The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-02
THE SITUATION IN THE ORIENT
Teller Contended That it is Our Duty to
Seize the Opportunity for Secur-
ing a Foothold in
the East.

Washington, February 1.-Senators Teller
and Hoar were the speakers in the execu-
tive session of the senate today. Mr. Teller
made a set speech in support Of the treaty,
and Mr.. Iioar replied. Both went over
much ground that had been covered before,
but some new points were brought out.
Mr.. Teller devoted especial attention 10
tho capabilities of the Filipinos for self
government He said that they had not
yet reached the stage where they could be
considered capable of taking care of them.
selves, and he based much of his argument
upon the incapacity demonstrated by their
leader Agunaldo. lie read extracts from
the Philippine leaders proclamation, con-
tending that they demonstrated beyond
question that he was ignorant OF the hrst
principles of popular government, and es-
pecially democratic form of government.
He referred to the fact that the Filipino
leader had in some of his pronounciamentos
spoken as a dictator, which, the Colorsdo
senator said did not accord with the pro-
fessions of democracy made for him.
Situation in the orient
Mr.. Teller also referred to the general sit
uation in the Orient, enarging upon the
necessity for the United States to hold
footing which had been secured through
what might at first be regarded as prov
dential means. He dwelt upon the reports of
vast coal deposits in the Philippines, and
said they were invaluable on this account
to any nation, for in the future the country
which controlled the coal deposits of the
world would dominate the other nations,
both from commercial and military point
Of view. At present the United States, Ja-
pan and Great Britain control the principal
coal supplies, and he predicted that so long
as they continued to control them and were
friendly with one another they would hold
the reins of power. Other European ma
tions appreciate the Importance OF the coal
supply, and this fact more than any other
accounted for the anxiety of Russia and
Germany to get a foothold in the Phlilp-
pines Russia was, he said, especially grasp
ing. and it behooved this country to be on
that power.
Defense of Aguanaldo
Mr.. Hoar devoted the greater part OF his
reply to a defense of Aguinaldo, whom he
compared to Simon Bolivar, the South
American patriot. 1t would be remem-
bered he said, that Bolivar also had upon
one occasion taken upon himself the title
of dictator and yet who, on this account,
could accuse the Bolivian liberator of being
false to his people or to their aspirations
for freedom? Aguinaldo had so far shown
himself to be shrewd and able leader,
and he had not by any act of his shown
himself to be incapable of the highest de-
gree of leadership.
During the course of his remarks Senator
Hoar said that the argument had been adj
vancd that the United States should be
near at hand to participate in the predicted
partition of China and said that this argu-
ment indicated disposition to grasp even
more territory than had yet been taken.
Such policy, he thought, should be nipped
in the bud, as he was very confident that
the people of the United States would not
profit by joining the European powers in
their efforts to distribute among them
selves the possessions of this ancient
empire