Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-21
PLEA FOR EXPANSION
otis q Nations Prerogative, y
Says Senator Teller.
FAyORS SELF GOVERNMENT
People of New Possessions Should be
Given the Chanc, to Prove their1
Capacity for Ruling Themselves,
is the Senator's Opinion.
(By Telegraph.J

(By Telegraph.) ::
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Senator
Teller occupied the first half of today's
session of the Senate with a speech in
advocacy of the theory that there are
no restrictions upon the right Of the
United States to expand its borders SC
as to include far distant territory. Mr..
Tellcr's address, like that Of Mr.. Platt,
was constitutional argument. in the
course of which he maintained the right
of the United States to acquire foreign
territory, without entering upon q dis
cussion of the policy of expansion, ex-
cept, of course, in an incidental and de-
ferential way.
In view of Mr.. Platt's very able ex-
position of the question, Mr.. Teller
though he might omit properly much
that he had intended to discuss. He
did not think there was the slightest
question of the power of this govern
ment to acquire foreign territory.
A NATIONS PREROGATIVE.
IF we are nation" he declared,
I'VE have the power to exercise the
rights of nation-all the rights Of any
sovereign power
He believed that the founders Of this
government had intended to found a ma
ton, ana the idea that they carried
their intent into execution had been
sustained by the Senate. House of
Representatives and courts ever since.
He declared that it was 4 prerogative
of q nation to defend itself. When the
country was called upon in 1861 to meet
,Hhis question, it faced it fairly and set
tied it for all time. So far as the United
States was concerned at least, the ques-
ton was settled finally at Appomattox.
Then declared Mr.. Teller, 1--WE took
cur place as. a. nation, endowed with
all SitieaooWersS a. sovereign, and 1--WE
possess those poWersstoda -
F 8fs5 RIGHT OF CONQUEST
3is Referring toSthe territory acquired by
the United States during the recent
war, Mr.. Teller said:
We have already acquired this terri
tory. We need, as matter of fact, no
treaty with Spain to confirm our right
to it. BY right of conquest right I'M
disputed--we came into possession OF
Cuba. Porto Rico and the Asiatic ar
chipelago They are ours just as GER
tainly as they could be made so by
treaty.
Mr.. Teller discussed briefly the state
ment of Mr.. Vest that many of the
deeds Of cession Of foreign territory ac-
CURED by the United States contained
clauses providing that the territory III
tinlately should be erected into States
Of the Union. He said: We can con-
fer statehood upon these territories
when. in or judgement. it is proper
TODD so. Nobody can call into question
in this matter.
SITUATION SETTLES IT.
IF we acquire territory, the very act
carries with it the right to govern
Who he demanded with dramatic
force. .'can govern now in Cuba and
Porto Rico, bat the United States:
That question is settled-settled by the
very circumstances of the case The
question is now what disposition shall
we make Of the territory that has
come into our possession 20
Mr.. Teller. thought it a duty Of our
people and our legislators to keep in
mind constantly the great principle
upon which this country is founded
that the just powers of government
are derived from the consent of the
governed. He believed the United
States could not govern the possessions
acquired absolutely in violation Of this
principle. I'VE ought" said he, ito
extend tothe people of these possessions
the power to govern themselves as
soon as they are prepared to exercise
that power"
A DELICATE QUESTION.
I'VE are" declared Mr.. Teller t'com-
ing to deal with the greatest question
the American people have met since
1861. anticipate much difficulty and
but have at no time
felt the distrust that has been manifest
ed by many OF our people,
Mr.. Teller said that the United States
did not go to war with Spain for con-
quest. but for freedom and humanity
As soon as the relief which was propos
ed had been extended to the people
Of Cuba, they ought, he thought, be
permitted to govern themselves. This
was the declaration OF the resolutions
adopted by Congress. The declaration
applied only to Cuba, but he believed ii
might have been mad. applicable to
the peoples of the acquired posses
sions.
ONLY ESCAPE.
5Sss'If this government will say to the
people Of the acquired territory" said
Mr.. Teller. s. we will give you self-gov-
eminent we will not need an army of
1900 in Cuba, 10000 in Porto Rico and
10000 in the Philippines. This is the
only way to escape a great standing
army
Ssss am not one" he said further
along, to turn these possessions back
to- Spain. but / do believe that we
ought TO give them the opportunity to
govern themselves. may say that no