The record-union., 1899-01-21

rect representation. Women, minors
ard imbeciles were without representa-
,iOn in our Government and had to
tear their share of taxation. They had,
IN other words, to undergo the burdens
cf our Government without any voice
in its control.
In his discussion of the situation in
the Philippines when Admiral Dewey
arrived at Manila on the memorable
Isl Of May, Nelson pointed out that the
islanders were in a state OF practical
slavery under the dominion of Spain.
Aguinaldo had abandoned them, he
said, on the payment to him by Spain
Of a paltry thirty pieces of silver"
which in this case was to be $SOO,OOO,
half Of which amount the insurgent
leader had already received. He main
tained further that to-day the Philip
pines were rightly in the control of the
Chief Executive Of this country-as
completely and legally in his control as
any territory ever was.
Our duty" he said, 'is to protect the
ilipinos from the anarchy and des-
rotism that threaten them. Our duty
| is to breathe into them the life and
spirit which will enable them to enjoy
| and appreciate the government and
privileges that are to be given to
them.''
He sincerely regretted, he said. to see
disposition in the Senate to applaud
all efforts to make trouble in the Phil
|ipp:nes, both for the inhabitants of the
Islands and for the United States Gov
er2ment, which had lawful control of
he territory.
1c Co1f ~ a nrv oc>
| ticn of personal privilege, relating to
the action of the Legislature of Cali
fornia in instructing the Senators from
| that State to vote for the ratification
CT the peace treaty. He read the legis-
lative resolutions, and also the letter
Of his Republican colleague, Perkins,
asking for instruction, calling attention
| to the fact that the. Legislature was
Republican, as was Perkins. The ques-
| ton was, he said, whether as Senator
he was to vote his own convictions or
tc comply with this request and vote in
| accordance with the opinion of others.
| White went on to say that he had
not Joined with Perkins in his request
Tor instructions from the Legislature,
and therefore did not consider himself
bound by the instructions given to him.
self as well as his colleague His col
| league, in his letter, had given strong
and cOgent reasons for refusing to
| ratify the treaty, and he was sorry that
2erkips was rot at liberty to join with
| him in voting the sentiment so we'll
expressed by him. He did not mean to
minimize the Importance of public
sentiment, and confessed that he al
| ways took it into consideration in de-
fielding upon a course of action, but he
was not in the habit of actually voting
Upon it until he had weighed all ques-
tons in his own mind.
| True, United States Senators were in
a certain sense agents Of the State they
represented, but this did not mean that
| they were to shift in position with
every turn of the tide The State Leg
| stature had no right to instruct him
IN matters involving the exercise of
his conscience or his convictions. If so,
a Senator elected as a Republican
would naturally be expected to become
q Democrat. if the next Legislature
should chance to be on that side.
In conclusion, White said: II would
| he glad to meet the desire of the Leg
islature of California, if it was posi-
| BILE for me to do so without loss of
self-respect and a sacrifice of all my
opinions."
AS soon as White had concluded, his
Republican colleague Perkins. ad-
dressed the Senate. He paid a high
tribute to the honesty, energy and abil-
| ity of White, but notwithstanding his
able argument he believed this to be a
truly representative Government. So
believing, he felt that his obligation
| was to the people of his State, and that
desires were he would be false to him.
self and to them if he did not heed
| their wishes.
Il am opposed" he said to the policy
of acquiring the Philippine Islands, be-
| lieving such a policy to be a menace
to or Government and it's institutions;
| but nine-tenths of the people Of my
| State, as their wishes are expressed
| through a Legislature recently elected,
think otherwise. While I shall vote
| for the pending treaty, it will be under
tppbtest. / shall do so because I regard
such action to be my duty. I shall
vote for the treaty, however, Mr.. Pres
! ident, fully believing it does not rep
| resent q policy; but after we have
| taken in those islands 1 will join with
my colleague and my friend from Mas
sachusetts (Hoar), to give them the
best possible care and government"
Consideration of the Nicaraguan
Canal was then resumed.
Carter of Montana addressed the Sen
ate in opposition to the measure, on an
amendment offered by Caffery. He
quoted from the Ludlow Commission
and from Admiral Walker to show
| that the property of the Maritime
Canal Company was nothing more than
hole in the ground that had been
filed up, and a lot of junk amounting
in value to not more than 81 900. And
for this he said, sarcastically, "it is
seriously proposed that the Govern
ment shall pay $5000,O00."
Tillman of South Carolina declared
that the whole canal scheme was
purely speculative. and had for its
main idea pulling out of the Treasury
| S., 100000, a sum which he character
| lied as 1.-The last apple on the tree
which the Maritime Canal Company is
grasping at, after having missed get
ting the $5O,OOO,OG0 or 500, 900
which previous bills had proposed to
give them.
'T believe" he declared, "that this
scheme is a steal, and nothing but a
steal The more you stir this thing"
he shouted, ''the more you investigate
the dirtier it becomes, and the louder
it stinks!'' Iaughter)
when the Senator from Alabama
(Morgan) tried to interfere with my
v~;~ h ic a., i