The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-04

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-For more
than five hours to-day the Senate lis
tened to arguments in opposition to
expansion and in opposition to the rati-
fication of the treaty of peace. The
speakers were Money of Mississippi and
Daniel of Virginia The formers adj
dress was comparatively brief. Daniel
made an exhaustive argument, in
which he covered all the points in con-
troversy His speech was a brilliant
oratorical effort.
Money, in accordance with previous no
tice, began a discussion of the expansion
problem. He desired, he said, to make
certain concessions in beginning. He con-
ceded the right of this country to acquire
by conquest or by purchase or by any
other method exercised by any sovereign
nation, territory anywhere, but in a case
like that now presented the treaty max
ing power could act only within the limits
of the constitution. Discussing the con-
dition of the Filipinos Money declared
that If they were not fitted for self-gov
eminent they were not fitted to be citi-
zens of the United States, and we would
be better off to leave them to their own
devices, that they might work out their
own destiny. Money entered then upon
discussion of the situation in the Philip
pines. He told how Aguinaldo had offered
his services TO the United States officials
and paid high tribute to the Filipino
leader
Daniel of Virginia addressed the SEN
ate on the Vest resolution. To-day he
said, I'VE are the United States of Amer
lea. Tomorrow, If a certain treaty now
pending before this body be ratified, we
viii be the United States of America and
Asia 1t is seriously proposed, he said
that we take to this country large and
miscellaneous assortment of Asiatic ISL
ands and to make citizens, with all the
rights of inhabitants of territories of the
United States, of the large and varied
assortment of Asiatics, Mongolians, Ma
lays and negroes who inhabit them. For
his. part he deemed it inexpedient, unwise
and unjust that we should do this thing
I'VE are asked" said he ito go 1000
miles from our shores to grasp and hold
as subjects eight million people by force
OF arms and to hold the land until the
American people shall decide what dis
position is TO be made of them. | do nor
believe the body of the American people
understand the significance of this treaty
I do not believe that some Senators who
are crying to us to ratify the treaty un-
derstand Ii. The treaty fixes the policy
of the Government. What may be done
afterward is merely clerical detail The
treaty is a thoroughfare over which eight
millions of American citizens will march
into this Union. 1t is the marriage of ma
lions. Henceforward and forever the Fill
pinos and Americans viii be one. | trust
vet, before the marriage is contaminated
the spirit of American constitutional lib
erty will arise and forbid the bans What
is their relation to US that we should set
forth. knightlike, with lance in rest, to
rescue them? We cannot turn them back
to Spain? The American people do not SO
treat those who were comrades on the field
of battle. They have not yet attained the
dignity and power of a nation. We cam
not recognize the Filipino republic and
come away from the islands We have
only to look skyward to see the birds of
prey circling about, ready to descend upon
those who are weak.
Daniel after reviewing the kind of peo-
pie to be found in the Philippines. said:
This country stands to-day the fore
most nation in the world. Let her tread
with sure and steady step along her own
highways, respecting master and man.
Let her to the tempter of expansion to-
day say as he who stood upon the mount
said. when the glories of the earth were
stretched before him: Get thee behind
me, Satan.
At the conclusion of Daniels speech.
which had occupied three and a half
hours the Senate, at $40 p. m, on motion
of Davis, went into executive session, and
soon afterward adjourned.