New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-21
PHILIPPINES MUST BE HELD.
THAT IS SENATOR TELLERS VIEW OF
THIS COUNTRYS DUTY.
HE FAvORs KEEPING THE ISLANDS
UNTIL THE FILIPINOs ARE CAPABLE
OF sELF-GOvERNMENT.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBryS. J

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBryEl
washington, Dec 20.-Mr. Teller. Of Colorado.
another prominent member Of the Senate Judi
ciary Committee. renewed this afternoon In the
upper branch Of Congress the discussion begun
by Mr. Vest and Mr. Platt OF Connecticut, over
ths Governments power lack Of power to
hold and govern newly acquired territory as
colonies" Mr.. Teller is broad gauge consti-
tutional lawyer. ard his views as 10 be ex-
pected, harmonized completely with those al
ready expressed by Mr. Platt. In the Colorado
Senator's opinion. the United States has SOW
ereign right TO acquire territory by purchase or
conquest. and is not inhibited by the Fedora.
Constitution from governing acquisitions thus
made in any manner that may seem necessary
or expedirnt.
SENATOR TELLER'S SPEECH.
Mr. rellers address like tina, OF Mr. Plat yes
teiday VAS a constitutional argument in which
he maintained the right OF tho United States to
acquire foreign territory w'thou; discussing the
policy OF expansion, except In an incidental and
inferen,ial way.
In view OF Mr. Platt's able exposition OF the ques-
ton. Mr. Teller said, he might properly omit much
that he had intended TO discuss. He DID not think
there WAS the slight 81 question Of the power OF his
Government to acquire foreign territory IL we are
Nation he declared, I'VE have the power TO exer-
else the r.Vhts OF q nation-al the rights OF any
sovereign power" He believed the founders OF this
Government intended 70 found Nation, and the
idea that they carried their intent into execution
had been sustained by the Senate. the House OF
Repre- sentativcs ard the courts ever since ne
declared that 1t Was prerogative OF Nation to
de;c;d itself When tie country was called on In
1861 TO this question 1t met II fairly and settled
| IL for 4 time. So far the United States was
concerned al least a; question was settled finally
at Appomattox. Then" ne declared. we took our
1 4, -. of
. sovereign. and possess those powers to-day"
Referring to the territory acquired by the United
States IN the wa, Mr.. Teller said: I'VE have al
ready acquired this territory. We nee-, a mat
tor ot fat. no treaty with spain 10 confirm our
right 10 H. BY right OF conques.-a tight undis-
puted-we came into possession OF Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Aslaiic archipe.ago. They just
as certainly tney could be- made so by treaty"
SIR. Teller discussed briefly the statement Of Mr..
Vest tiat many OF the deeds Of cession of foreign
territory acquired by the United states contained
clauses providing that the territ. ~ ultimately
snoud he erected into States Of the Onion. We
can confer Statehood on these territories when In
our judgment II IL proper TO do he said. No
body can call Into question our right TO exercise
our judgment in this matter IL We acquire terri
! tory the very act carries with Z the right TO
| govern"
ONLY ONE QUESTION AT ISSUE NOW
who" he demanded with dramatic rorce can
govern now IN Cuba or In Porto Rico but the United
! States? That question is settled-settod by the
| very circumstances Of the The question ia
now, What disposition snail we make OF the ter
ritory that has come into possession?'"
! lie thought It the duty OF the people and the
legislators 10 keep in mind constantly the great
principle on which this Government is founded
| that the just powers of a government derived
| from the consent of the governed He believed the
| United States could not govern the possessions'
acquired absolutely in violation of this fundamental
principle. We ought" said ne, "to extend 20 the
! people Of these posse esslons the power TO govern
| themselves as soon they prepared to
! cept that power. We are coming to deal with tho
greatest question the American people have met
since 1866. | anticipate much difficulty and
barrassment. but have at no time felt the dstrus,
! that has been manfefted by many OF our people"
Mr.. Teller said that the United States did not
| 20 with Spain FOR conquest but for free
| dom and humanity. AS soon The relief which
was proposed mad been extended to the people Of
Cuba they ought. he thought 10 be permitted TO
govern themselves THIS was the declaration Of
The resolutions adopted by Congress The declara-
don applied only TO cuba but he believed II might
have been made applicable the people OF all The
acquired possessions
EVENTUAL SELF-GOvERNMEET
III this Government Will say to the people OF
this acquired territory" said Mr.. Teller We
Will give you self-governmen, we will no, need
an army OF 5000 men in Cuba 2o0O In Porto Rico
and 5000 IN the Philippines. To say this 10 those
people is the only way to escape great standing
army.
/ Il not one" ne said, 30 ,urn these posses-
sions back 10 Spain. but 10 believe that we ought
10 give them the opportunity 10 govern them
| selves may say that nobody wants these pos-
! sessions made into States now. No public man
is in favor Of such a plan. SO far as | an aware.
AID yet In course Of time We may take them in"
So ;ar and soon possible, SIR. Teller be-
ieved that the Inhabitants Of Cuba should have self
government but he did not believe that the United
States should leave the infant Power thus estab-
shed 10 be the prey OF another nation, either
through conquest or treaty. lie believed 1t folly
TO talk OF imperialism" as applied to this coun-
try. No OF men had any intent ton Of
establishing In this country the European policy
Of imperialism, and mono would champion such q
course
mo colonial system such as England estab-
ished years ago In India will ever be established
under the Stars and Stripes" he declared Our
flag will always float over liberty and happiness
insured 10 all the people beneath IT'S folds. AL
though all OF them may not be accorded the fullest
| rights Of American citizenship. the flag will float
as as an smoem r. oI S 5000 government ana protection
Al that point Mr.. Mason Interrupted Mr. Teller
Of s.5co.cD the United States would settle With
the people Of the Philippines
FOR THE GOOD OF THE FILIPINos.
Mr.. Teller said there was no government in the
Philippine Islands with which this country could
deal II would be mpractlcable. he thought 10 at
tempt TO deal with unorgsnized crowd such as
the Fillpinos were. There IL favor
confer upon them" he declared like that OF CIV
ing them the benefits and protection Of the Aneri-
flag. The great question is. Are we bettering
their condition? No intelligent man among them.
| think. will dispute the statement that We are"
Mr. Hoar inquired how far as matter OF fact,
at the time of the cap tulation OF Manila Spanish
power extended in the archipelago.
Mr. Teller replied that as he understood the mat
ter It extended throughout all the islands which
had any considerable population
Mr. Hoar said he had supposed that Spanish au-
,bor,tv vas practically nil outside OF Manila and
hat the Insurgents had the Spaniards shut up in