The National tribune., 1898-12-29
A
WATERn
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pie of this acquired territory" said Mr.. Tel
Ter, We will give You self-gO' ernment,
we will not need an army Of $4,000 men III
Cuha. 10000 in Porto Rico and i0000 in The
Philippines To say this to tn ise PEG lie
is the only way to escape a great standing
army.
i am not one" he added, "to turn these
possessions hack 10 Spain, but / do believe
that we ought TO give them the opportunity
TO govern them>elvts. | may say that no
body wants these possessions made into
States now. No public man is in favor of
such plan, SO far as / am aware. Yet, in
course of time, we may take them in"
As soon as possible MIR Teller believed
that the inhabitants of Cuba should he given
self government, but he did not b.lieve that
the United States should leave the infant
over thus established as prey of any other
Nation, either through conquest or trea v
He believed it folly 10 talk of imperialism
as applied to this country No man or set of
men had any intention of establishing IN
this country the European policy OF I'M
perialism, and none would champion such a
course.
Mr.. Teller said he knew the Filipinos were
incapable of establishing Government
equal TO the Government Of orr States, and
that lie would encourage communities among
them to establish the best Government they
were capable Of We were under obligations
to help them. The pc pile of the United
States had foughl the war with Spain, and
not the Administration or Congress
In the House Mr. Williams Miss, d. J
made strong and stirring speech against the
annexation of the Philippines Physically,
he said, the islands would prove great dis-
appointment. They were thickly populated
with peoples of heterogeneous races and
could never afford homes or opportunities for
| American citizens. In the annexation of
| territory in the past the area annexed had
| been always coterminOus, except in the case
| of Alaska, and we had in each case increased
our population and our power OF national
| defense. These had been the tests in the
past. The Philippines fulfilled none of these
| tests. If Cuba should be willing In the
| future to throw in her lot with US the case
would be different. Sixty-six per cent of
| Cuba's population was Caucasian, q fact not
generally known. Her people could easily
| be assmiiated Cuba was practically con-
tiguous and is directly within the sphere of
| American influence.
1--WE want no unwilling subjects" said
| Mr. Williams. I'VE want no opportunity
| for the exercise of tyranny. The South is
especially hostile to the absorption OF a great
| population alien in race, blood, color and
| customs"
Mr.. Williams summed up the objections to
the annexation of the Philippines as follows:
| They are 1900 miles from our coast; not a
single geographical, defensive or racial test
could he applied; annexation would project
us COO miles into the melee of the Orient;
we would have to hold in subsection 8, OOO.-
600 Filipinos at cost Of $40, OOO, 900
| annually.
| In the Senate on Dec 81 few private
pension bills were passed and several Joint
and concurrent resolutions were adopted pro-
viding for the improvement of certain har-
bOrs and directing the Secretary of War to
have surveys and estimates of cost made Of
various river and haybor Improvements.
| Mr.. Daniel (Va.) called from the calendar
the resolution of Mr.. Proctor (Vt providing
for a committee of Senators to visit Cuba and
Porto Rico with a view to ascertaining the
conditions of those islands and reporting their
observations to the Senate us guide for its
action.
Mr.. Daniel moved to proceed to the con-
sideration of the resolution, whereupon Mr..
Hale demanded an aye and nay vote, which
resulted in the defeat OF Mr. Daniels motion
by vote OF 80 to 8. A call of the Senate
disclosed the absence of quorum No
further action was taken on the resolution.
and alter brief executive session the Senate
adjourned to Jan next
In the House to-day Mr. Henderson iowa.
X. !, from the Committee on Rules, reported
! iayorably the Bailey resolution directing the