The record-union., 1898-12-21
Teller Occupies the First Half Of the ses-
sIoR Of the Senate.
Speaks in Advocacy Of the Theory
That There Are No Restrictions
Upon the Right of the United
States to Expand Its Borders So
as to Include Far Distant Ter
ritory.

DAY session OF the senate With d
speech in advocacy of the theory that
there are no restrictions upon the right
of the United States to expand its
borders SO as to include far distant
territory. He went quite thoroughly
into the legal points bearing upon the
question, and incidentally discussed at
some length the form of government
for the Philippines, saying that he
would encourage self government
among the islanders, and would give
them the most liberal government
which they were capable of conducting,
but that he would not take down the
American flag where once planted.
The remainder of the session was
given up to the Nicaragua Canal bill.
Senator Caffery was the only speaker
| on this subject, and he opposed the
Morgan bill.
In his invocation at the opening of
tc-day's session Of the Senate the
Chaplain returned thanks for the mer-
| cies of this memorable year; praised
God for his guardianship Of our sol
diers and sailors: for the not
able triumphs attending our arms; for
| the successful negotiations resulting
in the treaty of peace soon to be deliv-
ing friendship between this country
and the Dominion of Canada, and for
other mercies of which this country
and it's people have been beneficiaries.
The House resolution providing to
adjourn Congress from December 21st
to January 4th was adopted without
division.
Gallinger of New Hampshire favor
Isoa aIxrt Tod D,ano
viding for a committee of Senators to
visit Cuba and Porto Rico with the OBJ
ject of ascertaining the conditions on
the islands and reporting them with
recommendations to the Senate, but on
Hale's objection to present consider
alton, the resolution was placed on
the calendar.
On motion of Hoar of Massachusetts,
it was ordered that on February 22d,
Immediately after the Senate conven-
ed, Washington's farewell address be
read by Wolcott Of Colorado.
A bill authorizing General M. L.
Bates Of the United States Army to
accept the designation of the Legion
of Honor presented by the President of
the French republic was passed.
A bill to extend the time for the con-
struction of a bridge across the Col
umbia River between the States of
Oregon and Washington by the Oregon
and Washington Bridge Company was
passed.
In accordance with the notice given
yesterday, Teller of Colorado then ad-
dressed the Senate on Vests resolution
declaring that under the Constitution
no authority is given to acquire ter
ritory to be held and governed per
manently as colonies. Teller's ad-
dress was a constitutional argument.
He did not think there was the slight
est question of the power Of this go,
ernment to acquire foreign territory.
IF we are a nation he declared,
Eve have the power to exercise the
rights of a nation-all the rights of any
| sovereign power
Referring to the territory acquired
by the United States during the recent
war, Teller said: I'VE have already
acquired this territory. We need as a
matter Of fact, no treaty with Spain
to confirm our right to it. BY right
of conquest-a right undisputed-we
come into possession of Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Asiatic archipelago
They are ours just as certainly as
they could be made so by treaty We
can confer statehood upon these ter
ritories when in our judgment it is
proper so to do. Nobody can call into
question our right to exercise our
judgment in this matter.
IF We acquire territory he con-
tinued, 'the very act carries with it
the right to govern. If this govern
ment will say to the people of this ac-
Quired territory, We will give self
government we will not need an army
of 10000 in Cuba, 10000 men in Porto
Rico, and 10000 in the Philippines.
To say this to those people is the only
way to escape a great standing army.
Il am not one to turn these posses
sions back to Spain, but I do believe
that We ought to give them the oppor-
tunity to govern themselves I may
say that nobody wants these posses
sions made into States now No pub
lie man is in favor of such a plan, so
far as I am aware yet. In the course
of time we may take them in."
So far and as soon as possible Teller
believed the inhabitants Of Cuba
should be given self government but
he did not believe that the Unitedd
States should leave the infant power
thus established as a prey of any other
nation, either through conquest or
treaty. He believed it folly to talk of
imperialism" as applied to this coun-
try. No man or senate of men had any
intention of establishing in this coun-
try the European policy of imperialism,
and none would champion such a
course.
Teller said he knew that the Fi1ipi-
nos We're incapable of establishing a
government equal to the government
of our States, and that he would en-
courage committees among them to es-
ia ablish the best governments they were
capable Of. He would not go to war
with the people of the Philippines in
order to force our institutions upon
them. He would consult them as to
the form Of government, and he be-
lieved that by pursuing this course, we
should avoid the necessity of war with
the natives. Their government might
not be as perfect as ours, but all ae-
counts agreed that the natives were