The Portland daily press., 1899-01-31

1
obtain early action upon tho resolutions
In order that the House might also have
| an opportunity to pass upon them befors
the expiration Of the present Congress "
| Limitation.
Mir. Carter of Montana, discussing not
only the resolutions offered by Mr. Bacon,
but also the situation as IL was presented
to the Senate declared that no public In
terest and no sound public policy required
vote upon the resolutions at this session
of Congress A favorable vote upon any
OF the pending resolutions before the con-
clusion OF the work on the treaty OF peace
would be o vote of lack of confidence IN
the American people. That he thought
was preposterous proposition. Ihs
treaty now under consideration did not
| render it either desirable or proper that
this Congress should pass upon the future
\ OF the Philippine islands he declared
| that there was no disposition on any
hand to dispose of the Philippines In any
other way than the enlightened judgment
and an acute intellect of the American
i people should dictate. So far as he was
personally concerned Mr.. Carter said. he
| was not disposed to mortgage the future
or to attempt to embarrass in anyfmanner
the action of the next OF OF any OF the
future Congresses. The treaty did no {
bind Congress to do anything that was
not in consonance with the enlightened
sense of the American people. For that
gentlemen who are urging the adoption
Of these resolutions seek 70. bind the action
| OF the next Congress. He pointed out
that our information concerning the
Philippines and Its Inhabitants was very
meagre and he desired ample time to con-
slider what was wise and prudent and best
| 10 do with the newly acquired territory
before definite action was taken.
Mir 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 10 did and that,
/ IL the sovereignty OF the Islands were
transferred by this country to any other
nation. it would be.subject to those treaty
| obligations.
"Then we do take the sovereignty of the
islands inY" inquired Mr.. Mason.
Mr.. Carter replied that In the very
nature of things the sovereignty OF the
Islands SO tar as IL was in the possession
of Spain passed by tho treaty to the
| United States.
| Continuing his discussion OF the pend
ing resolutions, MIR. Carterf said the
adoption Of them would be voluntary
| tying of the hands of Congress and OF the
administration. Intsrrupting the speaker,
Mr.. Bacon said that so far as his resoiu-
| tions were concerned there was no at
tempt in them to commit the government
| to any particular policy except that 1t
did not propose to exercise permanent
sovereignty on the Philippines
MIR. Teller inquired If these was any
thing in the resolutions - prevent the
government from exercising at least tenn
porary sovereignty in tde islands, with
the intention, subsequently of allowing
them self government de believed that,
of course it would be necessary for the
United States to exercise some sort OF
control over the islands at least for a
time.
Mr.. Teller then offered an amendment
to the resolutions covering his point and
Mr.. Bacon accepted 1t.
Resuming Mr.. Carter said that Senators
were pelittling the dignity and destroying
the confidence reposed in this country by
foreign nations by endeayoring to
mortgage the future policy of the govern
ment and voting lack Of confidence In
the nation by even attempting to adopt
such resolutions as were pending. lie de-
clared that the passage of such acts was a
declaration that the people had confidence
in those who were to be in position to
make u disposition of the islands in ac-
cordance with the terms of the treaty. 1t
amounted to pledge TO ourselves that wa
did not propose TO do what we did not
want to do. Ii would have been AS just
and proper he said, for the first Congress
years as Tor this Congress to attempt To
bind the action in IA matter or this KIND
OF any future Congress.
1.-The adoption OF these resolutions" he
declared, would be IA pledge TO those who
arc detying the authority Of the United
States government in the Philippine
islands. AS a nation, we cannot Afford TO
have IL understood that the United states
army was expelled from those islands.
some of the Philippine insurrection
seems to have been imported by way OF
the Hong Kong Philippine lunta into
"a 1Nraa IN nah
a petty, triaing promise, even II it were
to take the entire army of the United
States to show the aggregation OF Malays,
MohaDmedans and Filipinos who doubt
our authority that we would lot Dudge
one inch.
Mr.. Carter thought this country needed
a change in its foreign policy and thought
our trade would not amount TO much
abroad until 1t was once thoroughly
understood that an American citizen
would be protected in all mis- rights In
any part of the world. He thought 1t a
shame TO the United States government
that many of its citizens, seeking pro.
lection, passed by the American consulate
and entered those OF Great britain aud
France. Replying to u question by MIR.
| Mason, Mr.. Carter said that the power OF
the United States was the ouly authority
today recognized in the Philippines. BE
ing the only responsible government
there, said he, "the safety Of every citi
zen Oh those irlands. be he German, Eng
lish or Whatnot rests upon us. We can
not with propriety say to the rebel forces
ON those islands we will give you every
thing we have fought Tor II you will only
permit US to ratify the treaty OF peacs
with Spain. We will inquire when this
treaty shall have been ratified, who or
those islands is in rebellion against oui
government. If they do not recognize ths
rights and authority we shall exercise
there, we will whip them to death. Ihs
soldiers of the United States will moi
withdraw from these islands until b
proper and stable government shall have
been established"
Ihe Senate then at two o'clock oil
motion Of MIR. Davis, went into executive
session.
At $40 tho Senate adjourn ned.