The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-24
STIRRING
SPEECHES
Are MADE
Sons Of American Revolution
Hold Annual Banquet at Narra-
gansett- FiIipin0s Discussed

The Rhode Island Sons OF the Ameri-
can Revolution had n banquet at the Mar
ragansett hotel. last evening.
The attendance was large. the dinner
excellent and we'll served. the tables
equisitely decorated and the company
was OF just the right composition to make
1t a thoroughly enjoyable occasion.
The speeches were bright. the speakers
were at their best and each held the
closest attention OF his auditors
President-eiect Elisha Dyer was the
toastmaster and with him at the prin-
cipal table sat Governor l.. +. C. Garvin.
Executive Secretary Robert Grieve. Chap
lain r. J. Bassett. Colonel David Brain
ard Case, L. 8. A. the retiring president.
Major Fl. V. A. Josin. George A. Little
field. Rev. George w. Kent and George
". Weston.
After blessing invoked by Chaplain Bss-
sett, the customary toast ITO the Mem
ory OF George Washington and the
American Patriots was drunk stand
ing, and one stanza Of America" was
sung.
Governor Garvin likened this gather
ing TO reproduction OF the spirit OF '76
and deplored the evidence OF some loss
of that spirit I'VE have said he.
ceased to hate tyranny and we did. $780,
I'VE have forgotten some rights that
our ancestors priced. II Is said that In
some sections Of our country there are
tyrants. New York city, IL is said, has
tyrant who lives In England. 1t is
said that some of the states have tyrants
who rule instead OF the governors.
How can we get there. how can the
people OF this state get control OF
their organic laws? When our forefath-
ers organized this state they made a dis
tinction between the organic law and
that which Is formulated by the legtsa-
ture. 1t seems to me that the control
by the people OF the constitution of the
state Is the important issu efor Rhode ISL
and"
George A. Littleneld responded 10 the
toast Great Days In February" He
mentioned things OF national Importance
that had occurred in this month. Febru-
ary gave us Washington and Lincoln.
one the founder and tho other the pre-
server OF this nation.
"In rs the question was Shall We
Become a Nation and a Free Nation?'
In 81 the question was Shall All Men
be Equal? Washington and Lincoln by
their own mastery spirits compelled an
Affirmative answer to both OF these ques-
tions.
IF we fear Imperialism today, X we
do. oh. the blindest deluslon OF the age,
let us prepare to meet the issue. The
idea that this land of Washington and
Lincoln could ever fear imperialism !.
Washington and Lincoln were alike in the
reverence of Almighty God, and in car
rying the commission intrusted by Him.
In 1865, few days after Lees surrender,
the populace came to the White House In
throngs to congratulate Lincoln. He said
To Him from who mall blessings flow
is due the praise.
The toast. The City OF Providence -
was not responded to as the president
Of the board OF aldermen. A. ]. Gushing.
was too Ill to leave his home.
Col. Case responded to The Philip
pines" lie was frequently interrupted
by applause and at the conclusion OF his
remarks was vociferously cheered.
80 much has been written and SC
much spoken calculated to misinform re-
garding these new possessions of ours, .
said Col. Case, that perhaps few
words from one who has served among
these islands for two years may not be
uninteresting. These islands are rich In
fertility and on this account the Filipino
is not a very strenuous individual. When
a crop turns out poorly he sits down and
folds his hands in despair
THE question most important 10 the
money making Yankee is. win the Phil
ippines ever pay? II Is the question
that | am most frequently called upon to
answer. That the Philippines were not a
profitable investment under the Span
iards counts for nothing. The hills OF
the islands are filled with every kind OF
mineral wealth. yet the Spaniards pre-
ferred to sit at the ports and tax the
ships,
THE forests OF the Philippines are
magnificent. both for quantity and quail
ity. containing 665 different kinds OF
woods; yet during the Spanish occupa-
tion there were but two sawmills In all
the islands. The four years OF Amer
lean occupation and control have done
more for the developing OF the Philip
pines than the more than 800 years OF
Spanish CONTROL and opportunity.
Manila. dirty and unsanitary place
when tho Americans went there, is today
a rival OF Hong Kong and Singapore. The
great harbor, large enough TO f1oat the
navies OF the world. now floats vessels
of all nstiorsT
Far more important In the strategic
Importance Of these Islands. Did We
not possess these islands we might be
tempted to Join I'm the great spoilation
OF China that is sure TO come. Yet with
these islands. we do not need 10 take
one foot OF China. for Manila Is but 500
miles from Hong Kong. The inhabit-
ants are undoubtedly OF Malay origin. .
"Our advent into the Philippines was
received with the deepest distrust our
every act was misconstrued. II we were
kind. II was a sign OF weakness. Conf
dence In tho Filipinos is n plant OF slow
growth, but let me tell you, gentlemen.
that II r. progressing"