The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-03

Washington, May 29.-Interest in the
Philippine debate is increasing as the
discussion draws to a close. Today the
senate galleries were thronged with au-
ditors, and the attendance on the floor
was larger than it has been for some
time, including many members of the
house. Soon after the senate conven-
ed. at IL o'clock. Senator Lodge, of Mas
~sachusetts. in charge of the bill, offer
ed on behalf Of the committee several
amendments to the measure. the most
important of which was one extending
TO the Philippines the provisions of the
constitution Of the United States. ex-
cepting only the right to bear arms and
the right to a trial by jury. All of the
amendments were agreed to.
Senator Morgan. of Alabama, deliv-
supported. in the main, the bill as pre-
scented by the committee. He said it
looked toward a and toward a just
and peaceful government in the islands.
Some changes were necessary, in his
opinion, but these, he thought, would
be made
There never had been, said Senator
Aongan. a p%retense of organized gov
eminent in the Philippine islands. 1t
was unjust to criticise Dewey for refus-
ing TO recognize Aguinaldo as president
OF the Philippine government. Had
ne done So" said he The would have
given aid and comfort to the declared
enemies OF the United States" This
was the legal attitude of Aguinaldo and
every other Filipino because Dewey had
no power TO change a declaration of war
by the congress. Dewey, he said, be-
Aeved AguinaldO was devoted to the
success of American arms and had no
reason TO feel that he "a q self seek
ing adventurer. The l~auGationS of
AguinaldO's alleged patriotism and 10
roiSm," said Senator Morgan, that
have been poured out in his honor her
and elsewhere in the United States were
as much out OF place as if they had been
uttered in honor OF the fox in the ia
bleS." Aguinaldo, he said, was only a
convenient instrument in the hands of
conspirators. Had he died. anOth
Aguinaldo would nave been found; for
the Hong Kong junta had not comw
ted their fortunes perpetually to him.
The Filipinos are not fighting for liber-
ty," senator Morgan continued. but
simply as the savage tools of the juntl
at Hong Kong"
He spoke of the religious freedom Civ
en- To the Filipinos by h United States
and said that il was for this he plead
ed his excuses to his democratic breth-
rem for insisting that this cardinal pr1n-
eiple must be permanent in the Philip
pines 1t was our arms that divorced
church and state in the Philippi es
which result Aguinaldo could not have
accomplished had he yer attempted II
I'VE have dedicated those islands" he
said, Ito the freedom of religion. We
have unshackled them from the domir
ion OF an established church. and no
power will ever exist that can undo our
work through military, civil or an,
other agency.
Referring to the statement Of cruel
pinos Senator Morgan said that investi-
CATION by proper authority is dema~6
by the entire army as a duty to it. and
the men OF the army resent the discus
sion of their acts in connection with Il
bill which does not call for such discus
sion. Their mouths are closed" said
he. land they are not permitted to ap-
pear at the bar of the senate to answer
these charges"
Referring TO the question of citizen
ship he declared that If the Filipinos
are not hit to be citizens of the United
States they are not fit to govern them
selves.
Senator Clay, of Georgia, opposed the
pending measure in a carefully pr pare1
speech. He thought that when the
treaty Of Paris was made the United