The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-03-20
HYPOCRISY AND BLAspHEMY.

Ihe republican press OF the state is
publishing the speech delivered by SEN
ator Dolliyer in the debate, under the
fifteen minute rule, Immediately preced-
ing the vote upon the Philippine tariff
bill. In the course of his speech, which
was based on the assumption that the
senate minority was opposing the bill
merely for political effect, the senator
lapsed into camp meeting oratory. He
said:
"This democratic platform has this
morning been paraded to confute those
who still cherish the faith of our fathers
in the Providential government Of this
world. haye inherited an old fashion,
ed belief that nations are subject to
guidance by powers somewhat higher
than our poor human wisdom.
'1f l did not believe, l will say to the
senator from Washington, that there is
less falllble direction in our affairs;
that there is wisdom in the concerns of.
men somewhat more perfect than is
found in the streets of Washington or
Paris or London or Berlin, l would des-
pair both of civil government and of
human society itself; and I do not re-
gard it, as the senator from Washington.
seems to regard it, as AN evidence of
weakness in the character of the fallen
president Of the United States that in
the midst of the darkness which has
surrounded the American people as
they have tried to deal with these diff.
ficult and complex questions, he more
than once publicly avowed his depend
ence on the arm which is almighty and
recognized with reverence our devine
commission to stand in the arena of the
worlds great affairs as the obedient
servants of mankind. I am not asham-
ed of that philosophy"
While the republican press is proudly
parading this as gem of e'oquence and
proof of the junior senator's profound
piety, it forgets to reproduce Senator
Vests terse and mordant reply. 1t is
a pleasure to this journal to supply the
omission. The venerable Missouri
statesman, who after long, useful and
rarely brilliant career is soon to volun-
tarily retire to private life to end his
few remaining days in peace, remarked:
'Sir, shall not indulge in any theo-
logical discussion such as we have just
heard from the eloquent senator from
Iowa, nor will l apply Extensively what
was said once in the British parliament
that the last refuge of hypocrite is
religion. Whenever our mistakes and
crimes and follies are placed at the door
of Providence, We may be certain that
we can give no adequate and sufficient
reason for conduct which all the world
sees to be wrong and the effects of which
we seek to evade by placing the re.
sponsibility upon higher power"
In his final paragraph of his speech
Senator Dolliyer declared that he had
very little patience with man "who
thinks that the cause OF civil liberty
will stand better chance under the
proclama,ions Of military chieftains Of
the Malay tribes in the islands of the
Pacific than it does under the flag of the
American republic" Senator Vest
might have answered that Senator Dol.
liver takes the very same position thai
was assumed by George Ill, and have
added, while disclaiming intention to be
personally offensive, that as religion is
the last refuge of the hypocrite, SO pat
riotism, as Dr.. Johnson put it, is the
last refuge of the scoundrel. The rep
resentation that we are shooting, i'm
prisoning and depressing the Filipinos
for their good and that We are doing
this in compliance with mysterious
decree Of Providence is colossal false
pretense and a cyclopean blasphemy.-
Dubuque Telegraph.