The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-17

first time this session the Philippine
question appeared in the senate and the
interest which was taken indicates that
IL will occupy the attention of the up
per branch of congress for some time
when the tariff bill IS reDoTted. The
Philippines were the subject of an ad-
dress by Senator Holr. of Massachu-
setts, who spoke on his resolution in
troduced yesterday. providing for the
appointment of a senate committee to
investigate the administration of those
islands
Senator Lodge. Senator Hoar's COL
league, said he regarded the resolution
&c reflection on the Philippine COM
mittee of which he was chairman, and
said his committee was perfectly able
10 handle any investigation which
might be conducted.
Senator Carmack, democrat, agreed
with him.
The discussion was leading rapidly tC
an opening of the whole Philippine
question when II was agreed that the
resolution should go over until tomor-
low.
Senator Mason, of Illinois. made a
Speech in favor of reciprocity with Cuba
and discussed the protective policy gen.
orally.
Senator Hoar claimed that we ough;
to have some reliable information re-
gGrding the war in the Philippines
which he chara cte.iZeu as a painful
controversy" During the civil war, he
said. there was a committee which re-
ported upon their responsible the
facts which were needed for the senate
md
things about which the public has been
IN doubt, as for instance. the state
ment appearing in the public press and
twice made in the senate that Agui-
naldo had sold out his countrymen." "
I'VE want to know who promised the
Filipinos independence" he insisted
"Some charge that Dewey did, and
Dewey says they lie and the matter was
allowed to stop there"
Was it worth while for u.s." Senate,
Hoar continued, ito be considering
these great questions which involve
the prOpriety and good faith and integ-
rity OF our dealings with these unfor-
tunate people in the matter of their
liberty when we are in the dark?" He
said he wanted to know something
about the character of the Filipinos; he
wanted Governor Taft to come before a
senate committee wneTe he could be
asked questions. who began the war
There are those who will tell you
about what happened on n certain
rIght when there was an n tempt to
pass our pickets by some Filini7os and
a scuffle. and an outb.C Cak. and an ap-
peal to us by AguinaiGo TO ueS.SI nom
hostilities; that they cid not want wal
and our answer was that The war was
going on and could not now be stopped.
The senator from Wisconsin (Mr.
Spooner) had stated in the senate as his
ieason for not adopting some things
that were proposed that we would be
making assurances OF pacific in iention
to men with arms in their hands, fight
iis against the American flag. but the
president had given to a military COM
mander long before an order to pro-
ceed to reduce the people OF the Phil
ippines by military force - submis-
Sion General Otis caid tl.It would
bring on war and tJck the liberty of
suppressing ii and instead told the peo-
pie they should have I'll the rights OF
liberty that belonged to the most IA
yored people on earth. The original
proclamation had beeh sent by the pres
ident. but IL is not an act of war to
order a military officer to us, military
force to subject people. 1 do not
know or any one able to give state
ment of the truth as to the differences
between Governor Taft and General
Chaffee. / get some dreadful stores
from brace soldiers ard officers of high
iank about the manner in which the
war Is conducted. I have heard Of an
i1vestiga ton now going on IN regard to
ered with foul blot the flag which
we all love and honor. / think there
should be a place where any senator
who makes such a suggestion in his
official responsibility can go and say ]
want two witnesses on that subject
Ia ~t& kI,0,. -t&o
General Otis had shocked the coun-
try by saying that we should keep 10000
troops in the Philippines for a consid-
cradle time. but. instead of that num-
Der. we have 10000 and Senator Hoar
asked how long were we geing to keep
them there. IF General Cnaffee is
right" he said. there is not a man in
those islands who is not conspiring
against the government and eager for
lis liberty. Now give us a Ii tie light.
Take the most jealous men in this body
and give us a committee that will hee 7
the evidence. put questions. hear both
sides and let us know what Is the tru h.
we are engaged in the unholy office OF
crushing out republic, the first great
republic ever tablisned in the eastern
hemisphere. II we lad deaiC with this
people as we dealt with Cuba. we should
have had todav a civilized. happy.
peaceful republic sending their youths
10 our SCHOOLS, SluuylhS ouf laws hiH'
tatlng our example. anima ted by love
and affection and a gratitude such as
no one people on earth ever yet felt
for another
One of the great events Of history.
he said. was the civilization of Japan
Another was the adoption Of the Dec'ar-
alton Of Independence. Japan has just
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary OF
taking her place among free nations at
which the declaration had been made
tnat everything that Japan was. she
owed to the United States and yet in
half a century she had encountered
China as a superior and Russia as an
equal.