The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-18
EXPANSION POLICY.
Senator GOchenOur's Resolution Pro-
vOI<es Long Discussion.

vOISes Long Discussion.
Where the American flag has flown to
the breeze there shall it stay and where
one drop of American blood has been shed,
that place belongs 10 us to keep for all
time" These were the startling sentiments
uttered by Senator Nusbaum, Democrat,
yesterday afternoon when he voted alone
among his party for the expansion reso-
luton offered by the Republican side of the
Senate and caused one of the Democrats
present to say And now they're trying to
bust up the remnant of our party"
The discussion of Senator Gochenour's
joint resolution instructing Senators Turpie
and Fairbanks to vote and use their infu-
ence for the ratification of the treaty OF
peace with Spain, was made a special order
of business for yesterday afternoon and it
was after 4 o'clock when the question was
settled by the adoption of the resolution in
spite of the Democratic claim that it em-
bodied more than what it said, in that it
was intended to ask the senators to work
for the expansion policy.
A Democratic resolution amending the
Republican resolution was offered requiring
the senators to work for the withdrawal of
the federal army from the Philippines as
soon a stable government shall have been
established under native control. 1t never
came to a vote for adoption. however, as
Senator Ball moved that it be laid the
table and the motion was carried.
THE RESOLUTION EXPLAINED.
AS soon as the first resolution was read
yesterday afternoon Senator Gochenour
arose and said that as he was the author OF
it he wished to explain it briefly, and did
SO in the following language:
Mr.. President as the author of this reso-
luton, it becomes my duty to give my rea-
doing. necessary
me to say that we have lately been engaged
in a war with foreign power, and as re-
time large tracts of territory thrown upon
our hands to take possession of or dispose
of as may seem best for the people Of the
United States and the people of the lands
taken. The cry has gone forth that it is
dangerous experiment for us as nation
to annex new or foreign territory to Uncle
Sans dOminions. But, sir, did we not pur-
chase and annex Louisiana? Did we not
purshase and annex Texas? Did we not
conquer Mexico and demand and receive
an indemnity in real estate and annex the
same to the United States? During all of
these acquisitions no one objected to the
purchase and occupancy of said lands by
the United States. and can any one say that
they have not been valuable acquisitions?
Have we ever regretted the annexation of
these States and Territories? Again, in
1867. when we made the purchase of Alaska,
was there any considerable portion of our
people that found fault and objected TO
this purchase; and will any one presume to
say that the purchase was not a valuable
one? Would any one Of sound mind be
willing to retransfer the same at the pres
ent time for the amount paid? To-day we
are standing in our own light. We have
within our grasp large number of fertile
islands that would be revenue-producers Il
annexed to our glorious Republic. We went
into this war by a unanimous vote of Con-
gress for humanty's sake alone-to protect
the downtrodden and oppressed-and by the
arbltrament OF the sword these doWntrodden
people are in our care. Shall we return
them to the oppression Of Spain again?
Shall we leave them to mark out their own
their ignorant
downtrodden condition? or shall we take
them in as younger brother and
educate and civilize them and make them
good American citizens-an honor to the
country, an honor to themselves and q
But some one says: Why, they are too far
off; 1t will take too much, ii viii be too
expensive to govern and control them
Why, my dear sir, it will be no trouble
whatever We have to have our men-of-
war, or part at least of our navy, in other
waters besides the coast of the United
States. Let some of them cast anchor in
the harbors of the Philippines; 1t will have
an influence on the natives who are inclined
to be troublesome and at the same time
give our navy employment The argument
that it will not do for us to take and occupy
l think is far fetched. Under the same argu-
ment you might say that / must not 90
even If can get better bargain and better
land than / get at home. These ISL
ands have come into our possession as a re-
suit of the war, and now / think it would
be cowardly to leave them to their fate.
Let us lift them up, let us make them a
part of the United States, let us civilize
these people and make them good citizens
of the best government in the world. 1t
has been said that the sun never sets on
the Queens domini0ns, and now let Ii be
said that the sun never sets on the United
States Then viii we have fulfilled our
moral and legal obligations to the people OF
these Islands, making them better and
ourselves richer as result OF the war"
Senator Inman, for the Democratic side,
said in objecting to the resolution, that he
knew that a new class of enthusiasts had
been born out of the late war. who feel that
the United States has reached a stage where
X is absolutely necessary 10 maintain an
said, was directly In conflict with the ancient
policy of the country. which from the time
of Yorktown 10 Santiago had been consid-
cred TO be one of strict attention 10 home
interests. In discussing the disposition TO be
made of the natives of the Philippines and
Porto Rico. ne said: shall they be allowed
the full privileges of citizenship, or shall
they be taxed without representation by a
nation whose birth was the result of exactly
that sort of treatment at the hands OF Eng
land.
WAR FOR HUMANITY.
There has never been time since
the revolution when we could not have
whipped any county IN the world. but Con-
gress. in my opinion. reflected the spirit OF
the people when last spring before the war
began, 1t disalowed any intention OF exer-
cising sovereignty over any land beyond itse'