The Washington times., 1902-05-13

IT." he continued, 1--WE cannot com
away with honor, we will not come ava
at all. In the language employed by tn
President only n few days ago. our fla
Will stay put in the Philippines"
Mr.. Hoar asked Mr.. Foraker whcthe
he was willing to say that when all tn
obligations OF the United States wer
fulfilled. and when the Filipinos had es
tablished a government in honor an
were fit to maintain 1t and desired inde
peudence. he would then recognize thei
right.
Unwise to State Policy.
Mr.. Foraker gave 1t as his opinion
that 1t would be an unwise and impoliti
thing to declare now that at any tim
! in the future the Government would TAX
action thus and so. Even the presen
not occur to the Senator from Massachu
setts that during the five years. or tel
years. or twenty years that the United
States Government would necessarily re
main there. there would be great change:
in conditions, and that long before thu
expiration Of that time the people Of tn,
| islands would want the United States t.
J stay by an overwhelming majority?
/ was contended even now, he continued
! that a majority OF the Filipinos wanted
the United States to remain.
Taking up the charges that greed a1d
| seIfishness were the principal motives o
holding the islands. he repelled sucf
| charges, and quoted some remarks OF Mr
Tilfman on that point. Mr.. Tillman made
retort which brought from Mr.. Foraker
the remark that he admired the ability
~ hn fnr
Carolina. but that nobody seemed to ap-
prove his discretion. tLaughter.l
THE people Of South Carolina approve
It," Mr.. Tiliman put In.
II withdraw that remark" Mr.. Foraker
said. apologetically. II should not have
made it,
He went on to review the Incidents
which led up to the taking possession OF
the Philippines, and he said:
II have always believed that in acquir-
ing the Philippines. in making the treaty
and ratifylng 1t. and in holding and gov
erning the Islands. we have been acting.
not mistakenly or unwisely. but just the
opposite"
Democratic Editorials of 1899.
Mr.. Foraker read extensive quotations
from some Of the leading Democratic
newspapers in January and February, 1899,
to show that President McKinley's policy
In reference to the Philippines was unan-
imously approved by the Democratic party
that ''at that time the Democrats were
patriots, not partisans,' and that there
was very little partisan expression in re-
lation to the question.
Mr.. Foraker created much amusement
by his reading Of Mr.. Patterson's edi-
torials. which, he said. were the ablest
he had found on the subject in either
Democratic or Republican papers. He had
not found any writer who had at that
time SO clear and comprehensive a con-
ception of affairs as was shown by the
man who wrote those editorials. They
would reflect honor and credit on the
writer. and should be known among men:
and therefore, he was trying to put them
in the Record" where. forever, they
would be re1d by the American people.
On phrase used was I'VE must knock
peace into Aguinaldo and his followers"
Its reading raised a general laugh, and
Mr.. Spooner asked ironically whether
there was nothing in the editorial about
providence.
"Oh. yes." Mr. Foraker replied. laugh
ingly. Providence figures here quite con-
spicuously; providence. and fate. and des-
tiny. and commerce. 1t has got all the
elements OF national greatness
Attacks on Army Officers.
Mr.. Foraker repelled Indignantly all at
tacks made in the course of the debate
upon American officers and soldiers for
cruelties in the Philippines. and he quoted
from the report OF the civil commission
to the effect that war had never been SO
humanely conducted. Referring to the
charges made against General Bell, Mr.
Foraker said that General Bell had a
record of which any soldier might well
be proud. He was born in Kentucky in
1856. and was sent as a cadet to West
Point on the recommendation of Senator
Beck. so that his political antecedents
might easily be guessed
He quoted General Bells order and said
that for three long years OF forbearing.
and forbearing beyond what any other
people had ever shown. General Bell had,
not because he wanted to be a savage
and barbarous ruler OF the Philippines.
but because he found 1t absolutely neces-
sary to apply the law of retaliation. is
sued his order to the end that he might
protect the lives of the soldiers under his
command. protect the lives of friendly
Fflipinos. and protect the interests OF the
United States.
Law of Retaliation.
General Bell had simply resorted to the |
law of retaliation, as approved In the !
order issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. !
and as approved at The Hague convention. |
There were numerous precedents for 1t. |
including that where. before Jericho. |
Joshua gave orders to so and slay every /
women, and children. 1t had /
,een so in all sacred and profane history; |
or war was cruelty and could not be re-
ined.
AS to the order ascribed to General
smith he did not believe that any such
rider had been issued by him. He thought
{ would be found that there was a light
o be cast upon 1t which would present ii
n different colors.
In conclusion he said: "The army will
ONE home. but not bespattered with
Hood. 1t will come home in triumph. 20
eceive the glad welcome and plaudits of
he American people. The people have
'lways stood by their army. and they
lways will stand by their army. while
I is made of such splendid men. such gal
ant officers such heroes. one and all
IS represent US in the Philippines
~