Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31
Unusual Interest in the Phil
ippine Debate.
MR.. SPOONER RESUMES
A SPIRITED CoLLoQUY WITH MR..
HOAR.
Gen. Smiths Alleged Order and the
Bounty offered for Scalps by the
Massachusetts, Settlers.

the Senate tOday-the body having convened
AT IL Reconsideration of the Philippine
government bill was resumed.
Mr. Beveridge QndD presented certain
excerpts from the testimony taken by the
Philippine committee arranged carefully
with reference to certain phases of the
Philippine question. and requested that they
be printed in the Congressional Record. Nj.
Beveridge explained that they covered par
ticular points i'll the testimony arranged III
logical sequence and he thought it was
perfectly fair and just.
Mr. Hoar suggested that he thought
compilation of the kind presented ought to
have the sanction of the Philippine COM
mittee, and he moved that the matter be
referred to that committee.
Mr. Beveridge said that the widest lati-
tude had been afforded the minority in the
publication of matter in the Record. and
D.. he thought it scarcely fair that objection
should be made to his request.
Mr.. Allison hoped Mr.. Hoar would with
draw his motion and indicated some criti-
Cfsm Of the Massachusetts, senator's &C
tiOa. As MIR. Hoar would not withdraw
his motion. Mr. Beyeridge withdrew his
quest, announcing that later he would read
the matter. if necessary, to get it in the
Record.
MI. Spooner Resumes.
In resuming his speech begun on Thurs
OF Mr.. Hoar, minute before. that there
ought not to be sides in this Philippine de-
bate. One trouble. of the weaknesses
of the discussion, and one of the wicked
elements. he said. is the fact that there
had been and We're now sides in this aues-
ton. He thought there ought to be
sides
lit is. he said. "a question which belongs
to the American people. 1t is problem of
delicacy and of some danger and weapon
of no man and of no party. The interest of
all men in public and private life is to get
at the truth, without private opinion, or
party strife.
Il have not been in favor of permanent
- dominion over the Philippines. said Mr..
Spooner. but | do not mean by that that
/ have been in favor of the United States
- running away like coward or abandoning
people who have come under our protec-
tion Surrendering them to tyranny.
archy ami chaos.
He said he had never been able to con-
template with equanimity the admission of
the Philippines as state or states. Moth
ing dearer to him. except his heme ties,
than that this government should be con-
fined to this continent.
Not Question of Imperialism.
No question of imperialism. he said. had
been raised in this problem. except for party
purposes. There never before has been an
instance he declared. where a portion of
abe American people have sought. inces-
sanity. and l think. unfairly. to put this
country in the wrong and to stain the honor
of the country with Gishonor" They had
formed. he said. a narrow and squint-eycd
View Of very question of fact
He said the United States never would
seek war but If attacked. we had the.
power to resist attack. and when the time
came to dictate terms of peace the United
States might demand and accept q ceded
territory that is inhabited without first Sc
curing the consent Of the inhabitants.
Nj Spooner declared that there was lit
Tie or no similarity between the conditions
m e,a3a and those in the philippines.
Those senator's he insisted who cam
hot see thu difference between the Philip
pis,ts and Cuba have some sort of mental
strabismus An attempt had been made
TO show that the reconcentrado camps
tabi>hed by Gen. Weyi-r in Cuba had been
initiated by the t1ittfd States in the Philip
pines. but "fhe 6hly testimony in support
Of THAT statement is testimony from am
bush, with all traces of identification de-
str0yed."
If had left Spain in control of the
Philippines 50 said MIR. Spooner discussing
our taking of the Islands, never. never as
long as We live, would some portions of our
people have ceased to denounce for hay-
ing sailed away from Manila like "a band of
towards, leaving the F1lipinos to come
again under the tyranny of Spain (still
worsel Ia lapse isto anarchy. civil war
murder loot and violence
Division for Party Purposes
Mr.. Spooner pointed cut how harmful the
division upon the Philippine question
among Americans was and declared that
the division largely was for party purposes
IF Congress had recognized the indie
pend nee of the Filipinos." said he ''in-
stead Of being there. are now. with
a title winch the Supreme Court of the
United States says is complete, which the
Senate has acceptd complete, which Con-
gress paid for as complete, which the world
recognizes as complete. which gives us the
o is hla
and right and uplifting to that people. we
would be there on the shifting nds of con-
tract with former tyrant l think that
God has saved us from that unutterable
folly II would have been worse-infinitely
worse-than the proposition to recognize the
republic OF Cuba. which would have sub
JtcLtd To order to leave Cuba any
day.
A Dispute as to Facts.
Later Mr.. Hoar inquired if the inhabl-
tsnts of the Philippines were not a people
where there were millions of men, acting
together, who raised army, selected a
general. turned Spain out of all territory
except only the city of Manila and who had
agreed upon a constitution republican in
form.
Spooner. If that were true"
1t is true said Mr.. Hoar.
Il deny it,, insisted Mr.. Spooner II DENY
that there is any more than superficial
truth in il"
A Spirited Controversy
There was a very spirited controversy
later. In replying to Senator Hoar Senator
SpOpner read statute of the colony of
Massachusetts of 1722. which offered a re-
ward of 100 for scalps of male Indians
above the age of twelve years
Mr.. Hoar said the people of Massachu-
sets had bought the lands from the In
dams lie said it was a cruel and barbar-
Gus law, and asked If Mr.. Spooner just flied
II In view of the fact that he did not justify
the order 10 Kill males ten years OF
age in the Philippines.
Mr.. SpoOner said he was not defending
the order. II IL was necessary for the Pu-
rltans 10 defend their homes. their wives
and their children from the Indians he
would approve 1t.
MI Hoar said the man who bore his name
In Massachusetts at that time did not ap-
. prove OF that law, and denounced it as he
iHoarb denounced the order In the Philip
pines now.
Mr. Spooner said that he did not know
what the position of the men were at that