The times., 1898-12-21
UNLIMITED SOVEREIGNTY
Rights Of the United States
Maintained by Mr.. Teller.
HIS SPEECH In THE SENATE
Senator Vests Resolution His theme
Sovereign Powers OF the Nation Are
Observation-Disclosures Government 70
Caba Under Protection of This Cou,~
try-Porto Rico anu the Philippines.

The power of the United States to exer-
else all the rights of a sovereign nation.
was the topic of Senator Teller's speech
in the Senate yesterday in refutation of
the position taken by Senator Vest in the
resolution introduced by the latter last
week.
Senator Teller's speech was in accord
ance with notice given by him Monday
after Senator Platt had affirmed the in
herent right of the United States to ac-
qure and govern territory. 1t was a con-
stitutional argument. and the policy of
expansion was not discussed except incl
dentialiy.
The question of the sovereign right of
the nation to acquire territory, Senator
Teller said. afforded no room for discus
sion. The power of acquisition was a
prerogative OF nationality and had never
in the history of the world been denied to
any sovereign power. The founders of
this Government contemplated the build
ing up of a nation. They carried their
intention into execution and the sover-
eign power of the country has been af-
iirmed time and again by legislative and
judicial bodies.
After the war. he said. We took our
place as 4 nation, endowed with all of
the powers of a sovereign. and we pos
sess these powers today The territory
now under discussion. Senator Teller said,
has already been acquired by the United
States, and there was no need as a mat
ter OF fact. of treaty with Spain to
demonstrate our right to 1t. BY undis-
puted right of conquest. the United
States came into possession of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Asiatic archipelago,
and they are ours as certainly as they
could be made so by treaty.
Speaking OF government for the terri
tcTies. Senator Teller said that We could
confer statehood on them when In our
Judgment 1t was fitting. Nobody could
call into question our right to exercise
our judgment in this matter. Upon prin-
clple. he said. there could no doubt of the
right OF the United States to acquire. and.
having acquired. to govern. The very act
OF acquisition carried with 1t the right to
govern. That question was settled by the
very circumstances OF the case. The qUes-
tion now was as to what disposition
should be made CT the territory which had
corre into our possession
The great principle upon which this Gov
e-nment is founded, that the just pow
consent of the governed should be kept
in mind constantly. he said. by the people
and legislators of the United States. But,
he added. the doctrine had many excep-
uons. There was no government in the
world founded upon a strict observance
of that declaration. and there never could
be. Another declaration of a free people.
he said. was that there should be no tax
alton without representation. and there
other.
Senator Teller thought that the relief
proposed for Cuba should be extended to
the other possessions. The declaration
made at the outset of the war, he said,
in reference to the free and independent
government to be established In Cuba,
applied in principle TO the other islands
now, and had the words cor any other
territory which we may acquire as a re-
suit Of the war. been added TO the dec
laration at that time it would have been
met with the approval CT the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
Il am not one he said. ito turn those
possessions back to Spain, but l do be-
lic.ye that we ought to give them an op-
portunity to govern themselves. Nobody
wants those possessions made into states
now. No public man is In favor of such
plan, as far as l am aware. Yet in
course Oh tiine we may take them In.
Senator Teller thought that the people
of Cuba ought to be given self-govern-
ment soon as possible but he DID not
believe that they should be left to prey
TO foreign countries. II think" he de-
clared. that we ought to say. and say
1t so that all the world may hear. that
we intend to give these people free and
independent government. but We do not
propose to see them become the prey of
foreign power either by treaty or con-
quest"
Letters were read by Senator Proctor
from Admiral Dewey and an army Off
GER both of them declaring that the pso-
pie OF the Philippines Were tractable and
easily governed Mr. Teller said that he
would have the people gwen every oppor-
tunity and encoura cement possible. and
If they developed qualities of statehood he
would grant them that