Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-11-21
SENATOR PROCTOR'S SPEECH.

| In speech D0ICEO UuS JOIAI ctcSFl III
bly, of the Vermont Legislature last
Thursday Senator Proctor said:
! Iregret that I could not well be pre-
sent at the time to return my thanks
ed confidence. But there are some
| for your recent expression Of continu-
things one wishes to see with his own
eyes rather than take at second hand,
and this autumn seemed the best, if
not indeed the only time for the trip
| from which have just returned. You
may be assured that my absence was
from no lack of appreciation of your
friendly action. One may visit many
lands and may study their institutions
and the condition of their people, and
find none, I believe, where men and
nature combined have given SO salts
factory results as here in our own
state. We are justified in being proud
of Vermont and her people. To rep
resent such state and such a people
is an honor and pleasure that cannot
be measured in words.
Vermont has held an honorable
position in our nation, and our nation
has now come to occupy greatly en-
larged position in the world. Never
before were the nations of Europe so
interested as now in the future policy
of our country. Indeed what that
policy is to be is the greatest question
before our own people. Hawaii and
Porto Rico have been added to our
nations domain. We have become
and must for all times be sponsors for
the good government of Cuba. We
must assume some responsibilities,
whether they be greater or less, in
the far East, and they are in my opin-
ion, bound to be greater. These
changes are not to be regarded light
", but our action with regard to Cuba
was clearly dictated by the interests
of hum anity and civilization, and the
questions which have followed from
the war are the natural result of
manifest destiny which we could not
have avoided if we would. In these
circumstances and with respect to
these questions, although we may not
all agree as TO what is best to do, |
believe that the American people IN
q large degree possess what the pres
ident has so happily termed the cour-
age of destiny-a courage which will
bravely and wisely face every prob
lem which arises. 1t is characteristic
of the American people not to shirk
or shrink from responsibility and TO
have an abiding faith that they can
do whatever is within the power Of
man to do by brain or hand.
Many wise and patriotic men in the
country, many in our state, believe
that we should retain no territory or
control in the Philippines beyond
coaling station, or possibly single
island. [ recognize the cogency Of
their arguments, but have failed to
see clearly any practical way of car
rying out their views; at least any
probability that such would be the
verdict of the country.
And if we assume any Jurisdiction
in those islands there is no logical
stopping place short of the whole.
To establish a divided sovereignty,
part of the people under Spanish and
! part under American Jurisdiction,
would be to invite trouble. No half
way step is safe.
Since that May morning it has
seemed to me practically settled that
Spain must surrender her entire SOW
ereignty in the Philippines. Whether
we must assume it Or what disp osi-
ton is to be made of them is, to be
sure, another question and difficult
one I admit-too important to settle
in haste; but in my view the strong
argument in favor of taking the en-
tire control will be the majority one.
Those who oppose this result offer
forcible arguments, but they are not
submitting an other practical prop
| osition. It therefore seems to me
more than probable, almost certain,
that Admiral Dewey settled great
questions of national policy as GER
tainly and completely as he destroy
ed the Spanish feet. You will, know,
pardon me if have spoken too plain
ly upon a pending matter on W hich
there are differences of opinion, but
| it seemed to me that frank state
ment of what believe will be the in
| evitable outcome of the. situation was
not improper at this time. [ do not
say, or pretend to know, whether it is
the most desirable result; I merely
say that in my view the question was
practically determined when the Stars
and Stripes were first raised in the