The Portland daily press., 1898-12-20
VIII be capable of self government. The
constitution does not confer the right of

1
constitution does not confer the right of
Suffrage -
Mr. Platt said he could not agree with
tnose who contended that the requirement
OF such territory as shat embraced in
ror6o Rico and the Philippines Is me-
mace to the existence of our republic. The
mistake, he said, arises from the fact that
Mr. Vest ana others who agree with him,
assume that the constitution guarantees
1ne right of suffrage and the right of b
ciCizen living in certain territory to
nave 10 admitted as state. This assump-
tion was without foundation as there
was no such guarantee In the fundarnen-
tai Jaw. True the 10th amendment pro-
hi6its the abridgement Of the rights of
suffrage for reasons specified, but that
ald not amount to prescribing the right
20 vote. Likewise. In some Of the states,
anult men who are citizens, but who
cannot read are denied the right to vote
u faot this was right regulated by
rne states. These being the facts, as MT.
Platt saw them. he contendsd that Mr.
vests argument on this point falls 70
the ground. He also said the same line
OF argument applied to the right OF state
hood.
Mr. Platt held the assertion made by
Mr.. Vest that in the articles or cesSlon
to this country to the territory OF Alaska
there was q clause providing tnat l6
| oASuttt @JHe IQ&u6 ulbll0ssuCA5 A6Oo = Sp~A ~
was an error; that the deed from Russia
contatned no suon CLAUSE; and that there
was no Intention pasi or present either
OF c0nferring statehood upon the territory
or Of giving its inhabitants self-goyern-
ment.
Mr. Hoar asked Mr.. Platt whether he
deoried the doctrine that governments
derive their just powers from the consent
OF the governed.
MIR. Platt replied that thetconsentsof all
those governed was not always necessary.
He referred to the fact that there was
no suffrage In the District OF Columh1a
and again called attention to the tact 5nas
ciuizens of Massachusetts, who could not
read and write were prohibited from
voting. Yet these people In Massachusetts
were governed most effectively.
Replying, Mr.. Hoar defended the educa-
ti9nal system of Massachusetts, saying
thst while there was an educational
qualification In Massachusetts. the method
Of acquiring the qualification necessary
to voting was placed within the grasp
of every one. He did not believe there
was native adult in the stats, not weak
minded, who could not read and write.
Returning to the question of expansion,
he asked whether MIR. Plstt meant to as
sert seriously the claim that the state pro-
visions regarding suffrage could be so
construed as to justify the violation OF
the principle involved as 1t applied to the
0,00n. 600 people in the Philippines.
Replying, MIR. Platt said he did mon mean
to deny the principles of the Deolara-
tion of Independence, and he added that
he wished the Massachusetts, sena or
could he as liberal with reference to the
document as some others. There were,
however, many qualifications for voting.
For instance when he first became vot.
he n IN, for n r.
der TO receive the privilege of voting.
In conclusion Mr.. Platt ssid he could
no understand the sentiments or mo-
tiyes Of these who wished to circumscribe
the powers of the nation. Why, he asked
should we belittle those powers or strive
by subtlety and sophistry to hamper the
progress and growth of the country.
Rather than pursue this course. why
should senators not wish this nation God
speed in its mission of extending our
free institutions as far as possible. As
foss himself. he knew our people to be
asliberty loving and right doing people
and he Ind no misgiyings that any ad-
ministration of the United States would
fail in its duty toward the people Of any
acquired territory, He had faith in the
government and faith in its future and
had no disposition to condescend to
carpine criticism or craven fear. He
hadsnot lost confidence in the doctrine
that right makes might, and with ma
tion guided by that principle, as he be-
Iieyed this nation to be, there could be no
doubt that 1t would dare TO do its duty
bravely towards any people which might
fall within the limits of it's jurisdiction.
1t had been only little more than
century since the liberty bell has pro-
claimed the signing OF the constitution,
and it is not for us now to declare that
we cannot proclaim liberty to any land.
one foot from our own original snores.
.Oh for the faith of our fathers, he
ex claimed.
MIR. Hale from the conference commit
tee on the urgent deficiency appropriation
bill, prese nted the conference report on
the bill and 1t was agreed to.
The bill granting right of way through
the San Franc SEQ Mountain forest reser-
vation in Arizona, to tho Saginaw South
ern railway, which kassed tine House Sat
urday was then passed by tbs Senate
Mr.. Gallinger, from the committee on
contingent expenses, then attempted to
report the resolution introduced by Mr.
Proctor, providing for the appointment OF
a select committee of the Senate to visit
Cuba and report upon the conditions pre-
vailing there The effort on Mr.. CALM
gers part developed strong resistance
from Mr.. Hale, and was the occasion OF
a short explanation from MIR. Proctor.
MIR. Hale objected to the report, where
upon MIR. Proctor took the floor saying
that while the Maine senator's course
was legitimate under the rules Of the SEN
ate, it was unusual and therefore unex.
pected He said that there was no mo-
tive to seou a junketing trip behind the
offering OF the resolution. No committees
need go there with the expectation OF
having good time and little work.
There were great questions coming to
the front in Cuba, of whish he had an
inkling in the differences already de-
velopsd among the military authorities
as to the nu ber of soldiers necessary
to preserve order in the island. When the
general of the army put the number at
10000, and the war department at oO, 0o0
making difference OF $50, GOO, 600 per year
in the cost of maintenance, it WAS worth
while, said Mr.. Proctor, to consider the
advisability of securing the best infor-
nation possible from the island itself.
He also said the 81, ,O00, 900 in the defic-
iency bill was for expenditures among
the Cubans. MIR. Hale insisted upon his
objection, declaring that he did not base
it upon any desire to deprive the YER
mont senator or other senators from GO
ing on what MIR. Proctor had called
'tjunketing trip but b objection was
based upon the belief that to send such a