The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-10

of Cuba were entitled to be free and
independent.
Platt-The Senator is tempting me
into q speech which he would not toll
crate if I should deliver it here.
When Hoar had concluded Plat ad
dressed the Senate.
Plat maintained that Hoar had ad-
mitted his contention that this coun-
try had the right to acquire and gov
unfairly presented what he (PlatD had
said about the acquisition and govern
ment of such territory. He read from
his speech g paragraph showing that
he had held II to be the duty OF this
country to provide for acquired terri
tory most liberal and enlightened sys-
tenn OF governmental government in
accord with the spirit Of the Declare
ton Of Independence and of the consti-
tuition. Plat said with emphasis:
Yet he holds me up here as opposed to
applying to the people Of this acquired
territory the principles Of legislation in
accordance with the spirit of the Declare
ton OF Independence and Of the constitu-
ton. The United States never has legis-
lated in opposition to the Declaration of
Independence and the constitution. and
that an application Of the doctrines
of the Senator from Massachusetts, would
have prevented our expansion westward
We found here this continent in the hands
of the Indians, who did not want us here,
| nor did they want to be placed under our
government Notwithstanding that con-
ditIon we established our government
| here and now at last we have brought
many Indians TO a state Of civilization and
citizenship. you violated your Declare
ton Of Independence" says me Indian,
when you legislated for me-" but who,
Mr.. President, would turn back the hands
of time TO meet the requirements Of the
doctrine Of the Senator from Massa
It is the spirit of the Declaration of In
dependence that gives 1t life. 1t is per-
fectly well assured that no attempt will
ever be made to legislate for the people
of this country or our acquired territory
in contravention of the Declaration of In
dependence 1 am one of those who be-
lieve that we shall not ring the doom OF
this country when we shall place over the
inhabitants Of our acquired territory leg
islation which will confer Upon them the
blessings of peace. happiness and pros
perity.
Caffery Of Louisiana inquired Of Plat
whether he would force upon these peo-
pie our system Of government against
their will. Plat replied:
That question is a part Of the argu-
ment Of the Senator from Louisiana and
the Senator from Massachusetts in sup
port of the pending resolution. They
hold that we cannot go into an enemy's
:
consent of the inhabitants of the coun-
try. The argument contains within it
self It's own argument.
After abiding TO the late war and the
responsibilities entailed by 1t upon this
country and explaining briefly his own
position with respect to the war, Plat
said:
tee and human rights in the Philippines
or wherever else the flag Of the country
shall be planted. Who viii haul this princi-
pie down? No, Mr.. President, this entire
argument of the Senator from Massachu-
setts is speech conjured up by him in
support of his position. I cannot be ac-
cused of not loving justice and purity
and unselfshness as devoutly as the SEN
ator from Massachusetts, loves them. I
shall meet the responsibilities that are to
rise in connection with this question in
the spirit of the declaration Of independ-
ence and of the constitution and could
never be persuaded TO do otherwise.
Hoar briefly replied to the statement
of Platt, reiterating and calculating
some of the points of his own speech
which he conceived Platt had mis-
understood.
The Nicaragua canal bill was then
taken I'D and Caffery continued his
| speech in opposition to it. Caffery, in
reply TO Chiffon, said that he did not
want an isthmian canal constructed
jointly by the United States and Great
Britain, DuJ ne DeIleVed the Clayton
Bulwer treaty TO be in as complete
force now as when it was first nego-
tiated.
Bacon, Money and Chiffon engaged
in a general discussion of the binding
power of treaties in general. Chiffon
called attention TO the fact that Great
Britain has distinctly declined to abro-
gate the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
Under the amendment offered by CAT
ferry the abrogation of the treaty was
necessary, and if Great Britain should
persist in her refusal he would like TO
know how the canal was to be con-
structed.
Caffery waived answer to this inquiry
and continued his discussion Of the
terms of the treaty itself.
At the conclusion Of Caffery's speech,
Morgan of Alabama, in charge of the
bill. made an effort to fix the time for
beginning to vote upon the measure
and the pending amendments. He sug-
gested that the time be p. m. on the
18th inst, but Caffery objected.
Morgan then gave notice that to-mor-
row, if no arrangement could be made
for q. vote. he would ask the friends of
the measure to stand with him until
it was passed.
Teller of Colorado suggested that he
would like to know how the money for
the construction of the canal was to be
raised, and Morgan said he would an
swer the question before vote upon
the measure was taken.
The Senate then, at 4:45 p. m, went
into executive session and at 4:55 p. m.
adjourned.