The Portland daily press., 1901-02-28

Not sincs the resolutions declar-
iug q state OF war TO exist between the
United States and spain has there been
such an avalanche of passionate orAtory
as the Senate listened to today. Through
out the session. the army appropriation
bill was under discussion, the controvert-
ed questions being the Spooner Philip
pine amendment and the Platt Cuban
amendment. Curiously enough the de.
bate was confined entirely to the Demo-
cratic side of the chamber, with one ex-
oeption. Both amendments were de.
nouncsd as vioious and pernicious legis-
lation, subversive of the principles OF
this government and unparalleled in the
history of Legislative enactments.
The most notable speech OF the day
was delivered by MIR. Bacon of Georgia.
He had been thoroughly aroused by re-
ports that the Democratic members had
been induced by questionable means to
withdraw their opposition to the pro-
posed legislation. His arTaignment of
the administration for "ooercing,' Con-
gress into enacting such provisions In
the closing hours OF the session, was SEN
sationally t1eroe and he declared that the
only possible object of suoh action was
that the "plunderers and vnItures' might
have an opportunity to prey upon the
PROSTATE land or the Filipinos.
MIR. Hoar of Massachusetts expressed
the conviction that a great change 10
going on in the minds of the American
people and of the Republican party as to
the policy to be pursued IN the Philip
pines.
"Our fathers did not penetrate into q
position their children cannot hold,
he said, and he WAS satisfied that when
the light should come they would be
OF our independence. In view of this
change OF sentiment, he considered IL
better to postpone further discussion In
order that the change might go on.
Although" he said, ~ am opposed
to the proposition contained In this
amendment to commit to five men des-
potio power over 12,O00. 900 OF men, yet
l bear In mind that that power Is now
and viii be fol some time in the future
exercised by one man. l 40 not there
fore, think it wise to bring on an extra
session OF Congress by what would in the
Continuing, MIR. Hoar predicted that
the proposed legislation In the Philip
pines would "wips out the last hope that
the example OF the United States is to
continue to work out Its great result In
the ideas OF down trodden people OF the
rest OF the world.
"You may" he declaimed In conolu-
sion, talk about benevolent assimiia-
tion and use other honeyed phrases, but
your act is pure, simple. undilnted, IN.
checked despotism
Senators Turner, Tillman, Pettigrew,
Teller, Mallory, Lindsay, Culherson,
Jones of Arkansas, Money. Allen and
others addressed the Senate, all of them
denouncinG the pro posed legislation.
EarIy In the evening the voting began
on the minor amendments to the meas
ure. All OF them were offered by the
Democratic senators and all OF them were
voted down by heavy msjorities.
lt lnoksd as II the vote was about to be
taken when the venerable Massachusetts
senator, Mr.. Hoar, arose.
"Ihere is one principle OF constitu-
tional liberty not yet Elain," said he,
land will give it q chance tonight
lie then offered an amendment provid-
ing that no official OF the Philippines
vested with Legislative powers, should ex-
ercise judicial or executive power and
vics versa "to the END that the govern
ment might bs one of laws not men,"
The amendment was rejected, ayes,
90; noes. 43.
At last the decisive moment had ar
rived. It was 10 30 p. m. The Senate
had been In session continuously since IL
o'clock this morning. The vote was tax
en- upon the amended Spoonsr rssolu-