The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-29
THEIR RIGHTS
GUARANTEED
Mr.. Lodges Amendment Ex-
tends "Bil of Rights
to the Filipinos.
Except the Right to Bear
Arms and the Right of
Trial by Jury.


ut tine for discussion OF the Philippines
bill.
The conference report on the river and
harbor bill was agreed to.
Consideration was then resumed Of the
Philippines government bill.
The ..Bill of Rights" Except
Mr. Lodge, (Mass) offered two or three
amendments of a minor character which
were agreed ITO. He then offered an
amendment extending to the inhabitants
the bill OF rights" of the constitution Of
the United States except the right to bear
arms and the right Of trial by jury. !
In answer to an inquiry by Mr.. Pettus
(Ala) Mr.. Lodge explained that in the
opinion of the majority OF the committee
on the Philippines it would be unwise
under the present circumstances to ex-
tend those rights to the Filioinos.
The amendment was agreed to.
Other amendments were adopted as fol-
lows: ..
Providing that nothing in the pending bill
shall be held to amend or repeal the act
providing for revenue for the Philippines;
providing that a single homestead entry shall
that the beneficial use shall he the basis, the
measure, and the limit of all rights to water
in the islands, and that the government is
authorized to make rules for the use Of the
water supply, Lroviding that If bonds or any
portion thereof shall be paid out Of the
funds of the government of said islands such
municipality shall reimburse the government
for the sum thus paid and said government is
hereby empowered to collect the sum by the
levy and collection Of taxes on such NUM-
cipalty.
MorEan's Philippine Views.
Mr.. Morgan (Ala.) then addressed the
senate u.or the bill. He cordially ap-
proved the general purposes of the meas
ure which, he said was a decided i'm
provement ucon the law now in force in
the Philippines. Certain changes ought
to be made in the bill, but in a general
way it looked toward peace. He read an
editorial from an Alabama newspaper
which he adopted as his own sentiments.
That editorial held that as the United
States had put its hand to the pillow in the
Philippines it could not turn back. The
insurrection In the Islands, Mr.. Morgan
said, was broken and the duty was left to
US to provide just and equitable govern
ment for the people. Division in the
councils in this country he believed kept
the bolomen and ladrones in the field.
the islands in practical way would be
assured.
II Aguinaldo had in fact driven Spanish
dominion from the island or had de-
stroyed the power of the United States to
hold Manila under the peace protocol, he
said, he had worked a miracle in the de-
velopment of national power that no other
man ever attempted. -,~.-
'If Spain was unable to cope with his
forces he said, at does not follow that
Aguinaldo could destroy by an edict the
military and naval forces Of the United
States s
II excuse those who now see fatal
policy" continued Mr.. Morgan, lin the
cession of the islands the the
United States; u still excuse
them for not trying to repeal that
concession when we know that the sue
cess OF such effort would throw the
Filipino people back into the arms of
Spain whose tyrannies have made her
their unforgiving enemies"
To have crowned such a war, waged
with such a generous purpose, with such
result, he said, would have dismayed
stronger hearts than those that beat in
the bosoms of his democratic colleagues.
There never had BEEN said Mr. Nor
gan. "a pretense Of organized government
In the Philippine islands. 1t was unjust
to criticize Admiral Dewey for refusing to
recognize Aguinaldo as president Of the
Philippine government
Had he done So said he, "he would
have given aid and comfort to the de-
clared enemies OF the United States
This was the legal attitude OF Aguin-
aldo and every other Filipino because
Dewey had no power to change declara-
ton of war by congress.
Dewey he said, 'believed Aguinaldo
was devoted to the success of the Ameri-
can arms and had no reason to feel that
hA WAS a self eaekinc a1ventNrer'
''The laudations of Aguinaldo's alleged
patriotism and heroism,'' continued Mr..
Morgan, that have been poured out in his
honor here and elsewhere in the United
States are as much out of place as il
they had been uttered in honor of the fox
IN Aesop's fables -
"Aguinaldo," he said, was only con-
venient instrument in the hands of con-
,spirators. Had he died. another agent
would have been found, for the Hongkong
junta had not committed their fortunes
perpetually to him
The Fiiipinos are not fighting for lib
erty," Mr. Morgan said, ''but simply as
the savage tools Of the junta at Hong
kong"
He spoke Of the religious freedom given
20 the Filipinos by the United States and
said that this cardinal principal must be
arms that divorced church and state in
the Philippines, which result Aguinaldc
could not have accomplished.
1--WE have dedicated those islands" be
said, ito the freedom Of religion; We
have unshackled them from the dominion
of an established church and no power
will ever exist that can undo our work
through military. civil or other agencies
Referring to the statements of crueltieE
of American soldiers toward Filipinos
Mr.. Morgan said that investigation by
proper authority is demanded by the en-
tire army as duty to 1t and the mer
OF the army resent the discussion of theil
acts In connection with a bill which does
not call for such discussion.
Their mouths are closed" said he
sand they are permitted to appear at the
bar OF the senate to answer these
charges"
Reverting to the question Of citizenship
he declared that If the Filipinos are moi
at to be citizens Of the United States, they
are not fit to govern themselves. He sale
that he could not believe that any people
will suffer harm through our efforts tt
bless them,
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Morgan:
speech the senate, on motion Of Mr.. Lodge
.agyeed that when 1t adjourn to-day 1t b
until Saturday.