Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-30
NOT FIGHTING FOR LIBERTY
FilipinOS, Senator Morgan Declares, Are
Savage Tools of Hong Kong Junta.
SoUTHERNER DEFENDS PHILIPPINE Bill
SPoOner Closes Debate for Re-
Il, puBIicans, Ably setting Forth
!, ne, Virtue of Country's Innu-
hSt, >uce over Islands.


ippine liberty is increasing as the discus
sion draws to a close. Today the senate
galleries were thronged with auditors and
the attendance on the floor was larger
than it has been for some time, including
many members Of the house OF representa-
tives
Mr.. Lodge Of Massachusetts,, in charge
of the bill, offered several amendments to
the measure, the most important being one
extending to the Philippines the provision
OF the bill of rights Of the constitution
of the United States, excepting only the
right to bear arms and the right to a trial
by jury. All of the amendments were
agreed to.
Mr. Morgan Of Alabama delivered an ex-
tended speech, in which he supported in
the main the bill as presented by the COM
mittee. He said it looked toward peace
and toward a Just and peaceful govern
ment in the islands. Some changes were
necessary, in his opinion. but these he
thought would be made. He declared that
there never had been a pretense OF or
ganized Filipino government in the islands
and said had Dewey recognized Agui-
naldo's claims he would have given aid
and comfort to the declared enemies Of
the United States.
Not Fighting for Liberty.
He took sharply to task those in and
out of the senate who had extolled Agui-
naldo and asserted that the Filipinos we're
not fighting for liberty but simply as the
savage tools Of the Hong Kong junta.
Mr. Clay of Georgia opposed the pending
measure in a carefully prepared speech.
He regarded the action of the United States
since the ratification of the treaty of Paris
as a great mistake and urged that this
government ought to declare its purposes
in the Philippines. Such action, in his
opinion, would put an end to the trouble
in the islands. He maintained that the
bill ought not to be passed, as it would
confer greater power on the Philippine
commission than ever had been possessed
by king OF potentate.
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Spooner Of
Wisconsin began a speech in support Of
the bill and the American policy in the
Philippines, which concluded general debate
on the measure by the republican side.
He reviewed the situation in the Islands
and said the responsibility for 1t rested
not on any one party, but on all alike.
Strange, the Opposition.
1t appeared strange to him that a meas
ure intended to exalt civil government and
to subordinate the military power should
create such adverse contention. and he
declared that on the democratic side there
had been nothing heard but pessimism,
gospel OF despair, suspicion, eistrust. and
imputation of the motives OF the repub-
lican senators. He paid brilliant tribute
to President Roosevelt and to the policy
Of the late President Mckinley. He de-
clared that never in the annals of time
had an army carried to a people so much
of amelioration, so much of upbuilding, so
much OF kindness and tenderness, as the
American army had carried to the Filipinos
by direction OF Mckinley.
Mr.. Spooner gave notice that he would
conclude his speech on Saturday.
Mr.. Lodge then offered an amendment ex-
tending to the inhabitants the bill Of
rights" Of the constitution Of the United
States, except the right to bear arms and
the right OF a trial by a jury. In answer
to an inquiry by Mr.. Pettus Of Alabama
Mr.. Lodge explained that in the opinion Of
the majority OF the committee on Philip
pines, It would be unwlse in the present
circumstances to extend those rights to the
Filipfnos. The amendment was agreed to-.
other Amendments.
other amendments were adopted as fol-
lows:
Providing that nothing IN the pending
bill shall be held to amend or repeal the
act providing for revenue for the Philip
pines providing that single homestead
entry shall not exceed forty acres in eX-
tent; providing that the beneficial use shall
be the basis, the measure and the limit of
all rights to water in the Islands, and that
the government is authorized to make rules
that il bonds or any portion thereof shall
be paid out of the funds of the government
of said islands. such municipality shall re-
imburse said government for the sum thus
paid and said government is hereby en-
powered to collect said sum by the levy
and collection of taxes on such munici-
pality.
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama then addressed
the senate upon the bill,
"If Aguinaldo had in fact driven Spanish
dominion from the islands or had destroyed
the power OF the United States to hold
Manila under the peace protocol" he said,
he had worked a miracle in the develop
ment OF national power that no other man
ever attempted.
Attitude of Democrats.
Mr.. spooner. in his speech, summed up
the attitude OF the democrats in this way:
I'VE who voted against the Paris treaty
are men who observe the obligations OF
the constitution, you who voted for It vio-
AoNtN NAt NOAoNANuAAuAf VIC NhO faiC opPOScu
to you stand for the Declaration Of In
dependence; you who disregard 1t. We are
the friends Of the army; you assail IL; we
love the flag; you dishonor It; we hate
atrocities; you defend them; we want lib
erty in the PHILIPPINES; you want slavery
there"
Discussing some references which had
been made TO previous speeches Of his, Mr..
Spooner said he had announced that he wa q
not in favor OF the permanent dominion OF
the United States over the Philippines and
he was not now.
Il would not" he said, buy dominion
at the cost OF any mans liberty"
Mr.. Spooner said he declared that he was
not in favor Of making promises 70 men who
had revolver at his breast nor to men
who were training their guns upon Amer
lean troops. lie stood by that declaration
now.