The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-30
North Carolina Dailies Newsstand Circulation

Despite that, however, every step we had
taken since the ratification of the treaty
of Paris had been unwise. The result
had been that the United States had lost
thousands of lives and thousands of
treasure in the Philippines.
The Democratic party was in favor of
carrying out every obligation of the
government in the islands, but a declara-
tion of purpose on the part of the United
States would have prevented the strug-
gle that has been going on for three
years.
Mr. Clay declared that. while it was
said that the pending bill was temporary
in character, it would remain in force
if enacted, for perhaps a hundred years
1t would remain in full force until re-
pealed, and it would confer more power
upon the Philippine Commission than is
possessed by the Congress of the United
States.
No czar, no king, he declared, ever had
been known to exercise such power over
a people as was conferred by this bill
upon the Philippine Commission.
Late in the afternoon, Mr.. Spooner
(Wis.) began speech in support of the
| bill and the administrators policy in
the Philippines, which is to conclude in
! general debate on the measure by the
Republican side. He reviewed the Situa-
tion in the islands, indicating that the
| responsibility for it rested, not upon any
| one party, but upon all alike. 1t appear
] ed strange to him that a measure in
| tended to eXalt civil government and to
| subordinate the military power should
| create such adverse criticism; and he
declared that on the Democratic side
| there had been nothing heard but pes
simist, the gospel of despair, suspicion,
| distrust and imputation of the motives
of the Republican Senators. He paid
brilliant tribute to President Roosevelt
and to the personality and policy of the
| late President Mckinley. He declared
that never in the annals of time had an
army carried to a people so much of
amelioration, as much OF upbuildng, so
| much of kindness and tenderness as the
Ans rican army had carried to the
Fill limos by direction of Mckinley.
NJ +. Spooner SAID the general attitude
| OF the minority Senators was this:
| I've voted against the Paris treaty,
are men who observe the obligations of
the constitution, you who voted for it
violated the constitution; we who are
tion of independence; you disregard it;
we are the friends of the army, you as
sail it; we love the flag, you dishonor
it, we hate atrocities, you defend them
we want liberty in the Philippines, you
want slavery there.
That" said Mr.. Spooner. 'is a modest
attitude but not altogether persuasive"
| Discussing some references which had
been made to previous speeches OF his,
MIR. Spooner said he had announced that
he was not in favor of the permanent
dominion of the United States over the
Philippines and he was not now.
Il would not" said he, "buy domina-
tion at the cost of any mans liberty
Il said that our flag in CUBA would
come down in honor, as it Went up in
the interest OF liberty. And so it has.
but that has nothing to do with this bill"
Adverting to the beginning of hostili-
ties bctwe IN the American and Filipinos
Mr.. spooner described how the firing De
gan. Mr.. Hoar interrupted 60 say that
Aguinaldo had written to General Otis
| expressing regret ut the occurrence and
had withdrawn his troops.
The Filipinos were not withdrawn" A"
Iinterjected Mr.. Spooner vehemently.
They were driven back" (Applause)
Further along the Wisconsin Senator
referred to a constitution prepared by
Aguinaldo in imitation of the Mexican
constitution with provision for patents of
nobility and large concessions Of land
which he promised to his followers. He
presented a Photographic copy of the
documents, which Mr. Carmack desired to
examine.
With flourish Mr.. Spooner handed the
parchment to the Tennesseean with the
comment
For you. on are decorated by Agui-
naldo.' Laughter.)
Mr.. Spooner insisted that there was no
parallel to be Drawn between the situa-
ton in Cuba and that in the Philippines.
The Cubans had teen fighting for indie
pcndenca for ten years, bat no such stra-
gle had occurred IN the Philippines
He declared that the opening of hos
tilities in the Philippines was a per-
fectly wanton attack upon our troops who
/ were rfghtfully around Manila He quo
ted the vote IN the Senate by which
troops had been raised to be sent to the
Philippines The Democrats, he said
knew when they voted for the sending OF
the troops that .here was to be a war
that there would be cruelties.
'Are they" he demanded, 'in position
to turn upon us with vituperation and
; challenge? They voted for it on the basis
that we had acquired sovereignty in the
Philippines from Spain-that we had paid
for it, and that we must sustain 1t. They
: cannot properly turn on us and assert
taht the present situation is the result
; of policy instituted by the Republican
party
Mr. Snoonar will conclude on Saturday.