The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-03-05
A FINE ARGUMENT
Made by Senator Tillman in the
United States Senate
ON THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION
In Answer to Senator Spooner's De-
fence Of the Administra-
ton. 1t was Full OF

The Washington correspondent Of
The State says when the jamm ed
crowds who witnessed "Ben Hur" at
the National Saturday after noon were
making for their homes they heard
the cry of the newsboys: Fight on
the Floor Of the Senate" Big Fight
Between Senator's" and in a little
while everybody was talking Of the
South Carolinians. AS one old gen.
tleman was wading through the
slushy snow, which has made Wash
ington like shallow mill pond, re-
marked: Il tell you what, South
Carolinians will certainly fght-they
always will. The interest at that
time centered on the fight from a
pugilistic standpoint and the merits
Of the case and the decorum or lack OF
decorum was not discussed.
MI. Tillman certainly made a re-
markable speech. One full Of buster
ing sarcasm and teeming with points.
There was every occasion for it. Wash
ington's Farewell Address had just
been read and the senate was not yet
over the moral and spectacular effect
Of Senator Spooner's defense Of the
administration on Friday. Senator
Spooner for fou hours elaborated point
after point with all the ability OF the
masterful pleader, which he is admitted
to be. Tillman followed, ,tbut the hour of
adjournment coming he continued his
argument next day. At first Mr..
Tillman was not at his best, but best,
but before the minute hand Of the
clock had gone a quarter Of an hour
he began an eloquent Philippe, de-
void Of the sensational TRADE which
he sometimes effects. The Republi
can senators, however, left the senate
with a few exceptions during the first
hour Of his speech save Chauncey De-
pew and a few others, and after Mr..
DepeW had given a few Of his distin-
guished sneezes he too wandered back
into the mysterious presence Of the
marble chamber. Mr.. Tillman, how
ever, had crowded galleries and he
kept them crowded. His most efec-
tive point was review Of the treat
ment Of Cuba, when heintimated that
the same way the sugar interests were
treated in Hawaii they will be treated
in Cuba. Then came an attack on
the Taft commission about the sedi-
tion amendment. 1t was this part Of
his speech in which his sarcasm came
in. AS well as a burst Of eloquence
the effect of which was only lessened
by the senator stopping suddenly and
saying "Oh, pshaw, I can't find words
to show my contempt for such hypoc-
risy."
Referring to the ladrones and BUSH
whackers and secret societies Of the
Philippines the senator described
Marion. You must get human ma
ture changed before they cease to re-
sist tyranny and strike for liberty.
MacArthur's report was then dis
cussed, when the wounded Filippinos
were put down as over 100 and the
killed at over $500. Yet, Mr.. Till
man continued, all records show in all
other wars that the wounded are gen.
orally four to one killed. This sim
ply goes to prove that the tFilipinos
have been murdered. Then followed
remarkably logical defense Of this
statement, for which he demanded an
Investigation as to the conduct of the
war, which Investigation the Repub-
lican majority have hitherto refused
to order. After this came the Con
cert Performance" which was treated
of in the Associated Press dispatches.
Mr.. Tillman's speech, though perhaps
lacking in the logical sequence Of Mr..
Spooner'S, was very effective argu-
ment against the retention Of the
Philippines from every standpoint.
BE was at his best and had a subject
that demanded bis best. 1t IS the
finest speech he has ever delivered in
the senate.