Evening star., 1902-01-21
WIDE RANGE TO THE EDEBATE
DISCUSSING URGENT DEFICIENCY
BILL IN THE HOUSE.
Policy Regarding the Philippine es
Critfcized-Mr. Bryan and the
Treaty of Paris.

During the discussion of the urgent de-
ficiency bill in the House of Representa-
tives yesterday afternoon Mr.. Clark Of
Missouri indulged in some general COM
ments on the vast increase in govern
mental expenditure, which had grown, he
said. from s152 per capita in 1860 to $12
per capita last year. He insisted that If
these ''riotous government expenditures"
went on the republic would topple over Of
its own weight. He characterized Mr.
Cannon's statement that we would hold on
to the Philippines for forever and a day"
as most idiotic and melancholy decla-
ration" Holding on to the Philippines,
he said had already cost the United States
$500, 100000 and was now costing 1T the
rate of 100000 a month.
Mr.. Cannon twitted Mr.. Clark with hav-
ing voted for the S5,0OO,0O0 appropriation
for the st. Louis exposition. Taking up
Mr.. ClarkS statement that the per capita
cost of the government had Increased from
$1.JO in 1860 to S12 in 1900, Mr.. Cannon
said it was absurd to compare the situa-
ton then and now. AS an evidence of the
changed conditions he pointed out that
pensions and other things growing out of
the civil war had cost nine thousand mil
lions.
The COuntry's Glory.
Proceeding, Mr.. Cannon declared himself
the friend of the Constitution, which, he
said followed the nag everywhere. Then
with eloquent words he described the glory
that had come to the country, concluding
as follows:
II glory in speaking the English Ian
guage. I glory in the Anglo-SaXon. the
English, the American literature l glory
in our foreign trade. But / cannot forget
that one-half Of our great foreign trade is
done with our brethren under the Tag of
Great Britain who speak the same lam
guage that we do.
Il am for German policy: I am for
French policy; 1 am for correct policy, and
l am for Great Britains policy as long as
1t is correct. When she is right; when she
is our best customer, l am for treating her
as such-for meeting her half way, and
standing with her as we stand with other
nations and with other civilizations. And,
thank God. when she is wrong, we are
strong enough and great enough to say,
Thus far and no farther shalt thou cGme.'
loud applause.)
Mr.. DeArmond (Mo.) secured the floor
when Mr.. Cannon concluded and sarcas-
tically ridicuied the remarkable appear
ance of the gentleman from Illinois in the
garb and guise of friend Of the Consti-
tuition"
The Philippine War.
Mr.. DeArmond defended the war for the
liberation of Cuba. 1t was not designed as
a war Of spoliation. Its objects and fruits
were not turned into criminal aggression
DS the uemOCrdlS. lHdI Sult belonged 10
the republicans. There was nothing logi-
cal in connecting the war for the relief Of
Cuba and the perpetual occupation of the
Philippines by force of arms. Continuing,
he said: 1--WE would have scorned the
suggestion that starting in as deliverers,
starting in as the champions of freedom,
the rescuers of the oppressed, we our
selves in turn should become the spoils-
men and the oppressors and the tyran-s.
Do we lack then the power and the right
to give freedom to ten millions of people
who are struggling and dying for freedom?
There is no difficulty in the way, except
our own perverstY, no difficulty in the way
except the juggling with the Constitution,
which some of the gentleman'S friends are
doing. There is no trouble to do right"
The English civilization which Mr.. Can
non gloried in, continued Mr.. DeArmOnd,
was the vaunted civilization against which
men, women and children were struggling
and dying in South Africa In defense of
liberty. The attitude of the mighty Eng
iish nation in South Africa, he said, was
somewhat similar to ours in the Philip
pines but he believed that eventually the
American people would be aroused to the
enormty of their attitude and IL their
sober second thought would refuse to al
low themselves to be made the duDes Of
those who would make us examples of the
same civilization which was slaughtering
liberty in South Africa.
Mr.. Bryan's Course.
When he expressed doubt as to whether
the treaty with Spain should ever have
been ratified Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio} asked
why William ]. Bryan, by means of his
personal exertions, helped to secure its
ratification.
This question led to a sharp exchange
between Mr.. DeArmond and Mr. Grosvenor,
after which Mr.. DeArmond explained that
he did not pretend to speak for Mr. Bryan,
who spoke for himself and spoke exceed
ingly well democratic applause). But he
admitted that Mr.. Bryan had counseled
the ratification of the treaty. He believed
then and he believed still that Mr.. Bryan
had been wiser had he said nothing on the
subject. Mr.. Bryan's position, he said, was
due to overconfidence in the American peo-
pie. The war was over and he believed
the people should be relieved Of the ex-
pense Of the army. If Mr.. Bryan had sup
posed that it was the intention of those
in power to hold the Philippines at the
point of the bayonet and inaugurate a
colonial policy, the treaty never would
have been ratified.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio) followed with some
extended remarks upon the ship subsidy
bill. After further remarks by Mr.. Grow
Pa.), Mr. Williams Qlls.). Mr.. Alexander
IN. " and Mr.. Underwood [Ala), with
out closing the general debate the commit
tee rose, and, at 4:55, the House Adjourned.