The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-21
Mr.. Teller Says the Territory is Ours
Regardless of Treaty,
CUBAN QUESTION IS DIFFERENT.
Mr. Williams Says the Character of
the Inhabitants There Makes Them
More Desirable rs Citizens.
Would Leave the Philip
pines to Run Their
Own Government.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator Tel
Ter occupied the first half Of to-day's ses-
sion Of the Senate with a speech in ad-
vocacy Of the theory that there are no
restrictions upon the right Of the United
States to expand its borders SO as to in
clude far distant territory.
Mr.. Teller's address, like that Of Mr.
Platt. was a constitutional argument, in
the course Of which he maintained the
right of the United States to acquire for.
eign territory without entering upon a
discussion of the ptlicy of expansion, ex-
cept of course, in an incidental and in
ferential way. In view Of Mr.. Platts
very able exposition of the question, Mr.
Teller thought that he might omit pr0-
pery much Of what he intended 10 dis
cuss. he did not think there was the
slightest question Of the power Of this
government to acquire foreign territory
OUR POWER.
IF we are nation" he declared. eve
have the power 10 exercise the rights OF
a naticn--all the rights Of any sovereign
power He believed that the foI nders OF
this government intended 10 found ma
ton. and the idea that they carried their
intention into execution had been sus-
tanned by the Senate. House Of Represen-
tativcs and the courts ever since. He de-
clared that It was a prerOgative OF ma
;ion TO defend itself.
when the country was called upon in
1861 To meet this al estion. II met II fairly
and settled it for all time. So far as the
United States was concerned at least the
question was settled finally at Appomat-
tox. Then" declared Mr.. Teller. we
took OR place as nation. endowed with
all the powers Of a sovereign, and We pos
sess those powers to-day"
BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST.
Referring to the territory acquired by
the United States during the recent war
Senator Teller said:
I'VE have already acquired this terri
tory. We need as "A matter OF fact, no
treaty with Spain 10 confirm our right 70
f.. BY right Of conquest-a right uniis-
puted-we came into possession Of Cuba
Porto Rico and tho Asiatic archipelago
They are ours just as certainly as they
could be made so by treaty"
Mr. Teller briefly discussed the state
ment Of Mr. Vest that many of the deeds
Of cession Of foreign territory acquired
by the United States contained clauses
providing that the territory ultimately
should be erected into States of the
Union.
I'VE can confer Statehood upon these
territories when I'm our judgment. 1t Is
proper 10 DO so. Nobody can call up or
question our right IN this matter II We
acquire territory" he continued, "the
very act carries with IL the right 20 gov
ernment. Who" he demanded. with dra-
matte force. "can goven now in cuba or
Porto Rico but the United States That
question IS settled-settled by the very
circumstances of the case. The question
now is. What disposition shall We make
0f the territory that has come into our
possession
OK SELF-GOVERNMENT
Mr.. Teller thought it a duty Of our
people and legislators 10 keep in mind
constantly the great principle upon which
this government is foundei-that the just
pOWIrs OF a government are derived
from the consent Of the governed. lie
believed the United States could not
govern the Philippines, once acquired, alb
sOlutely in violation Of this fundamental
principle.
I'VE ought" said he. "to extend 10 the
people of these possessions the power 20
govern themselves as soon as they arc
prepared to exercise that power. We
are. declared Mr. Teller, coming 10
deal with the greatest question the
American people have met since 1861
T anticipate much difficulty and embar-
rassment. but have at no time felt the
distrust that had been manifested by
many Of our people
NOT FOR CONQUEST.
Mr.. Teller said that the United States
did not 90 to war with Spain for con-
0uest. 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, to be per-
mitted To govern themselves. This was
the declaration of the resolutions adopt
ed by Congress. The declaration applied
only to Cuba, but he believed it might
have been made applicable to the princi-
pal Of the acquired possessions.
'If this government will say TO the
people Of this acquired territory said
Mr.. Teller, "' we will give you self-gov-
ernment we will not need an army OF
$4,000 men in Cuba. 20oo in Porto Rico.
and 10000 in the Philippines. To say this
10 those people is the only way to escape
a great standing army
am EOf one lAr rtih AdAl liltl dAt4A-s
"t0 turn these possession back 70 Spain.
but ] do believe that we ought 10 give
them the opportunity TO govern them
selves. I may say that nobody wants
these possessions made into States now
No public man is In favor Of such plan
so far ~ l am aware. yet in course OF
time we may take them In.
NOT LIKE ENGLAND.
"No colonial system. such as England
established years ago i'm India, will ever
be established under the Stars and
Stripes" declared Mr.. Teller. "Our flag
will always float over liberty and happi-
ness insured 10 all the people beneath
its folds Although all Of them may not
be accorded the fullest rights Of Ameri-
can citizens, the flag will float as an en-
blem OF good government and protection
to them as 1t does TO us"
In reply TO a question from Mr.. Till
man, Mr.. Teller said he would not go 10
w9r with the people OF the Philippines
I'm order TO force our institutions upon
them He would consult them as 10 the
form OF government. and he believed that
by pursuing this course We should avoid
the necessity OF war with the natives.
Their government might not be as perfect
As ours. but all accounts agree that thn