The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-19
The PHILIPPINE BILL
REPUBLICANS TO PASS 1T NEXT
MONDAY.
Mr.. WELLINGTON EXPLAINS.
DISCARDED MARYLANDER AT
TACkS ADMINISTRATION.

Split With His Party Begun With
the Spanish War-Then He Dis
agreed with Its ImperialiStic Ten
denctes-He Declares That SchIey
Was the Leader at Santiago and
Entitled to the Credit of the Vic
tOry-VictOries in Spanish War Re-
versed National Policy.
Washington, Feb. 1S.-It was agreed
by the Senate to-day that a final vote
upon the Philippine tariff bill and the
pending amendments should be taken
on next Monday afternoon at
O'Clock. The agreement was reached a
few minutes after the Senate convened
to-day. The only stipulation made by
the minority was that the last days
debate should be devoted to speeches
not exceeding fifteen minutes.
Two speeches were delivered to-day,
one by Senator Wellington of Mary
land, in opposition to the pending bill,
and the other by Senator Stewart of
Nevada, in support of the measure.
Mr.. Wellington's address covered the
Philippine question generally and he
set forth his well known views force
fully.
Mr.. Stewart spoke briefly, making a
legal and constitutional argument in
support of the authority of Congress to
hold the Philippines and to provide a
proper government for their inhabi-
tants.
Mr.. Wellington stated his points of
disagreement with the party with
which he had been identified through
out his life. He said he had been a
Republican, a protectionists and a be-
lever in a gold standard of currency.
However, the Spanish war brought the
parting of the ways. He was opposed
to that war and believed that Cuban
independence could have been brought
about by diplomatic negotiations.
Then came the imperiaistic tenden-
cies of the Republican party, and with
them he could not agree.
Without the Spanish war, he said,
Cuba might have been free, might have
enjoyed indeed a larger measure of
freedom and independence than she was
enjoying now and would enjoy in the
future. The only thing Cuba had been
taught was how postal official could
embezzle a million dollars.
Referring to the bill under discussion,
MIR. Wellington declared his opposition
to it on the broad ground of the mi
nority," that there was no right to en-
act such legislation
sclsIey at Santiago.
Mr.. Wellington referred to the bat
tie of Santiago, where the American
squadron was under the command of
Rear Admiral Sampson, but was led
by 1.-The Maryland hero, Admiral
Schley." applause in one of the gal
leries).
From that moment" he continued,
.'the end was won. Admiral Schley
commanded the vessels of the Amer
lean squadron in that engagement.
He stood in the midst of that battle
and won out as no battle ever was
won before But the administration
has been as unjust to him as it has
been to the Cubans and Filipinos. He
has not received that need of praise
and credit that belongs to him, but
an effort has been made to besmirch
him and to detract from his character
and from his truth and bravery"
Mr. Wellington referred incidentally
to his conferences with the late Pres
ident Mckinley concerning the ratifi-
cation of the treaty of Paris.
He went over the whole situation
with the President, he said, and made
it plain to him that he (Senator We'll
lington) never would consent to vote
for any proposition which contemplated
the permanent occupation of the Phil
ippine Islands by the United States.
He maintained that our victories in
the Spanish war had induced reversal
of the policy of more than one hundred
years. He accused the administration
of having no definite Philippine policy
and adverted briefly to the Boer cause,
to which he said he would have extend
ed our sympathy had our own skirts
been clear.
After passing a number of minor
bills the Senate adjourned.