The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-03-06

thence there was because the president
did not sooner send to the congress
his war message of April IL, 1898
There were deep mutteriags; and the
prediction was frequently heard that
If there was a days further delay there
would be a declaration of war without
the message. Who is there here who
does not remember the i. ,ensity of
the strain which all experienced, night
and day? Who does not recall the
sharp and Incorporate criticism of the
president because of his stand against
war? The diplomatic correspondence
shows how earnestly he sought to pre-
serve peace. After all efforts seemed
unavailing he submitted to the con-
gress his message, setting forth the
conditions in Cuba and the efforts of
the administration to ameliorate them
and concluded with these impressive
words THE issue is now with the
congress. | have exhausted every ef-
fort to relieve the intolerable condi-
tion of affairs which is at our doors.
Prepared to execute every obligation
imposed upon me by the constitution
and the law, l await your action No
one who shall read the history of our
country during the great crisis
through which we have passed can
fail to give President Mckinley all
honor for the honest and patriotic sell
vice he rendered in his effort to ac-
complish an honorable and enduring
peace in the EloOd-stained islan3 of
Cuba without an appeal to the sword.
Sir, the patience. the moderation and
the self-restraint of the president in
the gravest emergency which could
face an executive challenged the ad-
miration Of the world, and it will have
the approving judgment of history.
He yielded. but it was to the inexora-
bic logic of events. Sir, it will be in
deed a sad hour for the republic when
the presidents shall love peace less
than var.
The Tariff.
1--WE are charged with the duty of
promoting the commercial welfare and
the prosperity of the people of the
Philippine Islands so far as it can be
done by the enactment of laws. We
must have care that our laws are
not unduly restrictive and that they
do not unnecessarily burden the CON-
merce of the islands. Prosperity in
| the islands will accomplish much to-
ward the promotion of peace and con-
! tentment among the inhabitants. Rev
enue must be provided for the support
of the insular and municipal govern
ments, for the support of public
schools, the Improvement of harbors,
the construction of much needed high
ways and for other needful and useful
governmental purposes. etc. 1t has
been asserted upon this floor and re-
iterated frequently. that we have been
engaged in the Unbosy task of over
throwing a republic in the Philip
pines; that a republic had been estab-
lished there, endowed fully with the
functions of government; that it was
exercising complete sovereignty,
which We, disregarding the rights Of
a weaker people, overthrow. We have
| "
ident of the first Philippine commits
sion, for the statement that the Tag.
alog insurgents and the Philippine re-
public did not represent the inhabi-
tants of the Philippine Islands, but
only minority of them The Fill
pino republic was nothing more or less
in fact that an Aguinaldian dictator
ship. Is this the republic which the
United States has overthrown? 1 am
not unaware of the fulsome tributes
which have flown from the lips of
gifted senators in this chamber upon
aldo.
AguinaIdo's Purpose.
"In message dated June %, 1898,
Aguinaldo declared the purpose of his
revolution. And now they 1.-THE Fill
| pinos] no longer limit their claims to
the assimilation with the political con-
stitution of Spain, but ask for definite
separation from her; they are fight
ing for their independence, firmly con-
vinced that the time has come when
they can and must govern them
selves This is a distinct recognition
that prior thereto the Filipinos did
not entertain the thought of independ-
ence and that the effort for independ-
ence was not attempted until after our
victory in Manila. The thought of in
dependence undoubtedly took its root
in the vanity and ambition of Aguin-
aldo.
In his declaration of July Is Aguin-
aldo, addressing the admiral of the
squadron of the United States in the
islands, said: The revolution having
taken possession of the various prov
inces of the archipelago, this govern
ment has found it necessary to adopt
the form and organization best suited
to the popular will. l have therefore
the pleasure and honor of placing in
your hands the inclosed decrees.'
"These proclamations are sufficient
to indicate the general character of
the government which it is alleged,
was exercising sovereignty in the
Philippines at the date of the treaty
of Paris; this indicates the character
of the republic which challenged the
sovereignty of the United States, and
which we overthrew. Craftsmanship
appeals to the sound judgment of men,
and it's conclusions are predicated up
on fairly chosen premises. Whoever
says that the course of the majority
Is inspired by sordid and ungenerous
v,,ok{voe, <x~~ccix- x,,;ciud exoc ~.o,