New-York tribune., 1907-01-15
PRESIDENT DEFENDED
Senator Spooner Takes Leading
Part in Brownsville Debate.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

TFrom The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, Jan Ex-senator Spooner began
to-day that defence of the President which is
expected TO constitute the really great speech
of the Brownsville debate The Senate chamber
and the galleries were full but so intense was
the attention paid TO the Senator from Wiscon-
sin that at any time in the course of his remarks
the dropping OF the proverbial pin would have
been distinctly audible. AS II was
known that Mr.. Spooner had taken the floor,
three members Of the Supreme Court. Justices
Harlan. Day and McKenna. paid the Senator
from Wisconsin the unusual compliment Of COM
ing to listen to his argument. and they remained
until adjournment.
Speaking with great deberation and in low
tone. which gave full play to the sympathetic
quality Of his voice and the intensity of his
feeling. Mr.. Spooner dealt with the first phase
Of his speech-the propriety of the Senate's at
tempting TO investigate the constitutionality Of
the Presidents action
Before beginning the legal part Of his argu-
nent Mr.. Spooner paid high tribute to the
Southern people, whose pride. he said had led
them to reject federal aid in the education OF
their children and who had bravely and hero
ically borne the burden imposed on them by the
war, the education of their own children and
the PROVISION of schools for the Negroes. He
complimented the 25th Infantry, saying that he
rades and drills OF many regiments in many
lands but the work of the o5th Infantry, which
he had witnessed at Fort Missoula in 1894, had
been excelled by military organization he
ever saw.
The Negro has amply indicated his right
10 be a soldier declared Mr.. Spooner, and
listened with regret though not with surprise.
10 the universal impeachment, not only Of the
battalion which happened to be at Brownsville,
but of the whole regiment Of the 25th Infantry.
which the Senator from South Carolina CMr.
Tillman) delivered Saturday. The Senator
spoke of them in language which could not pos
sfbly be of so many men, because you could
not find under the bending sky many men
among whom there would not be some faithful,
law abiding men. And yet the Senator from
South Carolina charac actertzed the entire regi-
ment as "a lawless, brutal, nurderous set of cut
throats' All, Mr.. President, II the bitter
ness Of hate which led the Senator to indict
an entire regiment.
Mr.. TILLMAN INTERRUPTS.
Mr.. Tillman interrupted to say that he admit
ted Negroes were honest.
THE ought to be profoundly grateful to
the Senator replied Mr.. Spooner
Il don't hate the whole race. I simply assert
that am superior TO them" declared Mr.. TILL
man.
THAT is a n.ooted qquestion which 1 decline
70 discuss" replied Mr. Spooner Edmund
Burke tells us, You cannot frame indictment
against whole people and that is something
the Senator from South Carolina would do well
10 remember"
~I suppose the Senator wants to be entirely
Just" remarked Mr.. Tillman
II wish the Senator would be Just broke IN
Mr. Spooner
'T try TO be-" was the reply.
You fail to be-"
You fail to be sometimes If you will be hon
est" retorted Mr.. Tfilnan.
What does the Senator mean by being hon
sst?" asked Mr.. Spooner.
When I confess my sins now every man here
is equally sinful, that's all mean"
Mr. Tillrnan explained that ne lad arisen to
state that he had not criticised the whole regi-
ment He added there were many good Negroes.
AS this Eeemed TO surprise Mr.. SDooner, Mr..
Tilman added that he had had good Negroes
working for him for thirty years. and he believed
there were millions of good ones
THE PRESIDENTS POWERS.
We all have our faults and our peculiarities." 4"
said Mr. Spooner. 1.-THE President Of the United
states has his But there is no man living who
has given greater evidence Of feeling of 10y
atty and comradeship for the men who served
with him in the army than Theodore Roosevelt.
No man has shown a greater determination to
90 absolute justice to all, rich and poor. IT
makes no difference which He could not con-
sciously do an injustice to any man in the army
or the navy But my difference with tire Senator
from Ohio fMr. Forakerl is to the legal
phases of this case. / agree with him that this
Is country of law. that the President can
exercise no power which he does not derive
from the Constitution the constitutional en-
actment OF Congress, but that we do not have
an autocratic power in this country I do not
say: because such power is essential in the
handling of an army. No one knows that bet
ter thar the chIvairous and gallant soldier the
Senator from Ohio.
'As Senator Foraker's resolution is drawn I
would not vote for IT. / could not. IL the Presi-
Continued IN third page.
QuISkE6I-PI SANIESI-ElORIpA SER.