The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-25
Secretary Of War Makes an
Address al Peoria
DOES NOT MENTION TRUSTS
He EuIogizes President Mckinley and
Challenges Anyone to Say That
Roosevelt Has Not Carried
Out His Policy.

Peoria, H., September 4.-Elihu Root,
secretary of war, was the speaker tonight
at the meeting of the Illinois republican
club. The coliseum was packed to the
doors and time after time the secretary
was voiceferously applanded. His ad-
dress was confined tirclg to the recent
troubles in the Phllippines and Cuba and
not once during the evening did he mem
tion the tariff or the trusts
In opening his address he paid a high
compliment to the late William Mckinley
and In this connection said:
Men may find, or think they find error
In his judgment Men may differ as to
the wisdom of his policies but that his
judgments were formed In sincerity as
he saw the right; that his policies arose
from a strong desire for the peace and
honor of his country and Of his race, and
that he worked them out so long as he
lived, along the lines of justice and of
humanity, no one who knew him as we
knew him ever doubt. His memory lives.
1.-The first spoken words by his success
sor when taking the oath of office at
Buffalo, were 1t is my purpose to con-
tinue absolutely unbroken the policy of
President Mckinley for the peace pros
perity and honor OF our beloved country.
II challenge judgment upon the truth
and loyalty with which Theodore Roose-
welt has redeemed his promise. The muir
derers bullet robbed us of a friend; 1t did
not produce a revolution. 1t changed
rulers; it did not change policies
Work In Cuba Ended.
1.-THE work of pacifcation and construc-
ton in Cuba has been completed Military
government there had faithfully given
effect to the humane purposes of the
American people. With sincere kindness
our officers had helped the cubans TO
take steps necessary to the establishment
of their own constitutions government.
"of all the executive problems follow
ing In the train of the Spanish war the
problem of the Philippines alone re-
mained. Success there had not been then
determined and it is still possible that
failure might lead the American people
to withdraw power from republican
hands. Accordingly the Filipino policy OF
the administration was attacked. The
policy was simple. Spain, which for more
than three centuries before Dewey's VIC
tory had exercised undisputed sovereignty
over the Philippine Islands, ceded the
islands with her title. The treaty was
signed at Paris on December 10. 1898, and
was confirmed by the senate on Febru-
ary 6, 1899. The cession was one of the
terms of peace, and was upon a special
consideration of $2O00O,000 to be paid to
Spain by the United States Upon the
ratification of the treaty and the payment
of that money, sovereignty over the Phil
ippines was vested in the United States,
the territory OF the islands became the
territory of the United States, the public
lands belonging to Spain in the islands
became the property of the United States,
and all the rights and obligations toward
other nations of the world in respect to
the Philippines which pertained to its
sovereignty devolved upon the United
States"
Both Parties Agreed.
The secretary stated that in the early
months of 1899 when the course of the
United States towards the insurrection
in the Philippines had to be determined
there was no difference of opinion be-
tween the two parties as to tie duty of
the administration. Then he read a
number of edit orials from the press
InfOuKnOut the DOlH ItpubllIdH
and democratic, showing that there was
only one thing to do and that was to
conquer the forces of Aguinaldo. Then
Secretary Root said, notwithstanding the
insurrection the business of the islands
had fourished and has become nearly
double what 1t was in the most peaceful
years under Spanish rule. He spent
some time in denial of the stories told
by the democratic party during the in
frtt.
to the number of soldiers in the islands,
the losses by war and sickness, and then
read a number of the kilograms captured
by Jose Risal the greatest genius and
most revered patriot of the Philippines.
in which he pleaded to his people to sub
init to American sovereignty as the only
way in which to gain their freedom
Attacks in Congress.
The secretary spent some time in tell
ing of the attacks made upon the admin
istration by different members of the
senate and house. and said;
1.-The whole army and its generals were
involved In common denunciation. The
gallant and fearless Funston was stig-
matized by the senator from Tennessee
as a 'blatherskite brigadier.' l do not
know what General Wheaton particular
ly said of the senator from Idaho, but
imagined he was charity boy who was
appointed to West Point by some repre-
sentative or senator and educated by the
government.
He said the senator from Utah said:
"Did not Chaffee, alone, unaided, In cold
ness and in brutality. and in savage and
disregard of every human
sentiment or possibility of human suffer-
ing, conceive this iniquitous scheme? If
not, from what dabolical source was 1t
derived? The American people ought to
know. Is there any penalty beneath the
sun adequate to be meted out to the
merciless wretch who has thus brought
such dishonor upon the American name
and the American people?
Against these contemptuous and in
furious aspersions upon the soldiers of
the United States l will call four wit
nesses.
"The first is William Mckinley. IF
any orders of mine were required to in
sure the merciful conduct of military and
naval operations they would not be lack
ing, but every step in the progress of
our troops have been marked by hui
manity which has surprised even the
insurgents.
What Dewey says.
1.-THE second is President Schurman, and
Joining with him Admiral George Dewey
and the other members Of the first Phil