The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-21
TELLER FOR EXPANSION
Annexation Which Will Lead to
Self-Government.
NO GREAT STANDING ARMY
In the House williams OF Mississippi
Made q Vigorous Speech Against
Annexation-Hostile to Our
Institutions.

Washington. Dec. Ex-senator Teller
occupied the first half of to-day's ses-
sion of the senate with n speech in
| advocacy Of the theory that there are
no restrictions upon the right of the
| United States to expand its borders so
as to include far distant territory. He
went quite thoroughly into the legal
points bearing upon the question and
incidentally discussed at some length
the form of government for the Phil
ippines. saying he would encourage
self-government among the islanders
and would give them the most liberal
government which they were capable
of conducting, but that he would not
take down the American flag where
once planted. The remainder of the
canal bill. Senator Caffrey was the on
! ly speaker on this subject and he op-
| posed the Morgan bill.
The house resolution providing to dd-
| journ congress from December II to
| January 4, was adopted without iiyis-
| ion.
Mr.. Gallinger OF New Hampshire Ia
ton providing for a commission of SEN
ators to visit Cuba and Porto Rico with
| view to ascertaining the con-
ditions on the islands and reporting
them with recommendations to the sem
ate, but on Mr.. Hale's objection to pres
ent consideration. the resolution was
placed on the calendar.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar il was order
ed that on February 22, Immediately Of
| ter the senate convenes. Washingtohs $
| farewell address be read by Mr.. VOL
| colt of Colorado.
A bill authorizing General NJ F.
Bates of the United States army to ac-
cept the decoration of the Legion of
Honor conferred upon him by the pres
ident of the French republic, was pass
ed.
A bill to extend the time for the con-
struction of the bridge across the Co
| lumbia river between Oregon and
Washington by the Washington Bridge
company, was passed.
In accordance with the notice given
yesterday. Mr. Teller Of Colorado to-
day addressed the senate on Mr.. Vests
resolution, declaring that under .he
constitution no authority is given to
acquire territory to be held and gov
erned permanently as colonies. Mr.. Tel
ler's argument was a constitutional ar
gument, which he prefaced by saying
exposition of the question he tTellerD
might omit properly much that he had
intended to discuss. lie did not fhink
there was the slightest question of the
power of this government to acquire
foreign territory.
"If we are a nation" he declared. I'VE
have the power to exercise the right of
a nation-all the rights OF any sovereign
power"
When the country was called upon I'm
1861 to meet this question IL met il fair
ly and settled IL for all time. So far as
the United States was concerned, the
question was settled finally at Apo
mattox.
Then" declared Mr. Teller. I'VE took
our place as a nation, endowed with
all the powers of a sovereign, and we
possess those powers to-day"
Referring to the territory acquired by
the United States during the recent war.
Mr. Teller said:
I'VE have alreay acquired this terri
tory. We need. as matter OF fact, no
treaty with Spain TO confirm our rights
to IL. BY right of conquest-a right un-
disputed-we came into possession of
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Asiatic archi-
pelago. They are ours just as certainly
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-
quired by the United States contained
clauses providing that the territory ulti-
mately should be created into states OF
the union.
I'VE can confer statehood upon these
territories when i'm our judgment IL is
proper so to do. Nobody can call into
question our right 10 exercise our judg
ment in this matter.
IF we acquire territory" he con-
tinued. ''the very act carries with II the
right to govern. who can govern now
in Cuba or Porto Rico but the United
States? That question is settled-set-
tied by the very circumstances Of the
case. The question now is, What dispo-
sition shall we make of the territory
that has come into our possession"
Mr.. Teller thought 1t a duty TO our
people ana legislators 10 keep i'm mind
constantly the great principle upon
which this government II founded. that
the just powers Of a government are
derived from the consent Of the gov
erned.
I'VE ought" said he, "to extend to
the people of these possessions the
power to govern themselves as soon as
they are prepared to exercise that
power. We are coming to deal with the
greatest question the American people
have met since 1851. / anticipate much
difficulty and embarrassment, but have
at no time felt the distrusts that have
been manifested by many of our peo-
Pile"
The declaration of the congressional
resolutions. he believed. might have
been made applicable TO the peoples of
all the acquired possessions.
IF this government will say to the
people OF this acquired territory" said
Mr.. Teller. I'VE VIII give self-govern-
ment.' we will not need an army Of
so. Ooo men in Cuba. 10000 in Porto Rico
and 10000 in the Philippines. To say
this TO those people is the only way TO
escape a great standing army"
Il am not one" he said. further along.
ito turn these possessions back to Spain.
but l do believe that We ought TO give
them the opportunity TO govern them
selves. / may say that nobody wants
these possessions made into states now.
No public man Is In favor Of such a