Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-10

The 100000 DIeker.
In a speech delivered before the senate
on February 10th. Senator Bate. OF Ten
nessee, dubbed the famous treaty OF Paris
as ''the twenty million dicker." He said
& was ratified by the senate on the even
ing Of the 6th OF February. 1888. and pass
ed BY one vote. and one vote would have
defeated Il.
AS this vote on the treaty ofParis, or the
twenty million decker" is the vote which
Senator TIllman charges as corrupt vote
on the part OF Senator McLaurin. the his
tory OF transaction which hung on one
vote with so many direful or important IS
sues should be published for the readers
Of The Journal and they should have re-
liable knowledge OF the treaty as officially
stated.
II e a matter OF history that the Fill
pinos had chased the Spaniards into Ma
Mia and when Admiral Dewey's ships fred
on the Spanish vessels in the harbor.
Spain was manifestly unable 10 hold the
Philippine Islands any longer. Dewey and
Aguinaldo had silenced Spain for all time,
and II was understood that the Ameri-
cans and FiIiuinos were united against
the common enemy. The Filipinos well
coined the Americans as the American
people welcomed Lafayette with men and
ships 70 aid the independence Of the
American colonies. The Cuban war was
over-SpaIn had been compelled 10 beach
her fine battleships commanded by Ger
vera and Dewey had driven Spain out OF
Manila. and Spain was driven out OF the
rest of the Philippine Islands by Aguin-
aldo.
Then the twenty million dicker" took
place. said Senator Bate. The party in
power resolved 70 own and control the
Philippine Islands for some reasons hint
ed az. but not explained After conquest
q purchase took place. Not to be purchss-
ed frnm the Filipinos who owned the is
lands and who had driven Spain into
single walled town. and would have soon
won their Independence. but bought from
Spain. which had neither ownership or IL
Tie 70 convey 10 anybody. and BY the
treaty Of Paris this money was TO be paid
20 spain. and thereupon American guns
were turned upon the Filipinos. our late
allies and antagonists OF Spain-and this
country actually paid Spain for the islands
and thereupon became the antagonists and
conQEer0rs OF the country OF the FilipinOs.
To see the whole thing in single picture.
the United States misled the Filipinos and
allied American interests with Spain 10
destroy the FilipinOs.
Two members Of the senate were men,
hers Of the treaty OF Paris. and when the
measure was brought before the senate
for ratification there were many and grave
doubts as 70 the passage Of the measure.
Senators Hoar and Hale. able Republic
cans AWl@AA AAAG AAAE4oAA4E SAANAA0A1A1# -
Few Democrats voted for H.
When the measure was on its final pass
age Senator Bate says the change Of one
vote from the Republicans side 10 the
minority would have defeated the whole
business and saved the country from its
present unfortunate complications.
Il required a constitutional two-thirds
majority 20 pass the measure. Fifty-seven
voted IN the Affirmative Twenty-seven in
the Negative. II one vote had been taken
from fifty-seven (Ihe half Of hfty-six Is
rwenty-eightl and added TO twenty-seven
(Which would then have been twenty
eIghO then the tie vote would have mega
tived the result.
II seems from Senator Tillman's utter
ances that some Republican senator or
senators have told him in confidence how
Senator McLaurin's vote was obtained.
All this time there has been war in the
South Carolina camp over the supposed
'dicker" for patronage-which. was 70 set
MP the twenty million dicker for the
Philippine Islands. That one vote Is the
pivot on which IL has all hinged. That
pivotal vote has been the gravamen I'm the
political squabbles with South Carolina
senator's for three years past and gone.
Senator Tillman made a mistake in
charging the vote up 20 "dicker'' with
out the proof No man should dare 10
charge another with selling his vote in a
legislative body unless he has the facts
at hand and could substantiate them. II
Is a great outrage upon private character
10 be thus attacked. and IL Senator Nc
I.aurfn Is innocent then he had ample au-
thOrity for denOuncing Senator Tillman as
q falsider. But II the investigation In the
senate shall produce witnesses who, when
put upon oath shall disclose the proof.
there can be no question as 70 the effect
that win follow such disclosures. But the
twenty million dicker with Spain Is al
A. - frrfr@ - ffeN
q notorious. II not an Odius. transaction
Hostilities did not begin with the Fill
pinos until the twenty million decker"
was ratified.
How these hostiities begun. am not
able TO tell. We changed Aguinaldo from
a friend 70 an enemy. We have caused
the Filipinos 20 hate this government as
never men were hated before.
The cruelties imposed on the women and
children Of the little brown men are almost
beyond belief The idea OF ''water-curing''
an enemy BY pouring down his throat
streams Of water. keeping his jaws forced
apart until his body Is bloated 10 bursting
Is lntdlerable 10 think about. This war on
the Filipinos started from the time OF the
treaty OF Paris. Senator -5ate's speech IS
a fearful exhibit OF the sudden change
from Independence 70 tyranny, from
friendship 10 cruelty
Invitations 70 Fashionable Functions.
The Invitation sent by President RoOse-
welt % Senator Tillman and which was
recalled by the president q few hours
before the dinner TO Prince Henry was
served brings up a question which all
dinner givers and dinner guests would do
well 20 understand. namely: Unless for
Prcvieeutial hindrance. such as death. an
epidemic Of disease or pOstpOnetnent OF
the function. has dinner giver the right
20 recall an invitation which had been
voluntarily issued without any entreaty
OF solicitation on the part Of the guest?''
From my standpoint. do not think any
person has the privilege Of inviting
guest TO his or her house and then be
allowed 70 recall the same IN a moment
OF piQue or resentment.
The Arabs revercnced the rights OF hos