New-York tribune., 1902-02-12
SENATE GIANTS IN BATTLE.
MR. PLATT OF CONNECTICUT. AND AR. HOAR THE CON-.
BATANTS IN A NOTABLE PHILIPPINE DEBATE
DETAILS OF THE DEBATE.
MR.. PLATT DEFENDS THE GOVERN
MENTs POLICY AGAINST MR.
HOAR'S CRITICISMS
By The Associated Press }

G7y The Associated PressD
Washington. Feb. 11.-In beginning his speech
Mr. Platt pointed out ttat the American army
In the Philippines had baan reduced from 7l Geo
to less than 10000 He thoIght il very strange
that the American force couli he reducei thus
if all the Filipinos were Struggling ag5:n5t
American control. We ought . consider
facts, he urged. We ought to rake Ui;res as
they are, and not things as they may re con-
jured up We are getting along reasonably well
in those islands Peace will come 10 them, ard
a government will be established .hc-e II which
the Filipinos themselves Will have a large part.
and which will prove to he a blessing 10 them
He pointed out that elections We're being held
in the islands TO choose municipal officers end
in these elections all the people had a part,
After he had read a considerable number of
declarations from native Fihpnos indicating a
growing appreciation 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 progress in the Philippines toward peace
and contentment.
Mr.. HOAR's SHAFTS OF SARCASM.
Mr.. Hoar. in reply to Mr.. Platt. referred to
the declarations of Filipinos which the latter
had read as "a sweet morsel' wrested from
conquered people by great army. He had no
knowledge OF the methods by which these dec
larations had been obtained, but discaimed any
reflection on the American authorities or the
American army, without investigation.
Mr.. Hoar ridiculed the elections to which Mr..
Platt had referred, declaring that under the
sedtion laws enacted by the Philippine Com
mission il a penitentiary offence for any
body in the islands to advocate political opin-
ion political policy. He referred in a facetious
vein TO the schools established in the islands by
ba+ in no.
one of them could the Declaration of Indepen-
dence be read, and no patriotic speech delivered
in safety. He hoped that the roseate views of
Mr.. Platt might obtain very soon in the Philip
pines. but of that he entertained great doubts.
MR. PLATT's SHARP REPLY.
Mr. Hoar's remarks called forth a vigorous
utterance from Mr. Platt who said that his
respect for the long and distinguished career Of
the Senator from Massachusetts, would prevent
him from replying 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 al the efforts Of the
government to educate 5he children of the Phil
ippine Islands
Speaking of the petitions for independence
presented to Congress a year ago, TO which Mr.,
Hoar had referred Mr.. Platt said they were
paraded here now as they had been at the time
of their presentation, positive proof that all
the Filipino people wanted independence and
freedom from American control. lie intimated
that they had been prepared by the Filipino
junta, either in Hong Kong or in Boston" and
asserted that they bore on their face evidence Of
being machine made"
Mr. Platt paid a high tribute 10 Governor
Taft and his associates on the Philippine Com
mission. and inquired: rs what these men say
about the Philippine Islands to be whsted down
the wind by our friends on the other side rein
forced by the Senator from Massachusetts? Per
sonalIy. I propose 10 trust the Philippine Com
mission
PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE.
That commission had presented, he said. re-
narkable evidence of the progress which
being made in the archipelago toward peace and
toward a happy solution Of the situation there
Civil government had been established in thirty
four provinces. and that government being
operated TO the entire satisfaction of the people
Mr.. Hoar interrupted to inquire if Mr.. Platt
thought the Filipinos would have adopted the
treason law enacted by the Philippine Com
mission had it been submitted to them
Mr.. Platt replied that he could not say but
Connecticut had law which the people of that
State had never found inconsistent with their
rights and liberties. He read the law, which
proved TO be not dissimilar to that which had
been enacted in the Philippines He pointed out
as one of the benefcent results Of American
cupation of the Philippines that schools had
been established In the islands, and that nearly
one thousand American teachers had gone to
the archipelago to educate the Filipino children
Before the arrival of these teachers in the ISL
ands he said private soldiers from the Aneri-
can army had been detailed as teachers in many
Of the schools. Against this effort Of the Arneri
can government to educate and elevate the
people of the Philippines the Senator from
Massachusetts, he said directing his
sneers and his denunciatons."
THE PHILIPPINE SEDTTION LAW.
Mr.. Platt then read the treason law referred
10 by Mr. Hoar to show that ii directed
against the formation of secret societies, the
purpose of which, in whole or In part, the
promotion of sedition. rebellion and treason.
TT seems strange said he, that human OBJ
servation can be so warped TO draw such
clusions from the enactment of this law as have
been drawn by the Senator from Massachu-
sets" 1t was q statute aimed at secret plotting
such plotting as at one time nearly resulted in
inducing in the city of Manila massacre Of our
troops and friends. II did not prevent. he de-
clared, the reading of the Declaration of Inde
pendence in the schools of the islands or the ut
terance of patriotic addresses. 1t prevented
simply plotting in the dark
MUST CRUSH INsURRECTION.
If we are government worthy OF the name
said Mr. Platt with great vehemence. when
ever men take up arms against the United
States in any district or territory. where the
sovereignty of the United States obtains Will
put that insurrection down. No perverson of
the glories of liberty will prevent the American
fron nItting