Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-12
Ne GALS H DESTINY
Senator Plat of Connecticut Made
Notable Speech on Philip
pine Question.
Believes United States Is Provi.
Dental Agent In Cause Of
Free Government.
World Fast becoming Converted
to Popular Rule..Senator
Hoar Scared.

bate on the general Philippines Ques-
yesterday the principal participants
being Mr.. Plat. of Connecticut, and
Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts,. Mr. Tel
Ter, of Colorado. had concluded for the
day his argument against the enact
ment of the pending Philippine tariff
bill. In response directed the senate's
attention to the situation in the islands
as he viewed it, maintaining that great
progress was being made by the gov
eminent in subduing the instruction.
He referred to the elections for munich
pal offices in various cities of the
islands and to establishment of schools
for the education of Filipino children.
Mr.. Hoar ridiculed the statements of
Mr.. Plat, and in a facetious vein adj
verted to the efforts of the American
government to control the Filipino peo-
pie.
The remarks of the Massachusetts
senator aroused Mr.. Plat who deliv-
cred a notable speech, in the course of
which he referred to Mr.. Hoar In pretty
sharp terms. His speech was listened to
by senators on both sides of the cham
Der with profound attention. In con-
clusion he paid an eloquent tribute to
the efforts of the United States to carry
the principles of free government to
cry territory where 1t had control.
In his reply Mr.. Hoar delivered an
incisive criticism of the action of the
Philippine commission, declaring that
he had been fought to judge men rath-
er by their actions than by their words,
and by this standard he could not Judge
the Philippine commissioners with any
degree of favor.
Early in the day the senate passed a
Joint amendment changing the time of
the presidential inaugurations and the
termination and commencement of
congresses from the 18th of March to the
last Thursday of April.
In the twenty-five years of his SER
vice In the senate, Mr. Teller said he
had seen many strange things. but
never anything like the reading of the
so-called enactments of the Philippine
commission, which he said was COM
pendulum of tyranny and infamy. Mr..
Teller expressed the opinion that the
F'iiipinos never would consent to our
control of the islands. They might re-
ceive our commissions with music and
banners, but would shoot them If OPP
portunity offered.
Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut, replying to
some statements made by Mr.. Teller,
pointed out that the American army In
the Philippines had been reduced from
10000 to less than 10000. He thought
1t very strange that the American
force could be reduced thus if all the
Fflipinos were struggling against
American control. I'VE ought to con-
slider facts" he urged. I'VE ought to
take things as they are and not things
as they may be conjured up. We are
getting along reasonably well in those
islands. Peace will come to them and a
government will be established there In
which the Filipinos themselves will
have a large part, and which will prove
to be blessing to them" He pointed
out that elections We're being held in
the islands to choose municipal officers.
and in these elections all the people had
part. After he had read consider
able number of declarations from ma
tive Filipinos. indicating growing APP
probation of American control and
government. Mr. Platt declared that
nothing the minority could say would
convince him that the United States
government was not making rapid pro-
gress in the Philippines toward peace
and contentment.
Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts, in reply
to Mr.. Plat, referred to the declara-
lions of Filipinos which the latter had
Il
conquered people by a great army.
Mr.. Hoar ridiculed the elections to
which Mr.. Plat had referred, declaring
that under the sedition laws enacted
by the Philippine commission 1t was
penitentiary offense for anybody in the
islands to advocate political policy.
He referred to facetious vein in the
schools established in the islands by
the American authorities, asserting
that In not one of them could the dec
laration of independence be read and
no patriotic speech delivered In safety.
Mr. Hoar's remarks called forth
vigorous utterance from Mr.. Plat, who
said that his respect for the long and
distinguished career of the senator
from Massachusetts would prevent him
from replying as he would reply to
some others. He believed, he said, that
the American people would regret to
note the ..sneers" of the senator from
Massachusetts at the efforts of the gov
eminent to educate the children of the
Philippine islands. Mr.. Platt paid
high tribute to Governor Taft and his
associates on the Philippines commits
sion. That commission had presented,
he said, remarkable evidence of the
progress which was being made in the
archipelago toward peace and toward
happy solution of the situation there.
Mr.. PIatt read the treason law to show
that 1t was directed against the forma-
ton of secret societies, the purpose of
which, in whole or In part, was the pro-
motion of sedition, rebellion and trea-
son. 1T seems strange" said he, that
human observation can be so warped as
to draw such conclusions from the en-
actment of this law as have been drawn
by the senator from Massachusetts" 1t
was statute, he said. aimed at secret
Ilotting, such, plotting as at one time
Learly resulted in inducing, In the city
of Manila, a massacre of our troops and
friends 1t did not prevent, he de-
clared, the reading Of the declaration
OF independence In the schools of the
islands or in the utterance of patriotic
addresses 1t prevented simply plotting
IN the dark eff we are a government