Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-10-02
NUMBER 9

roast them ana pour aqua fortis upon
their quivering ieshl Verify, verify,
verify times change and men change
with them. The whirligig of time
brings its own revenges, and no mis-
take. The future historian will won
der at the Republican change of base.
He will find Patterson's antislavery
amendment on page 1871 Congression-
al Record for Thursday, June 26, and
on page 1912 he will find Patterson's
speech In support of it. It is short and
will well repay reading. Here it is:
Mr.. Chairman, I will not occupy the
time of the committee more than mo-
ment.
The United States of America is the
only civilized power today that is pro-
tecting the institution of human slavery.
The contract, agreement or treaty, what
ever 1t may be called, that was entered
into between Brigadier General John C.
Bates and the sultan of Jolo and the
datos, by which they were paid $4,000 In
Mexican money and under the terms OF
which our government agreed to protect
them In their religious customs and man
ners, including the institutions of human
slavery and polygamy, Is still In force.
According to the testimony before the
insular affairs committee of the house by
Governor Taft, these sums OF money
have been paid to the sultan and the
datos from the time this agreement was
made up to the present time.
Now, I am aware of the fact that the
thirteenth amendment to the constitution
of the United States provides that slavery
shall not exist anywhere in any territory
subject to the jurisdiction Of the United
States, and am aware of the provision
.1aI, hoe hnav ir1an tod
prohibit slavery there, but the prohibition
of slavery is one thing, the existence OF
slavery under the protection of the United
States government is quite a different
thing So that under this new section
which 1 have offered I want to give the
Republican party one opportunity to de-
clare its adherence OF slavery In the
Philippine Islands and to say that 1t shall
not exist there under the protection Of
the American flag. under this treaty or
agreement.
So far as we upon this side of the
chamber are concerned, if we are perma-
nently to retain the possession OF the
Philippine Islands we are opposed to the
institution of human slavery.
L am aware that when President Nc
Kinley forwarded this treaty, negotiated
| by General Bates with the sultan OF Jolo,
| to the senate of the United States he
| left the whole matter to congress. IL
Il mas DS6n lekL al tlldh DllAdhAOAA CNCA SAAASSs
| the congress of the United States having
neither affirmed nor disaffirmed this
| treaty, 80 that so far as know this Is
the first time the question has ever been
presented to congress for the affirmation
| or discrimination of this treaty.
Now, as I have said, do not care to
| take up the time of the committee In any
general discussion of this subject. The
| facts are that there are 100000 or more
| human slaves in the Philippine Islands
held by these Mohammedan Moros. and
| the condition of their seryitude is con-
dition Of infinite horror. Young children
are sold from their mothers, families are
separated, and the female slaves are sub
| ject always to the desires Of their mas
| ters. Any one who has studied this ques-
/ ton will understand that this govern
ment is today protecting this institution
of human slavery in the Philippine Is
lands.
Now, I want to say that England In
1884 set free every slave within the Brit
| ish empire, and the United States gov
ernment is today the only first class CIV
| ilized power on earth within whose terri
| tory slavery exists.
| I simply want to say that the Repuo-
Iicans have an opportunity, which l pre-
sent to them. to say or not to say wheth-
| er slavery shall longer exist in those IL
lands.