changes.
oMhandler gave notice that if the Indian
nuppIopra ton bill was not disposed of. to-
Shorrow. he would ask for night sessions.
nnhortly before 6 O'Clock the Senate found
i oNa without quorum. Motions TO ad-
ara. We're defeated and the sergeant-at-
sen ans was dispatched to summon absent
...hsators. After much delay, the Senate
a. clock adjourned