Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-21
FAVOR JUNKET TO THE ISLANDS.
proctOr's Resolution for Senatorial
Trim to Cuha RenOrted.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-In the senate
today the house resolution providing to
adjourn congress from December u to jan
uary 4 was adopted without division.
Mr.. Gallinger favorably reported Mr..
Proctor's resolution providing for a
committee Of senators 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.. Hare's objection to present con-
sideration the resolution was placed on the
calendar.
On motion OF Mr.. Hoar 1t was ordered
that on February %, Immediately after the
senate convenes, Washington's farewell ad-
dress be read by Mr.. Wolcott of Colorado.
A bill authorizing General A. e. Bates Of
the United States aramy to accept the deco
ration 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-
ton OF q bridge across the Columbia river
between the states Of Oregon and Washing
ton by the Oregon and Washington Bridge
company was passed.
Mr.. Teller, in the course Of his remarks
Said that the purchase Of terri
tory from Mexico. after the MlExaeun
war. was parallel with the present purchase
from Spain. In this case Mexico was pros
Arate at our feet and we said we want some
Of your territory and will pay you for It,
We held 1t frst by conquest and then by
purchase.
mo matter what was the provocation for
the war that was the case. 1t was a great
and grand acquisition. second only to the
Louisiana purchase, which made the Mexi-
can purchase possible. This is what we
propose to do with Spain. We conquered It
and now propose to purchase some Of Its
territory and besides this pay $40. 900, 900, a
mere bagatelle."
Mr.. Teller said he would ask the people
Of the Philippines what they wanted in the
way Of government and give 1t to them. The
sooner the people governed themselves the
better. He believed the people OF Luzon
capable Of self-government.
Teller Addresses Senate.
In accordance with the notice given yes
terday. Mr.. Teller then addressed
the senate upon Mr.. Vests resolution, de-
claring that under the constitution this
country Is not given the right to acquire
territory to be held and governed perma-
nently as colonies.
Mr.. Teller's address was an excellent argu,
ment, which he prefaced by saying tina.
in view Of Mr.. Platt's very able exposition
of the question, he (Teller) might omit
properly much that he had intended to dis
cuss. He did not think there was the slight
est question Of the power Of this government
to acquire foreign territory.
III We are a nation" he declared. I'VE
have the power to exercise the powers OF
a nation-all the rights of a sovereign power.
When the country was called upon in 1861
TO meet this question 1t met it fully and
settled 1t for all time. As far as the coun-
49, L. A. .
finally at Appomattox.
Then" continued Mr.. Teller, I'VE took
our place as a nation, endowed with all the
powers Of a sovereign and we possess those
powers today"
Referring to the territory acquired by the
United States during the recent war, Mr..
Teller said:
1--WE have already acquired this territory
and we need. as a matter of fact, no treaty
with Spain to authorize our right. 1t Is a
right undisputed. We came into possession
OF Cuba, Porto Rico and the Asiatic archi-
pelago. They are ours just as certainly
as they could be made so by treaty."
Mr.. Teller discussed briefly the statement
OF Mr.. Vest that many OF the deeds of
cesslon Of foreign territory acquired by the
United States contained clauses providing
that the territory ultimately should be
erected Into states of the union.
Right to Govern.
I'VE can confer statehood upon these ter
eitories," he said. when in our judgmen,
1t Is proper so to do. Nobody can call
into question our right to exercise our judg>
ment in this matter.
III We acquire territory" he continued.
"the very act carries with 1t 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-settled by the very circumstances
OF the case. The question is now. What dis
position shall We make OF the territory that
has come into our possession?
Mr.. Teller thought 1t a duty Of our legis-
lators and people to keep In mind con-
stantly the great principle on which this
government Is fo~unded-just powers of a
government are derived from the consent of
the governed. 1--WE ought said he. "to 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 greatest
question the American people have met since
1851. l anticipate much d~ificulty and en-
barrassment, but have at no time felt the
distrust that has been manifested by many
q our people,"
The declaration Of the congressional rese-