The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-31

declared that there was no disposition
on the part of any one to dispose of the
Philippines other than the enlightened
judgment and acute intelligence of the
American people should dictate. So far
as he was personally concerned. Mr.
Carter said, he was not disposed to
mortgage the future TO attempt to en-
barrass in any manner the next or any
future congress.
The treaty did not bind congress to do
anything that was not in consonance
with the enlightened sense of the Amer
lean people. For what purpose. there
fore, he said, do the gentlemen who
are urging the adoption of these reso-
lutions seek to bind the action of the
next congress?, He pointed that our in
formation concerning the Philippine ISL
ands was very meager, and he desired
ample time to consider what was wise
and prudent and best to do with the
newly acquired territory before definite
action was taken.
Mr. Mason inquired whether. by the
terms of the treaty. the United States
did not give to Spain certain trade
rights in the Philippines.
Mr. Carter replied that it did and that
if the sovereignty of the islands were
err nation it would be subject to those
treaty obligations.
Then, do we take the sovereignty
of the islands," inquired Mr.. Mason.
Mr.. Carter replied that in the very
nature of things the sovereignty of the
islands, so far as it was in the possess
sion of Spain, passed by the treaty to
the United States Continuing his dis
cussion of the pending resolutions, Mr..
Va RI of hay
be a voluntary tying of the hands of
congress and the administration.
Mr.. Teller inquired If there was any
thing in the resolutions to prevent the
government from exercising at least
temporary sovereignty in the islands
with the Intention subsequently, of al
lowing them elf-government. He te-
lieved that, of course, it would be ne
cessary for the United States to exer-
else some sort of control over the ISL
ands, at least, for time.
Mr. Teller then offered an amendment
to the resolutions covering this point
and Mr.. Bacon accepted it.
Resuming, Mr. Carter said that sena-
tors were belittling the dignity and de-
the confidence reposed in this
country by foreign nations by endeav-
oring to mortgage the future policy of
the government and voting a lack of
COlllut1lCe Ill TIE Ildt1OIl ny even III
tempting to adopt such resolutions as
We're pending.
He declared that the passage of such
acts was declaration that the people
had no confidence in those who were to
be in a position to make disposition of
the islands in accordance with the terms
of the treaty. 1t amounted to a pledge
to ourselves that we did not propose
to do what we did not want to do. 1t
would have been just and proper, he
said, for the first congress to attempt
to bind congress for hundred years
as for this congress to attempt to bind
the action in matter of this kind of
any future congress.
The adoption of these resolutions"
he declared, would be pledge to those
who are defying the authority of the
United States government in the Phil
ippines. AS nation we cannot afford
to have it understood that the United
States army was expelled from these
Islands. Some of these Philippine insur-
rectionists seem to have been imported
by way of the Hong Kong Philippine
junta into this country. l would not
vote for such petty trif1ing promise,
even if 1t We're to take the entire army
of the United States to show the aggre-
cation of Malays, Mohammedans and
Filipinos who doubt our authority that
we would not give up one inch.
Mr.. Carter thought this country need
ed a change in it's foreign policy and
thought our trade would not amount to
much abroad until it was once thor
oughly understood that an American
citizen would be protected in all his
rights in any part of the world. He
thought it a shame on the United States
government that many of it's citizens
seeking protection passed by the Amer
can consulates and entered those of
Great Britain and France.
Replying to question by Mr.. Mason,
Mr.. Carter said that the power of the
United States was the only authority
to-day recognized in the Philippines.
Being the only responsible govern
ment," said he, the safety of every
citizen on those islands, be he German,
English or what not, rests upon us. We
cannot with propriety say to the rebel
forces in those islands: We will give
you everything we have fought for if
you will only permit us to ratify the
treaty of peace with Spain. We will
inquire when this treaty shall have been
ratified who on those islands is in rebel
lion against our government. If they
do not recognize the rights and author
ity we shall exercise there, We shall
whip them to death. The soldiers of the
United States will not withdraw from
those islands until a proper and stable
government shall have been established
there"
The senate then, at O'Clock on mo-
ton of Mr.. Davis, went into executive
session, and at 4:50 p. m. adjourned.