Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-21
RIGHT TO EXPAND
SENATOR TELLER DECLARES 1T IS
BEYOND QUESTION.
HE FAVORS SELF-G0VERNMENT
BELIEVES IN LETTING THE NATIVES
RULE THE COLONIES.
Would Give Them the Most Liberal
government Which They Are
Capable of Conducting
Would Never Haul Down
American Flag.
He FAV0Rs SELF-G0VERNMENT

Would Never Haul Down
American Flag.
WASHINGTON. Dec. Ex-senator Teller
occupied the first half of to-days session
of the senate with Il 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. He went quite thoroughly
into the legal points bearing upon the ques-
ton, and also incidentally discussed at
some length the form of government for
the Philippines. saying that he would en-
courage self-government among the island
ers. and would give them the most liberal
government which they We're 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 sub
ject, and he opposed the Morgan bill.
Mr.. Teller's address was a constitutional
argument, which he prefaced by saying
that in view of Mr.. Platt's very able en-
position of the question he (Teller) 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 to acquire foreign territory.
IF we are d nation" he declared. we
have the power to exercise the rights of a
nation-all the rights of any sovereign pow
err"
When the country was called upon in
1861 to meet this question, it met it fairly
and settled 1t for all time. So far as The
United States was concerned, the queS-
ton was settled finally at Appomattox.
Then" declared Mr.. Teller. we took
our place as a nation, endowed with all the
powers Of a sovereign, and we possess those
powers to-day
Referring to the territory acquired by the
United States during the recent war. Mr..
Teller said: I'VE have already acquired
this territory. We need. as a matter of
fact. nc treaty with Spain to confirm our
right to it. BY right of conquest-a right
undisputed-we came into possession of Gu
ba, Porto Rico and the Asiatic 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 pro-
viding that the territory ultimately should
be erected into states of the Union.
I'VE can confer statehood upon these
proper so to do. Nobody can call into
question our right to exercise our judgment
In this matter.
If We acquire territory" he. continued,
the very act carries with it the right
to govern. Who he demanded, with dra-
in mays Port toT Rico S but t fes Tn,te M9S STILES an Iuo That al
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 it a duty of our people
and legislators to keep in mind constantly
the great principle upon which this govern
ment is f~ounded-that the just powers of a
government are deriy lived from rom the s eGnse In
ITO extend to the people of these pos
sessions the power to govern themselves; as
soon as they are prepared to exercise thai
power"
resolutions with reference to Cuba, he be-
lieved. might have been made applicable
to the peoples of all the acquired posses
sions.
IF this government will say to the people
of this acquired territory said Mr.. Teller;
I'VE will give self-government.' We will
2O,OOO in Porto Rico. and 10000 in the Phil
ippines. To say this to these people is the
only way to escape a great standing army.
Il am not one" he said, further along.
ito turn these possessions back to Spain.
but do believe that we ought to give
them the opportunity to govern them-
selves. l may say that nobody wants these
possessions made into states now. No pub
lie man is in favor of such a plan: so far
as l am aware. yet. in course OF time. we
may take them in"
believed that the inhabitants of Cuba
should be given self-government. but he
did not believe that the United States
should leave the infant power thus es.a5-
it folly to 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 imperial
ism. and none would champion such a
course.
mo colonial system, such as England
established years ago, in India, will ever
be established under the stars and stripes
declared Mr.. Teller. Our flag will al
ways float over liberty. and happiness in
sured to all the people nSSsath its fold.
Though all of them may moi be accorded the
fullest rights of American citizenship. the
flag will float as an emblem of good govern
ment and protection to them as it does to
us"
Mr.. Teller said he knew that the Filipinos
were incapable of establishing a govern
and that he would encourage committees
among them to establish the best govern
ments 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 believed that
by pursuing this course We would avoid me
necessity of war with the natives. Their
government might not he as perfect Is
ours. but all accounts agreed that the ma
tivcs were tractable and intelligent and cap
able of progress.
Mr.. Proctor here interrupted Mr.. Teller to
read an extract from u letter from -Admira
Dewey concerning the character of the
Filipinos as follows: These people can be
governed without the slightest difficulty.
They readily give in to reason. and I have
not had the slightest difficulty in dealing
with them
Mr.. Proctor also read an extract from
the letter OF an army officer speaking in
terms of praise of the FilipinoS. and indt-
eating that there need be no difficulty with
them. Continuing. Mr.. Teller expressed the
opinion that the natives could not be gov
erned from Washington. They were sus-
ceptible to just and liberal treatment. and
there was no reason why. if they We're
capable of approaching them. our beneficent
institutions should not be extended to them.
He would give them all the liberty in this
respect that they were capable of enjoying,
and If in time they manifested capacity to
perform the duties of statehood he would
not be among those who would deny them
that boon.