The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-20
LEADS ALL NORTH GAR0llMA DAlES IM NEWS AMID <3LAT0M

mcnt Of such t2r1.)'y as thar embrace
| in Porto Rico and the Philippines is Il
menace to the existence of our republic
| This mistake. he said, arises from the
| fact that Mr. Vest ana others who
agree with him assume that the Con
Stitution guarantees the right Of sUr-
| frage and the right Of a Cltizen living
in certain territory 20 have it admit
ted as State. This assumption was
without foundation. as there was 10
such guarantee in the fundamental law.
True the Fifteenth Amen lmcnt pro-
hibits the abridgement of The right Of
suffrage for reasons specified, but that
did not amount to prescribing the right
to vote.
Mr.. Hoar asked Mr.. Plat whether he
decried the doctrine that governments
derive their just powers from the con
sent of the governed.
Mr. Platt replied that the consent Of
all those governed was not always neccs-
Sary He referred to the fact that there
was no suffrage in the District of Colum-
bia and called attention to the fact that
citizens of Massachusetts who could net
read and write were prohibited from
voting. Yet these people in MasSachu-
setts were governed most effectively.
Replying. Mr.. IIoar defended the edu.
cational system of Massachusetts.
Returning to the question Of expansion
he asked whether Mr.. platt meant to
seriously assert the claim that the state
provisions regarding suffrage could
not be SO construed as to justify the
violation of the principle involved ass
it applied to the 100OO,900 of people,
in the Philippines.
Replying, Mr.. Platt said he did not
mean to deny the principles of the
Declaration of independence and he add
ed that he wished the Massachusetts
Senator could be as liberal with refer
encc to that document as some others.
There were, however, many qualifca-
tons for voting. For instance, when
he first became a voter he had had
TO pay S134 for real estate in order
10 receive the privilege Of voting.
In conclusion Mr.. Platt said he could
not understand the sentiments or mo-
tiyes of those who wished TO circum-
scribe the powers of the nation. Why.
he asked, should we beittle those pow
ers or strive by subtlety and sophistry to
hamper the progress and growth of the
country. Rather than propose this
coursc why should Senators not wish the
nation God speed in it's mission of ex-
tending our free institutions as far as
possible. As for himself he knew our
people to be a liberty loving and right
doing people. and he had no misgiyings
that any Administration Of the United
States would fail in its duty toward the
people of any acquired territory. lie had
faith in the Government and faith in it's
future, and had no disposition to con-
descend TO earping criticism or craven
fear
Mr. Hale, from the Conference Com
mittee on the Urgent Deficiency Appro-
priati0n Bill. presented the conference
report on the bill, and it was agreed to.
Mr. Proctor. Of Vermont, and Mr..
Hale, of Maine, exchanged divergent
views upon the subject OF a commits
sion Of Senators to visit Cuba and report
upon the conditions prevailing there
Mr.. Proctor thought such commission
was necessary, while Mr.. Hale said he
thought it would he in extremely bad
taste and useless. The question was not
decided.
The Nicaragua Canal Bill was up dur
ing the last part of the day. and Senators
Berry, Allen, Hoar, Caffery and Nor
gan discussed the measure.
Mr.. Berry explained the provisions of
his amendment. The first would elimi-
nate the provision in the original bin for
the issuance of bonds, and this he con
sidered most essential desiderata. The
second amendment closed the Maritime
Company out entirely rs a stakeholder
in the canal enterprise, leaving the
United States, Nicaragua and Costa
Rica as the only stockholders and leay-
ing the majority of the stock in the
name OF this Government. Another
amendment prohibited the appointment
Of any one interested in the present
maritime company from acting as a di-
rector under the Government manage
ment of the enterprise
Mr.. Allen, (Nebraska), followed Mr..
Berry. He was not opposed to, the canal
scheme. he said, because he antagoniZed
certain features of the bill. One of its
most pernicious features would be elimi-
mated by the adoption of the Berry
amendments; namely, the bond feature.
He was opposed to the provision for
the adjustment of the claim Of the Mari
time Canal Company. He wanted the
Government protected from all loss and
all possible fraud and peculation by that
company.
Mr.. Caffery. of Louisiana, at the re-
quest of Mr.. Turpie. who was unavoid-
ably absent, renewed the latter's motion
to postpone the consideration of theI
bill until January 10th. !.
Mr. Hoar said he thought the canal
should be built, and at once. The canal,
he insisted should be built by the Gov
ernment.
Mr. Morgan secuted the idea of post
poning the consideration of the bill until
England's consent was obtained. If
England had said we could not build the
canal without her consent, the canal
would have been built five years ago.
At 5:15 p. m. the Senate went into
executive session.
At 5:35 p M, the Senate adjourned.
'IT Is AN INFAMOUS LIE
Baileys Reply to Charge of His Act
ing For Republicans