New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-29
Blamed for Loss OF Amer
lean Lives by SeG-
ator Harding.
CALLS 1T COWARDLN
TO DESERT ISLANDS
Il Had Rather Be Unafraid,
Declares Ohio Man in
Maiden Speech.

From flr Tribune Bureau
Washington, Jan. 26. The blame for
the loss Of American lives and prop
erty IN putting down insurrections IN
the Philippines Vas placed squarely Mt
The door OF the Democratic party by
Senator Harding, Of Ohio, to-day. in his
maiden speech.
An effort By Chairman Hitchcock 81
the Senate Philippine Committee 10
! hasten vote on the Philippine bill
was blocked by Senator Cummlns, VINO
! objected 20 a suggestion that after
Tuesday speeches De limited 20 ten
minutes, and gave notice that he would
+ introduce an amendment which he
wanted discussed at length.
"Our judgment. as / have seen 10 at
/ tested in Ohio" said Nr. Harding, rs
that the United States Of America has
no right and has no reason 70 extend
q benevolent prOtcctOrate over the fnii-
lppine ISLANDS without control. ana
Tor one mean 20 VOC against the pend
ing bill"
Senator Harding said that be had re
ioiccd when Senator Clarke offered his
amendment TO free the Philippine
n
2 islands are 10 be freed. the way to do
it was 70 "chuck them" and let them
work out their own destiny. lie de-
clarcd that if the United States was
TO set the islands free il was no con-
Germ of the United States whether pop
/ ular self-gOyernmcnt was established
/ there or not Senator Harding de-
clared that the Philippine question
would never have been a partisan issue
I had IL not been the kernel OF the Bryan
campa en- Of 1900.
Echoed Every Four Years.
The movement in the Philippine
Islands is not only the echo Of that
enunciation IN 1900 on the part Of the
party now In power but Of every sue
ceeding declaration of that party every
fourth year since then. Tho question
now. on the amendment pending, Is not
one Of the character Of government IN
the Philippine Islands: it IL not what
basic law or Fundamental government
We shall prescribe for them: l. has
come 20 the great question Of Philip
pine independence. and ! am opposed
20 it for two striking reasons. In the
first place. the granting OF Philippine
independence changes the policy Of the
United States from the very beginning
IN the second place. il alters policy
Of the United States for the last sew
cnteen years under which we have
made the most magnificent contribution
TO the history OF unseliish nationality
or the unsolf shness OF nations thar
has ever been written
81 have heard no question about
rights in the splendid territory we nave
in the mid-Pacifc known as the ha-
waiian Islands Nobody has raised The
question of rights or Of righteousness
/ i'm the case Of Alaska; and Porto Rico.
which is peculiarly like the case OF the
1 Philippine Islands. has never been men
/ toned to my knowledge IN tins discus
sion" ,.,,
THE debate OF the Philippine bill
has served 10 develop the infinite am
GUILTY Of making an honorable retire
ment. II Is significant TO me tnat no
nronosition presented 20 this assembly
strikes directly at the question, ana
,oU Won that We ought 10 grant the
! Philippine Islands their independence
or we ought 20 quit talking about X,
I either i'm this chamber or on the stump
in political campo gins. ! think y -
/ impossible for Us 20 honorabiy WITH
draw.
Philippines Sentinel.
81 should dislike 10 thiuA that We
arc anxious 10 east the Philippines
adrift because Of the mere fact. II you
nlease. that they would endanger US
or add 10 our responsibilities IN time
of war. | want 20 go on record as say
ing that If war ever comes with the
Empire Of the Orient il vii not be be-
cause Of the Philippine Islands; II Will
he in spite of them. and while ! am
not much Of military authority !
venture 70 make the assertion that the
Philippines will serve as hitting out
most 10 warn this mainland OF impend-
ing danger
AT this particular moment THIS re-
vcrsal Of the American policy 10 my
mind. would be the most unfortunate
thing that could happen TO the United
States. do not want II SAID that tniS
great nation. aspiring to. pace III
The councils of the world. and which
to-day is the only one whose voice IS
heard above the din of conflict IN
continental war. is so miserably afraid
that IL wants to cast aside some OF ~
possessions to avoid some OF the dan
gers Of war.
II had rather stand erect as AL
American and be unafrald, and par
ticularly at this time. when. IN some
way or other. unfortunately, Ameri-
canism is very much derded IN the
Old World. Contempt for 1t IS shown
in Mexico; disregard is shown for
American rights on the sea. Why not
reassert ourselves. not only confident
i'm the possession Of the territory
which is righteously ours. but make
Il, ornate with an assertion of Ameri-
canism that is betting 50 great ma
tiou ,"
senator Lippitt. OF Rhode Islam !,
pointed out the value TO the nited
States Of our trade with the Philtp-
pines. and tainted the Democrats with
inconsistency in proposing on the ore
hand to expend $5O.0O0.000 in the 50
called ship purchase" bill 10 advance
our foreign trade. and at the same
time supinely surrenderng the vslua-
Bile foreign market afforded by the
Philippines.
PIANIST AIDS PHILHARMONIC