New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-20
PRICE THREE CENTS.
EXPANSION POLICY UPHELD.
AN ABLE ARGUMENT BY SENATOR
PLATT, OF CONNECTICUT.
HE MAINTAINS THE RIGHT OF THE UNITED
STATES TO ACQUIRE TERRITORY AND
GIVE IT ANY FORM OF GOVERN
MENT 1T SEES FIT.
MENT 1T SEES FIT.
rRY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBCSE.I

fRY TELEGRAPH rsIBrSEl
Washington. Dec. 19-Tn the Senate to-day
interest centred chiefly about the reply wn'ch
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut had announced that
he would make 10 Mr. Vests singular speech
last week in denial OF the power OF the United
States TO acquire and hold colonies" Mr..
Platt used Mr. Vests resolution a text
though he declined to subscribe TO its peculiar
terminology. The Connecticut Senator. who Is
one Of the leading members of the Senate Com
mittee the Judiciary. took the broad and un-
assaiable ground that the United States had an
inherent right as a nation to acquire such terri
tory as 1t pleased. and bound By no
stitutonal fiction to give to It's newly acquired
possessions any particular form OF government
whatever. Mr. Patt's argument was sustained
and elaborate and his speech listened to
with the attention which It merited.
SENATOR PLATTS SPEECH.
Il do not propose to discuss the policy OF expan-
sion" said Mr.. Platt. In the preface 10 his argu-
ment II do not propose. either. TO discuss the
features OF the government might establish IN
any foreign territory might acquire. Expansion
has been law OF our National growth the MAIN
spring OF our National development. | shall MAIN
tain that the United States has shown a great ca
pacity for government In all trying times and un-
der many trying conditions. and that II is capable
to meet any emergency likely to arise.
II propose 10 confine myself to the question Of
the right or power denied by the resolution. shall
contend that the United States is a Nation and
that such 1t possesses every sovereign power
not reserved by the Constitution TO the States or 20
the people themselves: that the right to acquire
territory reserved and that. therefore.
that right is inherent right-a sovereign right.
right TO which there Is no limitation shall show.
also. that In certain instances this inherent SOW
ereign right is to be inferred from specific clauses
OF the Constitution itself"
THE RIGHT ALREADY SETTLED
Mr. Platt then made a constitutional argument.
quoting extensively from authorities treating OF
the question. In maintenance of his position Of the
right Of the United States acquire foreign ter
riiorv he quoted from the opinion Of Justice Gray
in the Chinese exclusion case. He declared that In
the discussion OF the annexation OF the Hawaiian
Islands the entire question Of this Governments
right to acquire foreign territory considered
thoroughly and that the Senate had settled IL sat-
isfactorily and rightly We did not annex the Ha
walian Islands a State" he said. "or with any
declaration that the territory should become
State We took 1t by cession. Our title 10 the ter
rtory IS perfect and complete and constitutional"
Mr. Platt maintained that the right 10 Florida
did not alone the quitclaim from Spain
bu. on deeper and broader right. He held that
the United States have the right to acquire terri
tory in all ways that are ceded to other sovereign
ma t!ons Of the world"
Further along Mr.. Plat suggested that II might
become necessary in the interest OF commerce or
some other for the United States to acquire
territory in Africa shall we be bound by the Con-
stituton to organize State from such acquired
territory. and TO admit It's Inhabitants 10 citzeh-
ship?' he asked.
suppose" he continued, the Senator from Ala
bama (Mr Morgan) secures the passage OF his bill
for the construction Of the Nicaragua Canal tand
I pray he may). and suppose In this connection u
should be deemed necessary for the United states
10 acquire a strip OF land along the route OF the
canal OF . 100000 acres-I think that is the amount
sueeested-can We not take IL? II We take II. what
clause Of the Constitution says We must organize
State OF the acquired territory or confer citizen
ship upon the people who inhnbit III?
Referring 10 Mr. Vests reliance on certain parts
OF the Dred Scott decision Mr.. Platt declared that
in ha light Of wears Chief Justice Taneys opinion
became mere dictum." and that 1t was now 100
late In these days. TO resurrect the Dred scout oe'
c,son as a basis OF constitutional action on the
mart OF the United States. Foreign territory haa
been acquired by this country In many ways ana
IN all Of them the right It exercised was inherent
and sovoroign and without Limitation Of any kind
Continuing Mr. Patt contended that the doc
trne ne was presenting was not new. ou, was
the doctrine OF the fathers. and he quoted motifs
as advancing the theory that acquired territory
/ might be governed province. but nor as
State The remark applied to the possioIi'y OF
/ the requirement of Louisiana and Canada.
AN ELEMENT OF NATIONALITY.
IN response 10 a question from Mr. Allen. Mr..
Plat, said that he did not think there was any
Limitation on the power of the Oh''ed States "
/ acquire territory.
AS complete as the power Of Russia for In
stance in such A natter" asked Mr.. Allen
Yes the right 10 acquire territory is an element
of nationality. And do not believe that there IS
arv obligation 10 give the people OF acquired
10 ,,v,sar Ipf
time as they fit 70 exercise that right. II We
houoye ne people OF A country acquired are not
s,ted for the government OF themselves. II Is our
duty 10 give hem the most nbera. government
.hsv are capable OF accepting and 70 educate them
49,, &C hes, II may be 20 the point where they Will
he capable OF self government The Constitution
does not confer the right OF sunrage
Mr. Platt said he could not agree with those VINO
con,onded that the requirement OF such territory
a. thar embraced IN Porto Rico and the Phihp-
n,,es is mer ace 20 the existence Of our kepuolc
This rnjstak. he SAID arises from the fact that
Mr. Vest and others who agree with him assume
.bo. tho Constitution guarantees the right OF suf-
rage and the right OF citizen living in certain
territory TO have II admitted as state. This
ossunprion was withou, foundation. as there was
M such guarantee In ne fundamental Law. True
tho Fifteenth Amendment prohibits the abridgment
NJ tho rght OF suffrage for reasons specified. but
that did not amount TO prescribing the right 10
vote Likewise IN some OF the states aouit men
who are citizens but who cannot read are ceh'en
the rignt 20 vote In fact. this was right regu-
lated by the States. These being the facts as MT
Pla,t saw them. he contended that MI VESTS
argument on this point fell 10 the ground tie also
said that the same line OF argument applied 10 tho
right OF Statehood.
NJ plat, held tina, the assertion made by Mr.
Vest that in the articles OF cession TO this country
Of the territory OF Alaska there was clause pro-
viding that Il should be ultimately made into
state was an error; that the deed from RUSSIA
| contained no such clause and that there was no
! ,,a,,,oo mas, or present either Of conferrlng
statehood on the territory or Of giving its lnhab'
! tants self government
CONSENT OF GOVERNED NOT NECESSARY
Mr. Hoar asked Mr.. Plat whether ne oec'is' 'n'
so,r,ra tbat governments derive their just powers