Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-29
57th CONGRESS-.
CONTINUED from page ~

A joint resolution authorizing the Sc
lection of a site in Washington and the
erection of a pedestal for the bronze
statue in honor of the late Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow was passed.
Srooner then resumed his remarks on
the Philippine tariff bill. He said that
the pending bill was simply measure
to provide revenues temporarily for the
Philippine islands. Mr.. Spooner then
referred to the report of the minority,
declaring that even that did not pro-
pose immediate withdrawal by this
government from the Philippines be-
cause as it held that we should remain
in the islands until the establishment
IF stable government, able to dis
charge it's international obligations and
protect life and property.
After Il rather breezy cOlloQuy be-
tween Spooner and Tillman. the latter
asked Spooner to say explicitly wheth-
er the Philippine islands were n part of
the United States.
Il recommend, replied Spooner, that
| the senator read the decisions of The
supreme court
81 have read some of these decisions, -
Tillnan said, but with four judges on
one side and four on the other and the
fifth wabbling 1 could not make out
| much of them"
SpOoner-'The supreme court settled
one thing and that is that there is a
| distinction between the United States
| and territory belonging to the United
States"
While Spoonnr was proceeding with his
speech, he was interrupted by Tillman
and in an instant a senatorial collopuy
was in progress.
| "Tillman inquired: Twill the senator
allow me to ask him if the Platt amend
ment had been deferred by debate until
the end of the session would that side
have had courage to have gone forward
Ia its philanthropy. humanity. Christian
lty and liberty and all that kind of thing
and to have called an extra session."
SpOoner-"We have courage enough on
this side to do anything on earth.
Tillman-"Except to defend the ne
gro
Spocner-"We have not courage enough
to iyrch colored men or deprive them of
their rights"
Tilman-"Docs the senator desire to
discuss the race question here? He seems
TO have left the proposition which he
started on to throw personal fling at
ne. | am ready 10 meet him anywhere
Spooner-"WhSreVer the senator is
willing to meet me on that question or
any other he viii find me there. so far as
that is concerned. The senator addressed
TO me an observation rather offensive in
is character
I TiHman-"I certainly had no alusion
to lynching."
| SpOOEer-'NO.
Tillman-"And the senator understands
very well that | come from a section of
country where lynchings for given
crime and for a good many other crimes
ator wish to leave the Philippine propo-
sition in which lie is dealing with a col
Ored people in n most infamous and
damnable and hypocritical way and go
South and hold them up as examples that
we are dealing with in 4 similar way?
mean the colored people here at home.
Are we to have two rules of conduct in
regard to the colored people. one in the
Philippines by which we butcher them
and shoot Christianity into them, and in
the South where we are not allowed to
lErotect our wives and children?
Spooner-"If we had the same rule for
the coored people in the Philippines as
the senator refers to in the South. God
help the colored man in the Philippines.
Tillman-"God help him. In the Phil
lirpines now, you have already butchered
in three years tl."ee times many as the
Spaniards did in three centuries"
Spooner-"It is one thing to kill men
with arms in their hands against a gov
crnment and against the flag. 1t is an
| other thing to burn them"
Tillman-"You burned them in Kansas
! sir"
Spooner-"Wher it is done it is an
! outrageous crime.
Tillman-"Oh. it is n very easy thing
for man who has not come in contact
r with them in close quarters to theorize