The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-20

! rect or implied. says we must organize
| the acquired territory or confer citizcn-
ship upon the people who inh lbit it?'
Mr.. Platt declared that chief Jus;ice
Taney's opinion in the Dred Scott case
! was mere dictum' and that ~ was
| too late in these days to resurrect the
Dred Scott decision as a basis OF con-
stitutional action on the part OF the
| United States. In response to a ques-
tion from MIR. Allen. Mr.. Platt said he
did not think there was any Limitation
ON the power OF the United States to
| acquire territory.
| AS complete as the power OF Russia
for instance, in such matters?" asked
| Mr.. Allen.
Yes: the right TO acquire territory
Is an element OF nationality. and / 40
not believe there il any obligation to
| give to the people of the acquired ter
ritory the right OF self-government un-
/ IL such time as they are fit to exercise
that right. IL we believe the people OF
a country acquired are not fit for the
government OF themselves. IL Is our
/ duty to give them the most liberal gov
/ ernment they are capable of accepting
and tn educate them as best We may to
the point where they will be capable OF
self-goNernment
The constitution does not confer the
right of suffrage" He went into tlds
point at length. citing the fact that
women and children are citizens. but do
not vote: that neither do the citizens
OF the District OF Columbia: that in
Massachusetts those who could not read
and write could not vote. That other
states denied suffrage i'm part. IL Was.
he said. a matter OF state regulation.
Mr.. Hoar asked Mr.. Piatt whether he
decried the doctrine that governments
derived their just powers from the con-
sent OF the governed. Mr.. Plat Ie-
piled that the consent Of all those gov
erned was not necessary. When he
first became a voter he had to pay Sl3t
for real estate in order To receive the
privilege OF voting. In conclusion. Mr..
Plat said he could not understand the
sentiments or motives OF those who
wished To circumscribe the powers of
the nation. Why. he askcd. should we
belttle those powers or strive by sub
tlety and sophistry to hamper the pro-
grees and growth OF the country?
Rather than pursue this course, Why
should senators not wish the nation
godspeed In its mission OF extending
our free Institutions as Ear as possible?
AS for himself. he knew our people
To be a liberty loving and a right do
ing people. and he had no misgivings
that any administration Of the United
States would fail i'm it's duty toward the
people Of any acquired territory. He
had faith I'm the government and faith
I'm it's future. and had no disposition to
Condescend To carping criticism or
craven fear. He had not lost conf
dence I'm the doctrine that right makes
might. and with a nation guided by
that principle. as he believed this nation
To be. there could be no doubt that Il
would dare To do its duty bravely to-
ward any people which might fail with
In the limits of its jurisdiction. 1t had
.N...a
since the liberty bell had proclaimed
the signing of the constitution. and Il
was not for us now to declare that we
cannot proclaim liberty to any land
one foot from the original shores. "Oh.
for the faith Of our fathers" he eN-
claimed.
The conference report on the urgency
deficiency bill was agreed To.
The bill granting the right of way
through the San Francisco mountain
forest reservation In Arizona To the
Saginaw Southern railroad which
passed the house on Saturday. was re-
ported To the senate.
Mr.. Gallinger. from the committee on
general expenses. then attempted To re-
port the resolution introduced by Mr..
Proctor. providing for he appointment
of "A select committee of the senate u
visit Cuba and report upon the condi-
tions prevailing there.
hf SthbAf AIfb A''h W. .Nltdid-
qua canal bill and Mr.. Berry of Ar
kansas spoke upon this measure
He announced preliminarily that on
general PRINCIPLES he was favorable 20
the construction Of a canal across the
isthmus and he had been so for many
years before he felt that such an en-
terprise would promote the interests
of the southern states. but always con-
tended for it's construction by the gov
ernment Of the United States He had
been hopeful ON this account that IL
might be possible to eliminate the
Maritime Canal company from the
question entirely. He had voted
against the companv's charter in 1857.
Still. said he. Mr.. Morgan insists that
this accomplishment Ii out Of the ques-
tion at present. II this be true. the
question now is whether the work of
constructing the canal should proceed
under the name Of the Maritime Canal
company or be suspended entirely. In
this connection he also took into con-
sideration the additional fact that an
other company would secure the con-
cession from Nicaragua to take effect |
Immediately upon the expiration OF the
Maritime company's grant. hence II !
seemed difficult to get away from cor
poratlon interests. but he hoped that !
before tn. final vote all corporate in
terests would be eliminated and in view |
OF this fact he had considered IL de- !
II not incumbent upon the sem |
ate. To make the pending bill as per- |
feet as II could be made. and IL was to |
this end that his amendment had been /
made. He did not commit himself TO /
vote for the hill. even IL his amend |
ments were adopted. but would deter
mine that question when a vote was
reached. MIR. Berry then explained the |
provisions of his amendments.
Mr. Allen of Nebraska followed Mr.. !
Berry. He was not opposed to the |
canal scheme. he said. because he an |
"a gonized certain features of the bill. I
one Of its most perniclous features |
would be eliminated by the adoption Of /
the Berry amendments. namely. the |
bond feature. He was opposed to the |
provision for the adjustment of the /
claims of the Maritime Canal company. |
He wanted the government protected |
from all loss and all possible fraud and |
|