The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-30
PHILIPPINE DEBATE
MORGAN OF ALABAMA SUPPORTS
THE MEASURE.
LODGE AMENDS THE BILL.
Mr.. SOONER DEFENDS ADMINS
TRATION VIEW.

Freedom HIS bctA AAApAAOS
nv United states and That This Is
His Main Reason for Supporting
the Mcasure-Mr. Clay Makes Able
,reument in oppottion-The So
Called Temporary Legislation May
Remain in Force for a Hundred
Years, He Said.
Washington, May 29.-Interest in the
Philippine debate is increasing as the
discussion draws to a close. To-day
the Senate galleries were thronged
with auditors and the attendance on
the floor was larger than it has been
for some time, including many of the
House of Representatives.. Soon af-
ter the Senate convened at IL o'clock
Mr. Lodge of Massachusetts, in charge
of the bill offered on behalf of the
committee several amendments to the
measure, the most important of which
was one extending to the Philippines
the provisions of the Bill of Rights
of the Constitution of the United
States. excepting the right to bear
arms and the right to trial by jury.
All of the amendments were agreed
to-
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama delivered
an extended speech in which he sup
norted in the main the bill as pre-
sented by the committee. He said it
looked toward peace and towards just
and peaceful government in the
islands. Some changes were necessary
in his opinion, but these he thought
would be made.
There never had been, said
Mr. Morgan, pretense
4 of organized government in the Phil
4 ippne Islands. 1t was unjust to crit:-
q else Dewey for refusing to recognize
4 AguinaIdo as President of the Phil
ippine 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 Agui-
nlldo and every other Filipino because
n Dewey had no power to change dec
laration of war by Congress. Dewey,
he said, believed Aguinaldo was de
& voted to the success of the American
III arms, and had no reason to feel that
n he was self-seeking adventurer.
The laudatons of Aguinaldos al
VI legged patriotism and heroism," said Mr..
Morgan, that have been poured out in
his honor here and elsewhere in the
United States, are as much out of
place as if they had been uttered in
honor of the fox in Aesop's fables.
Aguinaldo. he said, was only a con-
N venient instrument in the hands of con
spirators. Had he died another agent
would have been found. fer the Hong
Kong junta had not committed their
81 fortunes perpetually to him.
The Filipinos are not fighting for
liberty" Mr. Morgan continued, but
n simply as the savage tools of the junta
at Hong Kong"
* Religious Freedom for FiIipinOs.
He spoke of the religious freedom
81 given to the Filipinos by the United
States, and said it was for this he
# pleaded his excuses to his Democratic
brethren for insisting that this cardinal
principle must be permanent in the
W Philippines. 1t was our arms that
81 divorced church and state in the Phil
# lpplnes, which result Aguinaldo could
Ilot nave accomplished had he ever at
81 We have dedicated those islands"
ne sald' to the freedom of religion;
we have unshackled them from the do
Hlihlon OF an established church, and
no power will ever exist that can undo
our work through military, civil or any
III other agencies
helerflng to the statements of cruel
les OF American soldiers toward Fill
Hhos Mr. Morgan said that investiga-
Lon oy proper authority is demanded
~ 'Ae entire army as a duty to it, and
ltle men OF the army resent the dis
ouSSioH OF their acts in connection with
d OlH which does not call for such
discussion"
g.. Ihelr mouths are closed'' he said.
ana they are not permitted to appear
me tne par of the Senate to answer
tnese charges"
.neNertlng to the question of citizen
sup, ne declared that if the Filipinos
S S.e not mt to be citizens of the United
seII'oS Iney are not fit to govern them
iineS He said that he could not be-
tb Tse mat any people will suffer harm
N'oush our efforts to bless them.
hr. Clay Opposes Measure.
MT MI Clay of Georgia opposed the
penuihg measure in a carefully pre-
tared speech. He said that when the
Ri StS OF Paris was made the United
EaleS should have insisted on the re-
&c tulshlnent and not upon the cession
He Islands. Such action would have
AZ rooed the United States to take prop
"a t OF the islands without looking
mot permanent retention. He did
cohtend that they had won their
niisp ehdence before the battle of Ma
tbn pay. He did not think the policy
isIs,4ln ited states was pursuing in the
@'Sanus was either right or lust.
a,o lay said that if when the SEN
h. i6llled the peace treaty it had
wall, declared that the United States
of lru grant the Filipinos the right
fsa5,. government, peace would al
oeuy nave been restored The Dem
gratic party never had declared in
III, OF leaving the islands before
nent. VI d stdole govern
Inc Filipinos had a right to know
Nc me purposes of the United States
we're Le Despite that, however. every
tiop we mad taken since the ratifca-
n nun OF the treaty of Paris had been
~ Tni.Ss' The result has been that the
EHled States has lost thousands of
Philippines. y '''' - - 'i'0
NJ W democratic party was in favor
~ carrying out every obligation of
government in the islands, bur
nj Iaration of purpose on the part
sen lnited States would have pre-
sa The struggle that has been go
on for three years.
laior Clay declared that while IL
saIl that the pending bill was tenn
g. IN character, II would remain
3 tB,sce II enacted, for perhaps a
s-,. years. II would remain in full
d lntl repealed, and II would con-
'1,rIe power upon the Philippine
or.ihslon than Is possessed by the
"'na OF the United States. No