The Washington times., 1902-02-12
Senators Teller, Platt and
Hoar in Debate on
Tariff Bill.
The ADMINISTRATION SCORED.
Mr.. Teller Declares the Islands
Improbable.
RETENTION is OPPOSED.
Contrary to Interest and PoIicy-Mr.
Plat Considers the United states
as the Agent of Providence to Civ
iIize the World.

Senators Teller, Hoar, and Platt OF
Connecticut, in the Senate yesterday. de-
iiyered speeches in the Philippines de-
bate, Senator Plat in defence of the Ad'
mlnistration policy and Senators Teller
and Hoar against it.
A Long Debate.
The debate occupied between four and
FIVE hours, and was of a high and rather
serious character.
1t was opened by Mr.. Teller, who made
an impassioned argument against the
policy of a continued occupation Of the
| archipelago.
| He was followed by Mr.. Hoar. who
criticised the statute of the Philippine
| Commission against treason and sedition
| and who sneered at the free schools
of the islands which could not have theiI
own flag floating over them, and where
the Declaration of Independence OF
Bruce's address to his army dare not be
read.
Mr. Platt pronounced some rather Sc
we're structures upon the Massachusetts
Senator, ending up with the solemn as
severation of his belief that the United
States was a provdentially appointed
agent for the purpose of Christianizing
the world and converting it TO the cause
of free government.
Islands Not Profitable.
Mr. Teller, in his argument. asserted
that the islands are not profitable, and
that their retention is contrary to the in
terests as well as the principles of this
country. He said that he is not alarmed
or disturbed by the talk about the policy
of "scuttle" being 1T !ignifed and cow
ardly. If it is net % the interest Of the
American people To remain there, he said,
they ought to get away.
Soothing at the idea Of it's being the de-
sign of Providence to have the American
people govern the Philippine Islands, Mr..
Teller said thai ! e could imagine that
the methods being pursued there might
emanate from the great god of evil and
wickedness; but he could not conceive
how they could emanate from the lover of
the human race. He Insisted that if there
was any reason WHY Americans should be
tHere II cOulu not ne lOuHu III lHe cOlH-
mand of the Almighty.
He alluded to the faint of blood to which
the soldiers were exposed in the Philip
pines. and said that that was far worse
evil than the cost of the occupation. That
faint would remain always-a debt never
10 be paid For 1t there would be no re-
deemer. Were the islands, he asked,
worth that cost?
An Ubiquitous Statute.
Speaking of the statute of the Philip
pine Commission for the punishment of
treason and sedition, Mr. Teller said that
history does not furnish parallel for its
iniquity.
ut is a compendium of tyranny, a COM
pendulum of infamy. And yet a Senator
CMr. Foraker) declared in the Senate a
few days ago that he believed it was
necessary"
Il said" Mr.. Foraker interposed, that
there is nothing in that statute which
am not content to endorse"
1t is not for me to criticise the SEN
ator," said Mr.. Teller. IF he can say in
his heart, after deliberation. that that
statute is a proper one, no matter what
the exigencies may be. l leave him to
settle that with the American people"
Referrlng to the military force sent TO
the Philippine Islands, Mr.. Teller said
that altogether including those now under
orders to go there, the number exceeds
100 600 men, while all the force hat
England sent to America during the whole
Revolutionary War was only &C, 600 men.
Violates Bill of Rights.
Mr.. Teller declared that II the Philip
pine statute had been passed by the SEN
ate and House of Representatives, and had
been signed by the President. 1t still
would not have been law. because it was
IN invasion OF the rights of mankind. and
a violation of the Bill of Rights
III the passage Of such a statute was
proper thing. then" he exclaimed, God
have mercy upon the people of those is
lands. and God have mercy upon the men
who contend before this Senate that il
is just and righteous law! | believe
that the condition there is damnable. and
disgrace to the American people"
Mr. Plat asked Mr. Teller whether he
was entirely certain that there was not
now a majority OF the Christian people
of the Philippine Islands conserving to
American government there.
Mr. Teller replied, saying that If h
could trust the statement made to him By
a very distinguished army officer, and let
tiers written by other army officers with
in the last sixty days. there was not
1.-THE OF the Filipinos who wanted Ameri
cans there Then he corrected that state