The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-21
SENATOR PLATT STATES THE IN
PANSIONIST'S VIEWS.

4 few days back The Times d discussed
the speech made by Senator Vest upon
the right Of the United States 10 acquire
foreign territory and We maintained that
although he had not defined the subject
as critically as IS its due. he was in the
main right. Senator Plat. of Connecticut
has now replied 20 Mr.. Vest and has
stated the position Of the cXpansionists
from the constitutional point Of view.
A noticeable fact in Mr.. Platt's discus
sion of the subject is a resort by him to
the opinions Of justsices of the Supreme
Court of the United States for the true
construction Of the constitution in mat
ters of this sort. when questions af-
decting the powers Of the government as
bearing upon the States Of the Union or
the citizens Of the Union are up for adj
Indication the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States is final and
every department OF the government and
every citizen must accept its decision as
the final arbitrament of the question. But
II is not the province Of the Supreme
Court OF the United States to define what
shall be the policy or course Of the gov
ernmont Of the United States in ending
war with foreign power ana establish
ing the status Of such Of the territory Of
that foreign power as our armies may
have occupied. Those are political ques-
lions, and though constitutional questions
Of a certain sort they are constitutional
questions TO be determined in the light
OF history, tradition and the nature of the
government as history and traditions dis
close that nature. When these questions
are 10 be solved we know of no guide so
dangerous or unsafe as "a justice OF the
Supreme Court Of the United States. 1t
is his habit TO solve questions by putting
them 10 the test Of the letter Of the law.
But questions Of this nature are to be
solved upon the broad principles OF rea-
son and expediency ana the judge can
never know anything of eNpediency. We
think. therefore. that Mr.. Vest made a
mistake in quoting from the Dred Scott
case to maintain his argument ana ,lr.
Plat did not aid himself at all IN quot
ing from Justice Gray, who is, perhaps,
the most unsafe of all the justices who
have ever sat in that court in his method
Of dealing with political questions.
No intelligent arbitrator to this discIs-
sion Will deny Mr.. Platts claim thai "the
right to acquire territory is an element
Of nationality" and that the Uni-eI
States have the right in as full degree
an any other nation. But when the look
into that right from the standpoint of the
nature of our government we are forced
10 admit that its nature and spirit being
,nsid 'et the right is subject TO Tie
purpose for which the acquisition is
made II our commerce in the far east
requires the presence I'm those waters Of a
large naval force and that force cannot
be maintained there without a naval sta-
ton for its base, we clearly have right
10 acquire territory i'm the far East FOR
establishing q naval station. Upon the
same principle We may acquire enough
land aloug the banks OF the Nicaragua
Canal TO furnish as q pedis posito for
protecting and defending the canal and
both acquisitions would be made with no
thought whatever Of the territory ac-
quirod becoming subsequently a State or
States OF the Union.
But when we acquire a broad area Of !
territory that is TO be an integral part Of |
our political system. having population. !
manufacture. governing bodies and an |
that pertains 10 the political control Of /
men. we are then widening our Union |
and political system. and when we do |
that Il must be in the direction of Great
ing new States OF the Union or the ma. /
ture OF the Union viii be changed so as 10 |
consist IN part OF free and equal States
and IN part Of territories always 90 re-
main territories without an equal voice
In our government That is a plebald
for which there is no room In tie
theory OF our government.
The question comes down then 20 tiiis.
II Mr. Platt and his associates propose
10 acquire the Philippines and adnit them