The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-20
AS TO FREEING ISLANDS
REPLY TO TURNER'S ANTI-EX-
PANSION SPEECH.
WHO POINTED TO REFERENCE TO THE FLAG
He inquired What Mckinley Seant ifnot Fxpan
sion When he Asked Who Would Haul
Down the Flag? Swanson
Wins II The House.

Washington, Jan. 19.-Mr Turner
(Wash.) addressed the Senate today on
the anti-eXpansion resolution of Mr..
Vest (Mo). He pictured the storms
which the gallant ship of State had en-
countered and concluded the figure with
the statement that notwithstanding the
trials it had undergone, x had weathered
them all thus far and had brought into
port its precious freight of liberty and
nationality. The builders of the YES
sci, he said. We're wise beyond their
day and generation. Now, however, the
noble craft. its chart having Deen torn
to tatters. was drifting whittier she
would on a wild and unknown sea.
This dangerous condition was being
forced upon the ship by ''the pretense
that Providence has cast upon us new
responsibilities which we may not
shirk.''
Mr. Turner denied the contention that
the acquisition of far distant territory
had been forced upon this country by the
arbitrament of war. This country was
at liberty to retain such foreign terri
tory as If had conquered if ID so de-
sired and such of it as was suitable III
soil, climate and inhabitants we might
want TO keep; but he denied that our
only other recourse WIS @to~-ssfvc back
the conquered territory to the enemy.
IF we may keep it ourselves" said
he, I'VE may require it to be given to the
people who inhabit it. for the purpose of
independence and liberty"
Trhic ba b,tiovoI 1,,oe
course TO pursue in the case of the 'hiI:p-
pines. The sovereignty of this country
would not he impeachcd by such gen
erous action. 1t is no concern of other
nations what we do for our own health
Passing from the domain of prudence
to that of principle. Mr.. Turner main
tained that the proposition of power
urged by many. breaks down every fun
damental principle on which our insti-
tutions are founded. Under such
proposition the principles of the Decar-
alton of Independence that taxation with
out representation is tyranny and that
the powers of Government are derived
from the consent of the governed. could
no longer be guide to our statesmen
Senators may say" he declared
that their positions do not lead to those
things, but there is only one escape from
them: universal miscegenation of
blood, of religion. and of Government.
with the yellow Buddhists, Mohamme-
dams and COnfucians. over whom it is
proposed to extend our protecting wing.
and with whom it is proposed to attempt
the process of deglutition and digestion
under the Christian and euphonious
name of benevolent assimilation
Mr.. Turner adverted to the statement
Of Mr.. Foraker a few days ago that il
was not the purpose of the United
States to retain the Philippines per-
manently. but he said he was forced to
differ with the Ohio Senator, because
he found in the treaty which had been
negotiated under the direction of the
President evidence Of such character
that it must override the opinion Of the
distinguished Senator from Ohio
He referred to that part of the treaty,
he said, which made not only cession
to this country. of sovereignty over the
Philippines, but an acceptance by lis of
that sovereignty. II WAS impossible to
forget, too, that the treaty was nego-
tiated in the midst of a clamOr for an
extension of our dominions As further
proof of his position, Mr.. Turner refer
red to the Presidents speech at Atlanta.
in which he asked: 'NVho is there that
will dare to haul down the American
flag from the soil upon which it has
once been planted?" He said the Presi-
dent mad made the meaning of the Ad-
ministration too plain for controversy
Mr.. Turner. after referring to the
speeches of Mr.. Platt Comm. and Mr..
Foraker. entered upon a discussion of
the constitutional phases of the subject,
maintaining that the resolution Of Mr.
Vest WAS Il correct statement of prin-
ciple founded upon the work of Our
Fathers
In conclusion. Mf. Turner said
'It is well enough to hug the pleasing
thought that we are q great people. and
that there is no responsibility that can
be thrust on us which we cannot meet
and face and accept with safety. That
this is true all may well believe, else
our fathers fought and wrought in vain,
and we Of this day are degenerate chill
dren. But it is the height of Quixotism.
and is the reverse of the teachings of the
fathers to 60 around in the world hunt
ing responsibilities and courting dangers
because we are able to meet them"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Turner's
argument, Mr.. Foraker took some sharp
exceptions to statements made in the
speech especially those referring to him
personally. He explained at length the
nature of his statements, declaring