Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-21
FOB TO ANNEXATION
House Hears First Speech on
Philippine Problem.
Mr.. WILLIAMS OBJECTIONS
Would Cost ss14o,ooo.o 900 Annually to Hole,
Filipinos III Subjection. Under the
Constitution, Citizenship Could
Not be Denied Them.
(Ry TeIegraph.)

(Ry Telegraph.)
WASHINGTON, Dec 2O.-The House
today listened to the first speech on the
subject of annexation Of the Philip
rines. Mr.. Williams, Of Mississippi. a
Democratic member of the Foreign At
fairs Committee, in an hours speech,
stated his opposition to policy which
would bring the islands under the
sphere of United States influence
Physically, he said, the islands would
prove a great disappointment. They
We're thickly populated with peoples Of
afford home or opportunity for Ameri-
can citizens. In the annexation of ter
ritory of 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 full
filled none Of these tests.
THE CASE OF CUBA.
In the case of Cuba. 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, a fact not generally
known. Her people could easily be as
Simulated. Cuba was practically con
tiguious. She lay directly within the
sphere of American influence.
We want no unwilling subjects"
said Mr.. Williams. 1--WE want no OPP
Eortunty for the exercise Of tyranny
The South is practically hostile to the
absorption OF q great population, alien
i'll race, blood color and CUSTOMS
He summed up the objections to the
annexation of the Philippines. They lay
1000 miles from our coast. Not a sin
gle geographical defensive or racial
would project US 1000 miles into the
melee Of the Orient.ssWe would have to
hold in subsection 100000 Filipinos at
a cost Of s140,000,000 annually.
And as the house was considering an
agricultural bill, he said, it might be
we'll to bear in mind who would in the
end have to pay the increased taxes.
Taxes could be shifted and shifted until
they reached the farmer. Then they
were shiftable no longer. He argued
that citizenship could not be denied the
natives of the islands. if they were an
ncSed They came within the purview
Of the Fifteenth Constitutional Amend
nient.
BY VIRTUE OR RESIDENCE.
They became citizens ipso facto, as
soon as the islands We're an
nexed. He had been asked why, if
Mississippi had been able to deal with
the race question, the people Of the
United States would not be able to do
50 in the Philippines The difference
was that the people Of Mississippi I'M
cierstood the problem with which they
had to deal. 1t came home to them by
actual contact The people Of the Uni
ted States who would have to solve 1t
would do SO theoretically and they
would fail There must be little su-
rremack. If white supremacy were not
guaranteed in Hawaii he declared that
30 per cent. of the Caucasians would not
remain there. While he opposed the
annexation. he said, he should not re
turn the Philippine Islands to Spain.
HAUL DOWN THE FLAG.
Il should leave the islands where they
were the day after Dewey's glorious
victory at Manila I should haul down
for what it means, not for itself. It is
nothing but a piece of bunting and
when some one announces that it must
not come down, care not how high his
station. he says something unworthy OF
himself and his country The flag
should do so and the American people
must pull it down. We would not let
any other country do it," prolonged
applause on Democratic side)
Proceeding, Mr.. Williams argued that
if the Philippines could not take care
OF themselves they would fall under the
influence of England or France, or Ger
many. Our interest in them was the
commercial interest. We had in the
East generally interest in an "open
door, policy. If any other country got
possession of the Philippines it would
not do worse than Spain did.
TRADE INSIGNIFICANT.
In any event our trade with the Phil
inpines was mere drop in the bucket
and if we retain possession of them we
would have to sacrifice the "open door,
policy in the Orient or go back on the
if laws must extend over the islands,
and, if they did, it would be absurd for
Us to exercise one policy in the Philip
pines and contend for another in China.
There was still another solution Of the
problem, Mr.. Williams said, If we did
not want to give the islands their in
dependence or let them fall under the
sway Of another country, we could sell
them as a war indemnity to England.
She would bring to them civilization.
I he islands would get freedom of religion
social and naval problem, and an ever
lasting, perpetual foreign policy. Mr..
Williams remarks were listened to
With careful attention and his coll
leagues gave him a hearty round Of
applause when he concluded.
AGRICULTURAL BILL.
The agricultural bill was then passed.
The provision inserted in the bill to be
used as a means af retaliating against
Germany and other countries was pass
cd with slight amendment which
gives the Secretary Of the Treasury dis
cl elton in refusing the delivery Of goods,
adulterated or deleterious to health, in
stead of making refusal to deliver such
goods mandatory. The bill carries
50. G96,322, or $1S7, 100 more than the cur
rent law.
Several resolutions from the River