The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23
SENATOR SPOONER'S SPEECH.
nrrrycr OF THE GOVERNMENTS
PHILIPPINE POLICY.
us Charges With Inconsistency Ihos
senators VINO Voted TO increase the
Army Knowing That the Troops were
a re sent 10 the Philippine ISLANDS.

Army knowing That the Troops were
IN lie Sent TO the philippine isisnos.
w.amSoroN, Feb. Ex-senator Spooners
sneech yesterday In explanation and de-
fence OF the Governments poIcy In uo
phlippine Islands was one OF the most
sloo,ent and In every way praiseworthy
~orations delivered in the Senate In recent
v.ara The Senator spoke extemporane-
ously and was on his feet for a little more
Than four hours and a half continuously.
HIs argument showed that he had made
an exhaustive study Of the question. and
the manner In which he bowled over the
Democratic advocates Of the policy OF
~srlttling in the Islands, brought out his mar
yellous powers as a ready debater. MIR.
spooner had a great audience to hear him.
Notwithstanding the storm that ragged
outside OF the Capitol to such an extent
that the rain and hail broke through
tho roof In several places. and his colleagues
on both sides of the m were his
most attentive listeners.
At the close OF the Senator's speech a
characteristic Senatorial wrangle took place
over the question Of precedence in the order
of speaking during the next few days.
Although the debate has languisbed al
times, IL Is coming TO a close with q great
hurrah. Yesterday IL was found that almost
every Senator on both sides OF the chamber
IL anxious to get in a speech before the vote
Is taken, which will be at 4 o'clock on Mon
day. The last days speeches viii be re-
stricted 70 fifteen minutes each Amend
ments TO the bill will be offerei. including
that OF Senator Foraker TO lower the tarin
rate on importations into the United States
from the Philippines to rs per cent oil the
DinRley law rates, instead Of to rs per cent.
rs provided In the bill upon which the
Senate will vote.
When tho Senate was In the midst OF
the row over the order OF precedence OF
speechmaking for the next two days, Sena-
tor Joe Blackburn OF Kentucky. who has
been surprisingly silent during his present
term in the Senate. suddenly shied his
castor into the ring. Rising with his most
debonair manner and his stately Ken
lucky bow, he said in that deep lunged
musical voice that has made him famous;
sMr. President: II the Senator from
South Carolina will allow me, l ask per-
mission at this inopportune time to intro
duce a BILL
He sent II to the clerks desk and the
title was read. "A bill for the relief OF
Bartholomew Diokens.' Then the Senate
TetOfncl W liz hhpSA NHN
fore IL.
MIR. Patterson Dem, COLI obtained
the consent Of Mr.. Spooner to read some
extracts from a speech OF tho latter on
the question Of the peace treaty.
THE Senator from Colorado Mr..
Spooner commented, has not been long
here: but he has been here long enough
10 acquire the very worst habit we have
meaning OF i~nterruptlon.1 / have never
changed my attitude on that subject. l
stated In that speech that l was reluctant
20 vote for the ratification Of the treaty;
and that, II the ratification treaty involved
permanent dominion over the Philippine
Islands, by the United States l should
vote against It. But at the same tme'
undertook to shoT, Send a., am S tns
Alternatives which presented themselves
to the President-that in honor and hu-
manity there was none other than 70 taks
possession Of the Philippine archipeiago;-
Mr.. Spooner went on TO charge with
Inconsistency those Senators who voted
for the increase Of the army and who nov
objected to the use OF the army.
Every SENATOR he said. who voted
were to be sent to the Philippines to hght
and that they were employed for that
purpose. Can any Senator who voted
To give the President troops TO be used
in the PHILIPPINES o1mR.adtn 81 has sn = ham Iss To 10
inpeach the Republican party or to launch
Trades against the President for using
troops In the Philippines and carrying
on the war there TO the bitter enoInot 70
subiugate an Independent people, but 70
enforce the sovereignty and authority OF
the United States In territory acquired py
the United States
Mr.. Teller admitted that ne had voted
for an increase in the army ana "ouo
do 90 aUain ~ necessary,
sThen." Mr. Spooner again declared
vigorously, mo Senator who voted TO send
troops there can, with any consistency
denounce the Government for using them
Mr.. Hoar Rep., Mass) interpolated
some remarks about the use Of the army
In connection with the elections in the
Southern States in 1865;
Mr.. Spooner, resuming the floor, said
that he had been diverted from his line Of
argument, and that now he was anxious
20 proceed with his speech. Ono thing
was certain, he said, and that was that
the United States had a perfect right 10
The Philippine archipelago. Spain coded
IL, and, rightly or wrongly, the United
States had taken possession of IL. There
was no doubt that the United States had
the sovereignty and the title; There was
Mr.. Spooner went on TO discuss the his
tory Of affairs in the Philippines imme-
diately preceding the outbreak OF hostil-
tiles, charging A~guinaldo with deception
HUI Iau lulNAs anu - NAAt -
letters and documents, that hoetilities
were not brought by the American troops
but were predetermined by Agninaldo.
Amongthe captured documents MIR Spooner
quoted "A letter from Aguinaldo to one Of
his officers, saying that five certain towns
had 10 be r~econquered, and that to recon-
quer them five lives had TO be taken In each
town, which meant, said Mr.. Spooner,
the ASSASSINATION Of FIVE prominent men
In each town. He asserted that Aguinaldo
did not at any time have a government
that could preserve law and order, or ever
I'D. HE government, during the few
months intervening between the capture
of Manila and the ratification OF the treaty,
was an oligarchy and a brutal despotism.
He denied that the government In taking
possession OF the Philippine Islands had
violated the Declaration OF Independence.
"To say he continued, that we could
not take as indemnity at the end Of the
war inhabited territory, N TO impeach
the action Of his Government hitherto,
when the Democratic party had control Of
Il. We took California. We did not con-
suit the inhabitants, We took Hawaii and
we took Porto Rico and we did not consult
the inhabifauta py purchase we took