The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-14
SOUTH CARoLINA's SENATOR.
ATLAURIN MAKES ABLE ARGUMENT
AGAINST EXPANSION.


Annexation n Justification of the
SOuth's Position on the Negro
Transformation Wants Senate TO
Investigate the Conduct of the.
War-GoId MednI Suggested for
Miss Helen Gould.
Washington, Jan. BIN the Senate to-
day Mr.. McLaurin, Dem, of South
Carolina. took strong ground in a care
fully prepared speech against policy of
expansion by this country.
THE manifold and serious questions
growing out of the war with Spain are
now absorbing the attention of the Amer
lean people," began Mr.. McLaurin. II am
satisfied that our action in the next month
will settle the question of expansion.
There are at this time in the Senate
and nation at large, two well defined and
distinct views, one a policy of expansion,
involving a new definition of our govern
ment and the Inauguration of a colonial
system, with all the perplexing problems
incident to it. The other view opposes
policy of imperialism, and is based upon
the governmental policy of the last cen
fury, and in my judgment is the only po-
sition that is in harmony with the consti-
tuition and the spirit and genius of repub-
lican institutions"
Mr.. McLaurin felt that as a represen-
tatfve of South Carolina, he was peculiarly
qualified to speak on the Incorporation of
a monerel and semi-barbarous population
into our body polite.
''The experience of the South for the
past thirty years with the negro race, ;"
said he, 'is pregnant with lessons of wis
dom for our guidance in the Philippines.
It is passing strange that senators who
f~faRored universal suffrage should not now
advocate Imperialism. There rs glaring
Inconsistency in these positions. If they
are sincere in their views as to the Phil
ippines, they should propose an amend
ment to the constitution which will put
the inferior races in this country and the
habitants of the Philippines upon an
equality as to their civil and political
rights and thus forever settle the Vexed
race and suffrage questions In this coun-
try. as well as in the outlying terrific
ries.
A stupendOus Error.
How can they consistently, justly, and
I might say, constitutionally advocate a
policy for outlying territories, embracing
races so nearly akin to the negro, which
differs so radically from the policy adopt
ed as TO that race in the South? There
can he but one answer to that question,
and that is that they substantially admit
in the light of a third of century
experience, that universal suffrage is
| monumental failure, and that the time
has come for the correction of this stupen-
dous governmental error.
ecTTniversal suffrage in the South has
long since degenerated into race ques-
lion ,, continued Mr.. McLaurin, land as
such. has led to the practical elimination
Of the negro from politics-a policy that is
to-dav wisely advocated by the great lead
ers of the race, like Prof. Miller and Book
or washington, and which in time, without
outside interference under the guidance
of the best thought of both races, will
lead TO a Just and mutually satisfactory
settlement of the gravest problems that
have ever confronted any people in modern
times.
Southern Methods Justified.
eft is. indeed, comforting to hear some
of those, who, in the past, criticised us,
now that the question is brought home,
completely justify our methods in pro-
vidino. a scheme of colonial government.
amplv indicated the South, perhaps unin-
+enttonally, but we thank him the more
heartily for his complete announcement
If the divine right of the Caucasion to
govern inferior races.
Mr. McIaurin then entered upon a con-
stitutionaI discussion of the question pre-
scented by the resolution, maintaining that
all of the rights and powers of the federal
government are enumerated specifically In
gnn,
thus specifically defined did not exist
..The nation. as a nation" he continued,
",as no sovereign rights except those con-
ferred by the constitution"
IIa further commended that If the sover-
aiot,tv of the nation is vested in the con-
stitution. as admitted by Mr.. Plat of
Connecticut. it could be exercised
only in the manner pointed out by the
constitution He maintained that there
was an essential difference between the
sovereignty exercised by the United States
and that exercised by Great Britain, for
instance. as there is a wide difference be-
tween the forms of government of the two
nations.
No Sovereign Powers.
1T DENY. therefore" said he, that the
limited states, as a nation, has a sover-
eign. inherent right and control outside
If the grant of such power in the consu-
tuition. This is not an essential element
If nationality as far as our nation is con-
cerned. although 1t may be in England
or Russia where the nationality and SOW
ereignty incident to it are not created by
written constitution.
at do not, however, controvert the prop
osition that the United States has the
mower to acquire territory by conquest,
| purchase or otherwise. and TO govern same
under the grant of power contained in the
| constitution. / do. however, deny the
nronosition that territory can be acquired
! and permanently held as such by the
Trnited states, Of course. subject to the
oxcentIon of small tracts acquired for spe-
! ctee governmental purposes, like coaing
! stations and the guano islands under the
act of 1856. think Hawaii comes under
cial necessity"