The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-21
TELLER AFTER TERRITORY.
THE FREE SILVER LEADER TALKS
OF SOVEREIGN RIGHTS.

A constitutional Argument in Favor
of Taking in New TerritOry-Cnn
Confer Statehood Upon New Pos
sessions, He Says, Whenever IL Is
Proper TO no so-Grcatest Question
! since 1S6i-Wants No Colonial
| system, hut SeIf-GOvernment.
| Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Teller oc-
/ cupied the first half of to-day's session Of
the Senate with speech in advocacy of
the theory that there are no restrictions
| upon the right Of the United States to ex-
! pand its borders so as to include far dis
| tant territory.
Mr.. Tcllers address, like that of Mr..
! Plat, 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 dis
cussion of the policy of expansion, except
Of course, in an incidental and inferential
way
In view of Mr., Platts very able exposi-
tion of the question, Mr. Teller thought
he might omit properly much that he had
intended TO discuss. He did not think
there was the slightest question of the
power Of this government 10 acquire for
eign territory.
IF we are a nation" he declared, eve
have the power to exercise the rights Of
nation-all the rights of any sovereign
power"
He believed the founders OF this govern
ment intended to found nation, and the
idea that they carried their intent into
execution had been sustained by the Sen
ate, House of Representatives and the
courts ever since. He declared that 1t
pas a prerogative Of nation to defend
itself. When the country was called upon
in 1861 to meet this question, it met fairly
and settled ii for all time So far as
the United States was concerned at least
the question was settled finally at Apo
mattox.
Has Sovereign Powers.
"Then," declared Mr.. Teller. 1--WE took
our place as q nation endowed with all
the powers of n sovereign, and we possess
the powers to-day"
Referring to the territory acquired by
the United States during the recent war,
Mr. Teller said:
1--WE have already acquired this terri
| tory. We need as a matter of fact no
treaty with Spain to confirm our right to
It, by right Of conquest--a right unds-
puted-we came into possession Of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Asatic 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 cession of foreign territory acquired
by the United States contained clauses
providing that the territory ultimately
should be erected into states of the union
eve can confer statehood upon these
territories, when in our judgment it Is
proper to do so. Nobody can call into
question our right to exercise our judg-
ment in this matter.
Carries the Right to Govern.
"If we acquire territory" he continued.
"the very act carries with the right TO
govern Who" he demanded, with dra-
matte force, "can govern now In Cuba or
in Porto Rico but the United States? That
question is settled-settled by the very cir
| cumstances of the case. The question is
now, What disposition shall we make Of
the territory that has come into our pos
| session. "
Mr.. Teller thought 1t a duty Of our peo-
pie and legislatures to keep In mind con-
stantly the great principles upon which
this government is founded, that the just
powers of a government are derived from
the consent of the governed. He believed
the United States could not govern the
possessions acquired, absolutely In viola
ton of this fundamental principle.
1--WE ought" said he. ito extend TO the
people of these possessions the power 10
govern themselves as soon as they are
prepared to exercise that power.
Anticipates No DiHIcuIty.
1--WE are" declared Mr. Teller, coming
to deal with the greatest question the
American people have met since 1861. 1
anticipate much difficulty and embarrass-
ment, but have at no time felt The dis
trust that has been manifested by many
Of our people"
Mr.. Teller said that the United States
did not go to war with Spain for conquest,
but for freedom and humanity As soon
as the relief which was proposed had been
extended to the people of Cuba, they
ought, he thought, to be permitted to
govern themselves This was the declar-
alton Of the resolutions adopted by the
Congress The declaration applied only
to Cuba, but he believed it might have
been made applicable TO the peoples Of
the acquired possessions.
IF this government VIII say to the peo-
pie of this acquired territory" said Mr..
Teller, "'We will give you self govern
ment' we viii not need ar army Of $4,000
men in Cuba, 10000 in Porto Rico. and
10000 in the Philippines. To say this to
those people is the only way to escape
great standing army"
Il am not one" he said further along,
40 turn these possessions back to Spain,
bur 1 do believe that we ought to give
them the opportunity to govern themselves
I may say that nobody wants these pcs
sessions made into states now. No pub
lie man is in favor of such a plan so far
as ! am aware. Yet, In course Of time
we may take them in.
No Colonial system Wanted.
mo colonial system, such as England
established years ago in India, will ever
be established under the Stars and Stripes"
declared Mr.. Teller. THE flag Will always
float over liberty and happiness insured
TO all the people beneath It's folds. Al
though all OF them may not be accorded
the fullest rights of American citizens
the flag will float as an emblem OF good
government and protection TO them as it
does 10 US"
In repfv 10 a question from Mr. TilInnan