The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-19
PHILIPPINE SEDlTl0N LAWS.
Gov. Taft Defends Their PrOmulga-
tion in the Islands.

Gov. TAFT Defends Their PrOmuIga-
tion in the Islands.
Washington, Feb. 1S.-Gov. Taft of
the Philippines to-day continued his
discussion of the question Of tranquil
ity in the archipelago before the Senate
Committee on the Philippines. He said
that the recent masses of troops in Sa-
mar had startling effect upon the
army, and created suspicion and fear
of trcachery in other sections. The
Governor did not think, however such
apprehension justified, and said he felt
as safe in Manila as in Washington.
Civilians seldom carry arms there.
With this remark Gov. Taft passed
from the consideration of the question
of tranquility to discussion of the
treason and sedition laws. In this con-
nection he said that while Manila is
quiet and has been practically so ever
since the American occupation, II is
still used as a center of agencies for
the promotion of insurrection. There
was always there a party of irrecon-
cilables. Nothing had been done, he
said, for the enactment of such laws
until the establishment of the civil
government 1t then became evident
that the Philippine Junta was prepar-
ing to locate in that city, making that
point the center for their propaganda.
Gen Wright was therefore directed to
prepare a law on this subject and had
done so. The denunciation of secret
societies had been instituted, he said,
because they had been made the chief
instrument of agitation against the
United States.
Danger of Secret Societies.
The commission had felt that Sc
cret societies were one of the most
fruitful aids to the war and had taken
the position that political agitation
should be confined to open meetings
and prevented in oath bound societies.
If the people understood the question
there would be no objection to peace
able agitation, but under the circum-
stances the commission had felt that
the suspension of the right to advo-
cate independence was not such de-
priVation of the right of free speech
as could not be justified by the pres
ence of war, when for the benefit of
the whole people it should be sup
pressed" AT least one of the societies
had for one of it's main purposes as
sassimaton, being thus like the Malta.
I'm other words, it was a quasi-war
measure?" suggested Senator Bever-
idge, and Gov. Taft assented.
Replying to a question from Senator
Patterson, as to whether it was the in
tention to go farther in this direction,
Gov. Taft replied:
1--WE propose to do all that we can
do that is known to civilized nations
to put down this war, which is such a
great injury to the Philippine people"
He said he had not given personal
attention to the phraseology of the Sc
dition laws, and he had no doubt that
when peace should be restored section
ten would be repealed.
Speaking of Aguinaldo's personality.
Gov. Taft said that while his name is
probably known better than that of any
other man in the islands, his person.
atty was not familiar to the people.
His capture" he continued, lin the
face of the general impression that he
was dvinely protected against capture
or injury, seriously affected his pres
tige. Personally, he is a man of dig
nifty, though of limited education. He
knows how to keep his own counsel and
understands the failings Of the Filipi-
nos. He knows how to reconcile the
differences of leaders and how to avoid
arousng jealousy of himself That he
has any idea of civil liberty or of any
kind of liberty, l have no reason to
believe" ae