The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-21
NEW MARITIME CANAL BILL
A TEXANS PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTING
THE NICARAGUAN WATERWAY.
Secretary of Interior bliss Firm in
Cabinet in January.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator Teller
occupied the first half of to-day'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 ex-
pand its borders so as to include far distant
territory. He went quite thoroughly into the
legal points bearing on the question and
also incidentally discussed at some length
the form of government for the Filipinos,
saying that he would encourage self-govern-
ment 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 Mr. Teller said that
the purchase of territory from Mexico after
the Mexican war was parallel with the
present purchase from Spain. In that case,
Mexico was prostrate at our feet and we
said we want some of your territory and we
viii pay you for it. We held it first by con-
quest and then by purchase" No matter
what was the provocation of the war that
was the case. 1t was a great and grand
acquisition, he said, second only to the
Louisiana purchase which made the Mex
lean purchase possible This was what we
proposed to do with Spain. We had con-
some of her territory and pay her $2O. 900 900.
a mere bagatelle. Mr.. Teller said he would
ask the people of the Philippines what thew
wanted in the way of government and give
it 70 them. The sooner the people governed
themselves the better. He believed the peo-
pie of Luzon capable Of self-government In
answer to q question by Mr. Tillnan he
said he would not permit revolutions like
those wi
Mr. Proctor read a letter from Admiral
Dewey saying the people of the Philippines
can be easily governed. He also read a.
portion of letter from an army officer to
the same effect In Admiral Deweys letter
he said that he had not the slightest diff
Guilty in dealing with the Filipinos
Mr. Teller said that he would have the
people given all the encouragement possible,
and if they developed qualities of statehood
he would grant them that
At the conclusion of Mr. Teller's speech
MI. Ell1ins called up the bill relating to
American registry of wrecked foreign ves-
sells. 1t was displaced, however, at 2 O'Clock.
and the remainder of the session was given
up to the Nicaragua canal BILL Senator
Caffery was the only speaker on this subject
and he opposed the Morgan BILL
The House resolution providing to adjourn
Congress from Dec. q to Jan. was adopted
without division
Mr.. Gallinger favorably reported Mr.. Proc
tors resolution providing for a committee
of senator's to visit Cuba and Porto Rico
with a view to ascertaining the conditions
on the islands and reporting them, with
recommendations. to the Senate, but on Mr.
Hale's objection to present consideration.
the resolution was placed on the calendar
On motion of Mr.. Hoar it was ordered that
on Feb. 22 Immediately after the Senate
convenes, Washingtons farewell address be
read by Mr.. Wolcott.
A bill authorizing Gen. A E. Bates, of
the United States army, to accept the
decoration of the Legion of Honor conferred
upon him by the President of the French
republic, was passed.
A bill to extend the time for the construc-
tion of bridge across the Columbia river
between the States of Oregon and Wash
ington by the Oregon and washington
Bridge Company was passed.