The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-02
WHAT Do We WANT
WITH
THE PHILIPPINES
Mr.. Rawlins Argues Against
Expansion.
IT PROMISES ONLY EVIL
ALMOST A VOTE ON ANTI-EX
PANSION RESOLUTION.
RIVER AND HAR80R BILL IN THE HOUSE
Rapid Progress was Made on the Bill. The
War Department has hSued an Order
Mastering oulFifteen Thou
sand Volunteers.

Washington, Feb. l.-tof a feW mln-
utes in the Senate this afternoon it
seemed likely that a vote might be taken
ON one or more of the resolutions relat-
ing to expansion that are pending be-
fore that body. An unusually large at
tendance of Republican Senators was
present, all of whom had been notified
to be on hand in the event of critical
vote on the pending question.
Mr. Bacon Georgia. called up his
resolutions, and Mr.. Chandler New
Hampshire) withdrew his motion to
refer them to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
Mr.. Sullivan mississippi entered a
motion to substitute his resolution for
those of Mr.. Bacon as follows:
THAT the ratification of the pending
treaty of peace with Spain shall in no
wise determine the policy TO be pursued
by the United States in regard to the
Philippines, nor shall it commit this
Government to a colonial policy; nor is
it intended to embarrass the establish
ment of a stable, independent govern
ment by the people of those islands
whenever conditions make such a pro-
ceeding hopeful of success and desirable
results"
Mr.. Davis, chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee, announced that
he was willing that a vote should be
taken Immediately. As il was evident,
however, that a vote on the resolutions
and amendments could not be taken be-
fore o'clock--the hour fixed by unani-
NOUS consent for the Senate to go into
executive session-Mr. Bacon asked for
unanimous consent that a vote be taken
at 1890 tomorrow. To this request Mr..
Carter lMontana) objected, and the
whole question was left suspended in the
air.
During the morning session Mr.. Raw
Inns (Utah) addressed the Senate upon
the Vest anti-expansion resolution.
Senator Rawlins said:
s'The atmosphere just now seems to
be clouded with perpleXing problems
Every one, | presume, is imbued with
the wish, while adhering to justice to
do the best he can for his country.
have not heretofore been opposed to eX-
pansion. This nation has been one OF
growth in population from three tc
seventy-five million; in territory from
continent, and out into the swelling
waters of the Pacific Millions of the
homes of our sturdy and patriotic peo
pie and magnificent States have been
the fruits of our expansion. Territorial
expansion with commensurate extension
of constitutional freedom is twice blest
it bIesseth them who give land them who
receive No man can set an artificial
barrier. to the inevitable progress of tbs
American people. But thus far Oul
progress has been that of freedom, not
of tyranny. When our fathers christen
ed the republic they gave it name
which they doubtless deemed sufficient
to cover all the exigencies of its future
career 1t was to be the United States
of America, We could stretch out tC
the North and to the South, until we
encompassed the two continents and al
the islands of the caribbean Sea, and
still we might appropriately bear the
name which our fathers gave us. Shal
we now change that name, and II sc
what shall the new name be, and what
shall it symbolize: shall it be the United
States of America and the Kingdom OF
the Philippines? or shall it be the Em
pire of America and Asia? Already
there are spectral visions of this III the
political sky"
Mr.. Rawlins then discussed the eX
tent of the power of the Government
under the Constitution TO acquire, hold
and govern territory, maintaining thai
such power must be exercised to sub
serve the objects and purposes for which
the Government was created. He con
tended that the Constitution in all its
provisions, limitations and safeguards
was as applicable to the Territories
and their inhabitants as to the States
that while some of the provisions OF
that instrument may not be self-execu
ting they are no less so in Territory
than in a State; that an act of Con
gross is not necessary to apply the pro
visions of the Constitution to Terri
tory.
Referring to the contention Of Senator
Lodge and other Senators that the labor
and product Of the Filipinos would not
be permitted to come into competition
with American labor, and it's product
Mr.. Rawlins pointed out that if Con
gress possessed this authority it could
impose duties which would prevent thu
wheat grown in Oklahoma from com
peting with that grown in Kansas oI
other States of the Union: or th,