The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-07
McCOMAS UPHOLDS
PHILIPPINE POLICY
Maryland Senator Makes
ForCefuI Argument.
ATTACKS OPPONENTS PLAN
Democratic Policy Of ScuttIe Tot for
Present Day Aue1icans-BeneEce
Results of Taft Commissions LaboTs.
The Army Defended.

sentation of the Administration argU-
ments in favor Of the pending Philippine |
civil government bill After describing
its provisions for the gradual enlargement
OF self-government in the archipelago, he |
said:
at is the highest wisdom to resist the
temptation TO 90 too Iast. We must go
slowly if we would educate these Malay
races in self government Much that is
opposed to Western instincts must be
allowed TO remain We cannot oCci-
dentalize the Orient in a day. To explode
a republican government upon the Fill
pinos at once is to make matters worse
for them and for US We cannot hustle
the East. We dare not forget that after
all the East is the East. # We would
carry to them our institutions we must
slowly prepare the way for the free in
situations Of the West and urge them
gently along it. We must avoid too much
sentimentality Blunders are inevitable;
therefore we must go slow Il we are
blind to the force OF oriental ideas in the
Orient our failure is foredooned. The
FIIfDinos must develop along their own
racial lines. we cannot refashion them
Kress must proceed slowly, and this plan
Of temporary government is wise, hui
name, adequate
Democratic Attacks Decried-
In answer 70 the Democratic attacks on
the army, he said:
'eThe minority seek TO draw away the
public mind from the dawning o. peace in
the archipelago They shrink from discus
sion Of provisions of the bill and for days
denounce crueIties perpetrated by AmeTi-
can soldiers IN those islands. They do nei
denounce barbarities and sayageTy Of the
insurreetos and IadToHes- Instead, they
indict cur army, the whole aTEay-sallant
Youths. sons of Union soldiers. sons Of
Confederate soldiers, cur volunteers IN
arms our fellow Americans from the
North and from the South.
is 1t patriotic for American Senator'S
to denatiouaIiz5 themselves for the sake Of
a partisan advantage? Is 1t patriotic TO
clutch at every charge against our c0un-
tTyTnen in arms under the flag across the
sea? To assume that Americans are
guilty? To deny the justice OF courts
EaaTtiaI2 To deRoUnee the judgments OF
the courts without hearing the facts or
considering tbs law upon which these
judgments are based2 Senator's cannot
gather any laureIs from a patriotic people
by crusade against our whole army. All
humane men denouaee the water cure in
1icted by Iew TO extort confession Of the
murderers Of their comrades.
at is true that a few of our soldiers
have inflicted the water cure TO extort
arms. to develop treachery. OF to discover
the savages who have buried their com
rades alive or burned them alive by slow
fire. 1 denounee these instances and de-
plore them. The Presidents ringinT
words make sure ne will punish the few
and yindicate the army"
Mr. McComas paid fine tribute to Cen
eraI Funston, quoting from number Of
officers, on his gallantry and bravery. He
lauded highly the work of the Taft Com
mission, saying in part:
Praise for Taft Commission
''The labors of Governor Taft ana the
commission of Americans and Filipinos
have been arduousi their achievements
remarkable and inspiring. After We ae-.
QuIred sovereignty Il was our duty. as the
Supreme Court has said. TO preserve order
and suppress instruction in territory OF
tie United States Our American soldiers
have practically ended tbs war. Civil
government now controls in I'll but the
three provinces Of Eaguna, Ba.angas. and
SamaT- Ii Samar the insurrection has Just
been put down There are scarcely , 600
Filipinos in arms today Our army Of
705000 men in the archipelago has been
reduced to 39008 Very soon it win fall
TO $4,000. The Commission believes that
after the remaining provinces have been
pacifed 1900 troops viii be sufficient
defense TO the isIands-scarceIy one and
o6e-half nea TO a thousand Of he popu-
Iatiou.
president McKinley's instructions to
The Commission. who have studied and ex-
ecuted them, leads the Commission to de-
clare that having watched their opera
tons in the development of the govern
ment IN the Philippine Islands, this bill
of-rights constitutes one of the greatest
state papers ever issued in ope -ating as
they were intended 10 operate and in
bringing about a state OF affairs that they
intended TO bring about, putting into the
minds Of the people a consciousness Of
tie existence OF power in the civil govern
nasnt and gradually placing more and
more power in that government, which
the instructions contemplated. and so had
marvellous effect in showing the Filipino
people what our purpose was.
= Workers in the Island.
'sIr. President, the men who are build
ing up civil government in mere than
thousand islands Of that archipelago, with
its 10000 square miles OF land, with its
5000 600 Christians, its 100000 non
ChristIan tribes. its 1. 900. 900 Mohammedan
Noros; the men Who have framed a code of
civil government and a municipal code;
who have organized most ali the provinces
BEC- = .45usand towns fnto governing
bodies so far and so fast as the people
are ready and capable: who are fighting
the pestiIence among the cattle and beasts
Of burden; who are stamping out tho
plague in the cities and towns; who are
rapidly reducing the death rate in Ma
Mia; who are penetrating the country
with public roads through the swamps
and over mountains; who have established
courts Of first instance in every province
and an appellate court at Manila; who
Ere now urging US to provide final appeal
70 our own supreme court out OF tender
regard for liberty. lives, and property of
the F1lipinos; who are cleaning and max