The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-13


whe;snlng argument Of the expsnsIoassts
WA that the constitution apples alone 10
the states OF the Union. In favor II what
he termed 'gnis nsens,rous proposition"
be sa.1 the exuanEicGisss quoted Daniel
Webster, for whose opinions he himself
had the highest respect. The argument
Of Mr.. Webster referred to had been made
in Q debate with John e. Calhoun WHEN
slavery was q dominant iszGs. Mr.. Cal
houE had maintained that inasTnacS az
slavery was recognized bT fas Fs1erI
constitution, its extension :n.o The terri
tories acquired BY the United States WAS
constitutional. Then & Was that aT-
Webster had declared that the eensssiu-
ton applied TO the ssafss alone
ITO say" declared Vest. THAI citizens
Of a territory are excluded froua the psfvi-
leses guaranteed by the bill Of rights ara
are merely subjects OK the arbitrary Wiz
of congress, is a nsongtroas proposition.
but fortunately the supreme court had de-
tezuined that question In many cases.
II do net deny" continued Vest. THE
power Of the Federal government TO aE-
quire territory, ba, / do deny It's power
10 acquire territory psopie6 with Millions.
without their consent and with no infen-
ton OF comforting UPON teem citizenship.
may be answered fhAt the point Is not
GOOD: that fl may be Graded by the taking
In OF vast tracts Of lands peopled with
barbarians. 20 be held merely for COM
merclai advantages. When the congress
Of the United States shall become so de-
graded as this. IL ix only a question Of
time until the end shall corae.
I'VE are great people," continued
Vest. I'VE are told this country can do
anything, constitution or no constitution.
We are a great people, II Ii true. but we
!. cannot do more than other great people
that conquered the world. not with steel
ships and modern cannon. but with bare
swords and primitive gaiIeys. The colonial
system destroyed all hope of rspubi.carIism
in the old times. II h an appeudags OF
monarchy. II can exist In TO free coun-
try, because II uproots and eliminates the
basis Of all republican insututsons-that
governments derive their Just powers from
the consent Of the governed. know not
what may be done with the glafnor of for
eign conquest and greed of the n11ney-
making classes OF this country. For my
self. / would rather quit public life this
minuie~nay. would be willing to yield
life itself-rather than give my consent
20 this wicked attempt TO revoIstionize
our government and TO substitute the prin-
cipjes OF the hereditary enemy for the
teachings OF Washington and his associ
: ates."
Mr., Platt OF Connecticut, In expressing
the hope that Vest would not ask for Inn
mediate action on his resolution, said he
desired to offer some remarks upon II, bat
was not prepared today to do 80. He did
not. he said. acauiesce In the law as stated
by the Missouri senator. He believed that
the power to acquire territory was inherent
I'm the nation. and was not subject TO lin
fation. In the remarks he proposed TO
! submit he would endeavor to establish
this belief He thought II perfectly evil
dent that II the United States. In fighting
- war. came into possession Of territory.
the progress of Its army and navy could
not be stopped until the constituted author
tiles should declare whether II was the pur-
.pose Of the government to hold the acquired
territory with the ultimate intention Of con-
farring statehood upon its inhabitants.
In response to an inquiry by Hoar. Plat
declared that the power OF the government
to acquire territory was full and plehary.
To this proposition unless II we're accompa-
Med by declarations as to the purpose Of
the government for the territory acquired.
which purpose should DO within the power
OF the constitution to confer. Hoar said he
desired to enter his emphatic dissent.
Morgan called up the Nicaragua canal
bill. which was read In extenso, ard Tur-
pie thereupon suggested 10 Morgan the I'D
visibility az postponing the consideration
Of tho bill until after January I. He called
attention 10 the fact that the president in
his message. suggested that matters should
remain In statu quo until tho report of the
canal commission was made. I, was an
open secret. be said. that the comm .ssion
would report by the frat of the new year
The report would deal with questions time
~ ard vitality important In connection With
the bill. 1t would resort officially upoa the
feasibility Of the enterprise. the practicable
lily OF routes and the estimated ekpcndi-
lures. The work OF the commission had
cost a quarter of million. Why not walt?
Who go IL blind?
Morgon said that the country had
reached conclusion upon this question
ana would not lie satisfied. he thought,
Ia see this session pass without the enact
ment OF legislation which would secure the
building OF the canal Morgan said Niea-
ragua and Costa Rica recognized the uni
vefsai opinion OF mankind, that the canal
acress the is'hmus must be built under the
protection. control and management of some
martins power. The terms OK The Memo
cal-Cardenaa concessions proved this. The
~ s"fei'ish tSpauHes became parties 10
me stock IN the capital when organized
Nicaragua retaining per cent Of thu paid
up stock ana Costa Rica liz per cent.
Thes had waived their sovereign rights In
favor or the eongress ot The United States
They had waived them for the benefit OF
theft countries. In order 10 accomplish tina,
without wh'eh they ware the most minute
microscopic dots On the map of the word
IL was pledged IN that treaty wish Mica.
rsgue to protect the earal Our arm.s:
MUST 50 there. IL TIRE rights II the cana
were Invaded.
The rishts os an exclusive charter PCS.
sessei under tho treaty ~ iSs7 were In yfo-
aton ot the Clayton-BaIwcr treaty w.th