The record-union., 1898-12-21
tractable and intelligent, and capable

tractable and intelligent, and capable
Of progress.
At , O'Clock the Nicaraguan Canal
bill. the unfinished business, was taken
up, to the displacement Of the registry
measure.
Caffery spoke in opposition to the
canal bill. He said the proposition to
connect the two oceans by means Of a
canal was SO attractive to the imagin-
alton as to cause many people to ac
cept it as wise enterprise, regardless
of appeal to reason on its merits. He
deprecated the personal attacks upon
the members of the Maritime Canal
Company, but indicated his belief that
the bill was an attack upon the treas
ury Of the United States.
He declared the enterprise under the
bill was in violation of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, in contravention to the
concession from the Isthmian countries
and in opposition to our own Constitu-
ton. These propositions he undertook
to maintain by an analysis Of the bill
by sections
While Caffery was speaking a mes
sage was received from the House Of
Representatives announcing that an
question in controversy to the war and
navy deficiency bill-had been agreed
TO. This passed the measure, and as
soon as signed it will go to the Presi-
dent.
Without having concluded his re-
marks, Caffery, at 40, yielded to Gal
linger, and on his motion the Senate
went into executive session.
h-1n b.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-The House
to-day listened to the first speech on
the annexation of the Philippines. Will
1ams of Mississippi, Democratic men,
Der of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
in an hours speech stated his opposi-
ton to a policy which would bring the
Islands under the sphere of United
States Influence. He contended that
1t would be hostile to the spirit of our
institutions to assume control over o.
OOO,oOO unwilling souls; that annexa-
ton would cost US $4,000, 900 a year:
that the annexation Of the islands met
none OF the tests which applied to our
past acquisitions of territory, and
would be a mistake from a social, DO
lltlcal and material standpoint Will
lanS remarks received careful atten-
tlon, and several times drew applause
from his Democratic colleagues.
Ihe agricultural appropriation bill
was passed without material amend
ment. 1t carried 3,696,32 or S1S7 100
more than the current law
AT the opening Of the session Cannon
called up the conference report on the
army and navy deficiency bill. and
moved it's adoption
De Almond CD of Missouri asked
whether the reappropriation of the bal
ance Of the $50O0O,OO0 to be expended
under the direction of the President
would in any way sanction or authorize
the payment ut~of that fund of S1OO.-
OOO each to Whitelaw Reid and Judge
Day for services as Peace Commission
erS.
Cannon said he knew nothing about
II, ana on his statement that this re-
appropriation made no change authoriz
ing such an expenditure, the report was
adopted.
The House then went into Committee
OF the Whole on the agricultural BILL
Wadsworth (R.) of Mex. York ex-
planned that it carried So, ,696, 800, an in
crease of $1S7, 100 over the current law.
Williams of Mississippi took advan-
tage of the latitude allowed in debate
While in Committee of the Whole to
make an argument against the annex
alton Of the Philippines. Physically,
he said, the islands would prove a great
disappointment. They were thickly
populated with people of Heterogeneous
races. They could never afford home
or opportunity for American citizens.
In the annexation of territory of the
past, the area annexed had been al
ways conterminus, except in the case
Of Alaska, and we had in each case in
creased our population and our power
OF national defense. These had been
the tests in the past. The Philippines
fulfilled none of these tests In the
case of Cuba, if Cuba should be will
ing in the future to throw her lot with
US, the case would be different Sixty
per cent. of Cuba's population was Cau-
casian, fact not generally known. Her
people could easily be assimilated. Cuba
was practically contiguous. She lay
directly within the sphere of Ameri-
can influence.
While he opposed the annexation. he
SdlO lie SIOulO not return the PhiilD-
pines to Spain. IT should leave the
islands where they were the day after
Dewey's glorious victory at Manila T
should haul down the American flag.
/ am for the flag for what it means, not
for itself 1t is nothing but a piece IF
bunting, and when some one announces
that it must not come down. I care rot
how high his station, he says some
thing unworthy of himself and his coun-
try. The flag should come down if it
is right that it should do so, and the
American people must pull it down. We
would not let any other country do it."
prolonged applause on Democratic
side.)
Proceeding, Williams said that if the
Philippines could not take care of them
selves they would fall under the infiu-
ence of France or Germany. Our in
terest in them was the commercial in
terest. We had in the East generally
an interest in an "open door, policy. If
any other country got possession of the
Philippines it would not do worse than
Spain did. In any event, our trade with
the Philippines was a mere drop in the
bucket and if we retained possession
of them we would sacrifice the open
door policy in the Orient, or go back
=