The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-20
A RIGHT.
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not believe that there is any obliga-
ton to give to the people of an acquired
territory the right Of government
until such time as they are fit to eXer-
else that right If we believe the peo-
pie Of a country acquired are not MT
ted to govern themselves it is our duty
to give them the most liberal govern
ment they are capable Of accepting
and educate them as best it may be
to the point where tnoy will be capa-
BILE of self government. The consutu-
ton does not confer the right Of suf-
frage."
Mr.. Plat said he could not agree with
those who contended tlat the acquire
ment of such territory as that en-
braced in Porto Rico and the Philip
pines is a menace to the existence OF
our republic. This mistake, he sad,
arises from the fact that Mr. Vest and
others who agree with him, assume
that the constitution guarantees the
right of suffrage and the right of a cit
izen living in certain territory to have
it admitted as a state. This assump-
ton was without foundation, as there
was no such guarantee in the funda-
mental law True tha fifteenth amend
ment prohibits the abridgement of the
right of suffrage for reasons specified,
but that did not amount to prescribing
the right to vote. In some states adult
men who are citizens, but who cannot
read, are denied the right TO vote. In
fact, this was a right regulated~by the
states"
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts asked Mr..
Platt whether he decried the doctrine
that governments derive their just
powers from the consent Of the gov
erned.
Mr.. Platt replied that the consent of
all those governed was not always nee
essary. He referred to the fact that
there was no suffrage in the District
of Columbia, and again called atten-
ton to the fact that citizens of Mas
sachusetts who could not read and
write were pTohibited from voting. Yet
these people in Massachusetts We're
governed most effectively.
Replying, Mr.. Hoar defended the ed
Vocational system of Massachusetts,
saying that while there was an educa-
tional qualification in Massachusetts,
the method of acquiring the qualifica
ton necessary to voting was placed
within the grasp Of every one, He did
not believe there was a native adult in
the state, not weak-minded who could
not read and write. Returning to the
question of expansion, he asked wheth-
er Mr. Plat meant to assert seriously
the claim that the state provisions re-
gaTding suffrage could be SO construed
as to Justify the violations of the priu-
ciple involved as it applied to the TO-
100000 people in the Philippines.
Replying Mr.. Platt said he did not
mean to deny the principles Of the dec
laration Of independence, and ne added
that he wished the Massachusetts SEN
ator could be as liberal with reference
to that document as some others
There were, however, many qualtfica-
tons for voting For instance, when
he first became a voter, he had had to
pay $l34 for real estate in order to re-
ceive the privilege of voting.
In conclusion, Mr. Plat 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 belittle those pow
ers or strive by subtlety and sOphistry
to hamper the progress and growth of
the country. Rather than pursue this
course, why should senators not wish
the nation godspeed in its mission Of
extending 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 mis-
givings that any administration OF the
United States would fail in its duty to-
wards the people OF any acquired terri
tory.
Mr.. Gallinger Of New Hampshire
from the committee on contingent ex-
penses, then attempted TO report the
resolution introduced by Mr. Proctor of
Vermont, providing for the appoint
ment Of a select committee the Sem
ate to visit Cuba and report upon the
conditions prevailing there. The effort
on Mr.. Gallingers part developed
strong resistance from Mr.. Hale, and
was the occasion Of a short explanation
from MI, Proctor, Mr.. Hale objected
to the report, Whereupon Mr. Proctor
took the floor saying that while the
Maine senator's course was legitimate
| under the rules Of the senate it was
unusual and therefore unexpected. He
said that there was no motive to Sc
cure junketing trip behind the Of
/ fering of the resolution. NO commit
| tee need go there with the expectation
| Of having good time ara little work
! There were great questions coming to
! the front in Cuba, Of which he had an
| mixing in the differences already de-
veloped among the military authorities
as to the number of soldiers necessary
| to preserve order in The island. When
| the general Of the army put the num-
| Der at $4,000 and the,War department at
| $4,000, making a difference Of $4,000. =
| 600 per year in the cost Of maintenance
it was worth while, said Mr.. Proctor
! to consider the ACCESSIBILITY Of secur-
! ing the best information possible from
/ the island itself. He also said the
| $1,000 900 in the deficiency bill was for
| expenditures among The Cubans.
| Mr. Hale insisted upon his objection
! declaring that he did not base it upon
! any desire TO deprive the Vermont SEN
ator or other senators from going on
/ what Mr.. Proctor had called q "iunket-
! ing trip" but his objection was based
upon the belief that to send such a
( committee as was proposed to Cuba.
would be in bad taste and productive
! of evil. We would soon have 50 900 men
. in Cuba policing that island and deal
ing with the questions there Further
more, we had a commission now at Ha-
/ ana. TO send a Senate committee
| here now. would be accepted as a med