The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-21

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Would not take Down tho Ameri-
can Flag Where oncc Planted-says
it Is Folly to Talk of"Imperialisrn"
As Applied TO this Country.
Dcwey's Tribute to tho FllIplnOs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. coin accord
ance with notice given yesterday Mr..
Teller (col.) addressed the senate to-
day upon Mr. Vests resolutions deciar-
ing that under the constitution no
power is given to acquire territory to
be held and governed permanently as
colonies. Mr.. Teller's address was a
constitutional argument, which he pre-
faced by saying that in view of Mr..
PIatt's very able exposition of the ques-
ton, he CTeller) might omit properly
much that he had intended to discuss.
He did not think there was the slightest
question of the power OF this governs
lnent to acquire foreign territory.
III we are a nation" he declared, I'VE
have the power to exercise the rights Of
a nation-all the rights Of any soyer-
eIgn power" When the country was
called upon in 1861 to meet this qucs-
tion, 1t met 1t fairly and settled 1t for
all time. So far as the United States
was concerned, the question was set
tied at Appomattox. There" declared
MI. Teller, eve took our place a ma
ton, endowed with all the powers of
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 al
ready acquired this territory. We need,
as matter of fact, no treaty with
Spain to CONFIRM our right to 1t. BY
right Of conquest--a right undlsputed-
we came into possession of Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Aslotic archipelago. 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 cesslon of.foreign territory ac-
qulted by the United States contained
clauses providing that the territory ul-
tInately should be erected Into states
Of the Union. 1--WE can confer state
hood upon these territories when in our
Judgment 1t is proper to do so. Nobody
can callInto- question our right to-ex-
erclse our judgment in this matter.
The Right to Govern.
,If we acquire territory" he contin-
uod, 1.-THE very act carries with It the
right to govern. Who" he demanded
| with dramatic force, "can govern now
in Cuba or in Porto Rico but the United
States? That question is settled-set-
tied by the circumstances of the case.
The question is now what disposition
shall we make OF the territory that has
come into our possession?"
Mr.. Teller thought 1t duty of our
people and legislatures to keep in mind
constantly the great principle upon
which this government is founded, that
the Just powers OF u government arc
derived from the consent of the gov
erncd. I've ought" said he, ito ex-
tend to the people of these possessions
the power to govern themselves as soon
as they are prepared TO exercise that
power.
1--WE are coming to deal with the
Creat test question the American people
have met since 1861. l anticipate much
dlflculty and embarrassment, but have
at no time felt the distrust that has
been manifested by many of our peo-
pie"
The declarations of Congressional
resolutions with reference TO Cuba he
believed might have been made applI-
cable to the peoples Of all the acquired
possessions.
"It this government says to The people
of this acquired territory" said Mr..
Teller, 1--WE will give you self-govern-
ment. we will not need an army of
O,OOO in Cuba, 10000 in Porto Rico. and
10000 in the Philippines. To say this to
those people is the only way to escape
q great standing army.
"I am not one" he said, further
along, ito turn these possessions back
| to Spain, but do believe that we ought
to give them the opportunity to govern
themselves. 1 may say that nobody
wants these possessions made into
states now. No public man Is in favor
OF such a plan, so far as am aware.
Yet, in course Of time we may take
them In"
Folly to Talk Imperialism.
So far and as soon as possible Mr..
Teller believed that the inhabitants of
Cuba should be given solf-govenment,
but he did not believe that the United
States should leave the infant power
thus established rs prey OF any other
| nation either through conquest or
treuty. He believed II folly TO tnlk OF
imperialism" as applied to this coun-
| try. No man or set of men had any IN
tentlon Of establishing In this country
the European policy of imperialism and
| none would champion such n course
mo colonial system, such as England
established years ago In India, VIII ever
be established under the stars ana
stripes" declared Mr.. Teller. our flag
will always float over liberty and hap
plness Insured to all the people beneath