The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-12

Washington, January ll.-A climax
was reached today In the debate on the
question OF expansion which is in prog.
ress In the Senate. Heretofore all the
speeches with the notable exception OF
that OF Mr. Platt of Connecticut, have
been in position to what is presumed to
be the policy of the administration with
respect to the acquisition OF the Philip
pines Today Mr. Foraker of Ohio adj
dressed the Senate in opposition to the
declaration of the Vest resolution. that
the United States had no constitutional
power to acquire foreign territory to b.
maintained as colonies While much OF
his speech was devoted to constitutional
argument In support of the right of this
country as nation to acquire and govern
outlying territory, he gave particular
attention TO the utterancs that have been
made In contravention of that p sition,
especially those of Mr.. Vest and MIR.
Hoar. Mr Foraker has a clear, direct and
forceful style OF orstory which commands
attention. He Is at his best in II running
tire of debate, and the frequency of in
terrup tions today afforded him ample op-
portunity to elucidate his argument to
he best advantage lie laid down the
broad propositiJ n that to adopt the Vest
resolution was to declare that our fathers
had brought forth nation that was in
ferior to all other nations regardless OF
the generally accepted Idea that one ma
tion was the equal of another and all
equally restricted. lie maintained that
the right to acquire territory was an in.
herent right OF nationality and that as We
have the right to make war and to enter
into treaty agreements, it followed logi-
cally that We had the power to acquire
territory by conquest and to assume the
responsibilities that might accrue there
from. MIR. Foraker's strong assertion
that the aquisition of the Philippines was
temporary In character. created sensa
tion in the chamber. He maintained
however, that We had legal right tc
hold the island permanently.
Prior to the speech by Mr.. Foraker, n
sharp debate was precipitated by Mr..
Allen of Nebraska by some remarks he
made upon resolution he had intro
ouced. MIR. Hoar OF Massach usetts anc
MIR. Gray of Eeleware were drawn into
| It,
Washington, January ll.-Vice Presi
dent Hobart presided over the Senate to-
day for the first tiIne since the holiday
recess. having heretofore been detained
at his home by an attack OF grip.
A bill authorizing Lieut.. Col. Vifquair
| of the third Nebraska to accept from tht
Emperor OF China the decoration of ttt
order of the double dragon, for distin
guished services rendered. was passed.
MIR. Bacon of Georgia offered the fol
lowing joint resolution:
That the government and people Of the
United States have not wsged the recent
war with Spain for conquest and for tht
acquisition OF foreign territory but solely
| for the purpose set forth in the resolu
tions of Congress making the declaration
of said war, the acquisition of sucf
small tracts Of land or harbors. as may b.
necessary for governmental purposes be
ling not deemed inconsistent with thi
same.
I 2.-That in demanding and in receiving
the concession of the Philippine islands
| il is not the purpose of the government o
/ the United States TO secure and main tail
dominion over the same as q part of tn,
| territory OF the United States OF to incoT
porate the Inhabitants thereof as citizen
| of the United STATES or to hold said in
habitants as vassals or subjects of thi
| government.
| THAT whereas at the time of TIL,
I to-, s,f tNxrs no iix.tFa