Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-13

that it may be evaded by the taking in of
vast tracts of lands peopled with barbar-
ians to be held merely for commercial ad-
ed States shall become SO degraded as this,
II It is only a question Of time until the end
I'VE are a great people," concluded Mr..
Vest. I'VE are told that this country can
90 anything. constitution or no constitu-
but We cannot do more. than another great
people did-a people that conquered the
world. not with steel ships and modern
tive galleys. The colonial system destroy
ed all hope of republicanism in the old
time. It is an appendage OF monarchy. 1t
uproots and eliminates the basis of all
republican institutions-that governments
derive their just powers from the consent
OF the governed. !! know not what may be-
done, with the glamour OF foreign con-
quest and greed of the money-making
classes OF this country. For myself. / would
would be willing to yield life itself-rather
than give my consent to this fantastic AMI
wicked attempt to revolutonize our gov
ernment and to substitute the principles of
our hereditary enemy for the teachings OF
Washington and his associates"
Mr. Platt. of Connecticut. in expressing
the nope that Mr.. Vest would not ask for
immediate action upon his resolution. said
he desired to offer some remarks upon IL
6;d 6nf wa was Rot m prepared today to do so. He
stated by the Missouri senator. He he
ieved that the power to acquire territory
was inherent in the nation, and was NOT
Sro1est Slopsd 70 p imitation imitation In the remarks he
establish this belief He thought it per-
fectly evident that, II the United States
IN IN r;,g ngn;,ing war. came into possession
OF territory, the progress of its army and
navy could not be stopped until the con-
Stltuted authorities should declare whether
II t,,S was :, me purpose Of the government to
mate intention of comforting statehood
upon its inhabitants.
In response to an inquiry by Mr.. Hoar.
MT. piatt declared that the power of the
and plenary. N''
To this proposition. unless It were ac-
companied by declarations as to the mr.
pose Of the government with the terri
tory acquired, which purpose should be
within within The The power Of the constitution to
his emphatic dissent.
Mr; Morgan called up the Nicaragua ca
hai hhai pIii. which was read in extenso, and
Morgan the advisabiity of postponing the
consideration of the bill until after jan
uary !. He called attention to the fact
sested that matters should remain in statu
quo until the report Of the canal commits
SION was made. 1t was an open secret, he
the first Of the year. The report would
deal with questions timely and vltally i'm
portant In connection with the bill. 1t
ASPoAl upon CQe 1eaSlO1llty
of the enterprise. the practicability Of
routes and the estimated expenditure The
work of the commission had cost a quarter
Of Of a million. Why not wait? Why so it
Mr.: Morgan said that the country had
reached conclusion upon this question
and would not be satisfied; he thought. to
see this question pass without the enact
ment Of legislation which would secure
the building Of the canal.
Mr.. Morgan said the president, in whom
congress had so wisely and confidently In
trusted a fund Of fifty million dollars to
be used 'at his discretion could certainly
be trusted to hear and determine the OBJ
jections Of the Nicaragua or Costa Rica or
the stockholders of the Maritime Canal
Company. Mr.. Morgan said his plea was
for action. This bill did not seek to build
the canal. II simply placed the question in
the hands of the president.
:, In reply to u question, Mr. Morgan said
that he did not believe it would be COM
petent for the United States, independent
of any corporation. to proceed to the con-
struction of the canal under the treaty of
1867. At the conclusion of Mr. Morgan's
speech, the senate, at $40 p. m, adjourned,