New-York tribune., 1902-02-21
SEDITION LAW DISCUSSED.
THE SENATE SPENDS THE DAY IN
PHILIPPINE DEBATE.
GOVERNMENTS POLICY ATTACKED BY MR..
PATTERSON AND DEFENDED BY MEsSRs.
NELSON AND M'CUTMBER'

Washington. Feb 20.-With the exception of few
minutes given to routine business the Senate to-
day devoted its entire session to the Philippine
question. Mr.. Patterson of Colorado one of the
minority members of the Committee the Philip
pines delivered his first extended speech in the
senate. He denounced the sedition laws enacted
by the Philippine Commission attacking the author
ny OF the commission to enact and enforce such
laws
Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota presented a legal and
constitutional argument in support of the govern
ments Philippine policy and sharply criticised Mr..
Patterson fer injecting the question Of secaransm
into the controversy
Mr.. McCumber. of North Dakota, urged that Con-
gress should not bind the future now by a decara-
tion or definite policy regarding the Philippines
as 1t was desirable that all possible information
shoud be received before a permanent policy was
determined upon
MR. PATTERSON ATTACKS sEDITIoN LAWS
Mr.. Patterson maintained that the decision of the
United States Supreme Court seemed TO indicate
lhat When the question presented unqua lifedly
to that court it would be held that the Bill of
Rights would be extended to the Filipnos and that
they were, a fact within the limits of the con-
Sutution of the United States. He said that when
the question should finally come before the Supreme
oourt II would be held that the rights of free
SpeeCh Id ana tree press in the Philippine Islands
He said that il MAS "a naU ana strangs I0yar
eighty that enabled the Philippine Commission to
Philippines. and he challenged the authority Of the
all the judicial powers Of the constitution were not
NIended 10 territorial government. but held that
define treason or 10 provide punishment therefor
i, dhat S was solely within the power and authority
In reply to another inquiry by Mr. Foraker who
ment I Mr Patterson reiterated that Governor Taft
Ie nIGveS I9r and that he had
MS deliberate judgment. The situation now was
the Philippine Islands and their people This he
thought; was not fair treatment Of the Filpinos.
RS fS mi99 Of the people Of the islands we're
estant Christians Senators may smile he con
timed timed but have i in my mind that if the six
Christianity in the sanctuaries Of the Methodist
Eres5yterian E or Baptist churches and We're well
as as they are to-day, there would be such an up
denominations at the cruel. unconstitutional and
TgrentieSs treatment Of their people in the Philip
that policy would face their wrath. Put the Fill
On motion of Mr Lodge the Senate agreed to
meet at II a. m. tomorrow.
MR.. NELSON ANSWERS Mr. PATTERSON
Mr.. Nelson followed with legal arg lncent deal
ing with various phases Of the Philippine question
In beginning he took Mr.. Patterson sharply to task
for injecting sectariansm into the discussion hold
ing that It was unwarranted and neXcusable II
nag remained for Mr Patterson. too, he said, 10
the Philippines TO teach the Filipino youth the
despot,sm The foTega bon people Of tbe NoTb Po
west he said might as well insist that it was
seLdtng their children to the public schools
Mr.. Nelson maintained that the right OF trial
ny jury was not necessarily constitutional right.
In conclusion he said that the argument Of the
minority based an entire uisa appra aheusion
OF the physical and lega! situation in the Philip
pine Islands The United States Government was
fornia from 1916 TO 1880 The government was hold
Ing those islands, not by legislative enactment but
by the executive power Of the government The
President had the right TO govern those islands un
II Congress should provide for their control The
Philippine Commission was simply executive aid
TO the President and Il was idle for Senators 10
he maintained, the United States had ample au-
thority 70 hold the islands precisely as they are
being held to-day
Mr. Nelson declared that II was a sander on the
American people tosssert. the minority did that
the United states was not fully competent 10 give
the Philippines good government we are
there" said he. and l want to tell Senator's on
the other side that the people Of this country
twhateVer else they may do) will
TO pass he demanded impulsively. that the
american people became set of tyrants2 When
did 1t come TO pass that the American soldiers be-
came Basht Bazouks over those Islands? II is A
SANDER upon the american nation. ] take II that
no Senator will say that the American people
not capable and willing TO do more for the in
habtants OF the Philippines tFan any other nation
earth"
Mr.. McCumber presented carefully prepared ad-
dress ia support of the administrators policy on
the Philippine question. He did not think Con-
American people Of the future by prematurely
pledgtng them to any particular The
commercial adve ntages of the Philippines should be
considered, but they oVcrshadoWed
70 the people of the world and the people OF the
United States. When these duties had been per-
ment OF the Philippines that could be done by the
United States, then II would be time to determine