Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-10

scented what he plato had said about
the acquisition and government OF such
territory. He then read from his pw
| speech a paragraph showing that he had
held II 70 be the duty of this country, 10
provide for acquired territory most I'D
Grad and enlightened system OF govern
ment--a government In accord with the
| spirit of the Declaration of Independence
and Of the constitution: -
Yet, said Plat. with emphasis and
| feeling, The holds me up here as opposed
| TO applying to the people of this acquired
| territory the principles of legislation in
accordance witt, the spirit of the Declara-
tnticn. The United States never has leg
| is.a:si in opposition 20 the Declaration
| and II never win. i want to say. Mr..
President, that an application of the doc
| trines of the senator from Massachusetts
would have prevented our expansion
westward across this continent to me Pa
c.fic coast. We found here this continent
in the hands Of Indians. who did not
want US here. nor did they want 70 ne
placed under our government. Notwith--
standing that condition. We established
our government here, and now at last we
have brought many Of the Indians to
state of civilization and citizenship. You
violated your Declaration of ln1epen-
dence. says the Indian. when you legis-
lated for me- But vino, Mr.: President,
would turn back the hand of time to meet
the requirements of the doctrines of the
senator from Massachusetts?
IL is the spirit of the Declaration of
fectiy well assured that no attempt will
ever ne made TO legislate for the people
of this country or Of our acquired terri
tory in con.ravention of the Declaration
of Independence and of the constitution.
am one of those who believe, Mr.. Pres
Ident that we shall not ring the doom of
the Inhabitants of our acquired territory
legislation which Will confer upon them
the blessings Of peace, happiness ard
prosperity.
Caffery La. inquired Of PIatt whether
he would force upon these people our
system of government against their will.
That question replied the Connseti-
of the senator from Louisiana and the
senator from Massachusetts, in support
of the pending resolution. They hold that
We cannot go into an enemys country,
even in time of war, without the consent |
of the country. The argument contains |
within itself its own answer
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
and justice and human rights in the |
Philippines or wherever else the flag q !
haul those principles down?
''No. Mr.. President, this entire argu-
ment of the senator from Massachusetts /
is a spectre conjured up by him in sup
port OF his position. l cannot be accused !
of not loving justice and purity and I'M |
se.tishness as devoutly as the senator |
from Massachusetts loves them. L snail /
meet the responsibilities that are to arise |
in connection with this great question in !
the spirit of the Declaration of Indepe1- |
dence and of the constitution and could |
never be persuaded to do otherwise
Hoar briefly responded to the statement |
of Plat. reiterating and calculating |
which he conceived Platt had misunder- |
stood.
Foraker gave notice shat he would ad- |
dress the Senate at the conclusion of the |
s,1gFEdlN
subject of the extension of American ter |
ritory. and Mcl.aurin gave a similar mo- |
tice for Friday.
The Nicaragua canal bill was then |
taken up and Caffery continued his |
speech In opposition to it. Caffery. in re- !
ply to Chiffon, said that he did not want |
an isthmian canal constructed iolndy by |
the United States and Great Britain but |
he believed the Clayton-Bulwer treaty TO |
be in as complete force now as when 1t
was first negotiated.
Bacon. Money and Chiffon engaged in
a general discussion of the binding power
of treaties in general. Chiffon called at
had distinctly declined to abrogate the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty. Under the
amendment offered by Caffery the abro,
cation of the treaty was necessary. and
If Great Britain should persist in her re-
fusal he would like to know how the
canal was to be constructed Caffery
tinued his discussion of the terms of the
treaty itself.
AT the conclusion Of Caffery,s: speech.
Morgan. Ala. in charge of the bill, made
an effort to fix the time for beginning to
vote upon the measure and the pending
amendments He suggested that the time
be p. NJ, on the 18th instant, but CAT
ferry objected.
Morgan then gave notice that. tomor-
row. If no arrangement could be made
for a vote, he would ask the friends of
the measure to stand with him until it
was passed.
Teller. Col. said that he would like to
know how the money for the construction
of the canal was to be raised. Morgan
said he would answer the question before
Il vote upon the measure was taken.
The Senate then, at AS, went into eX
ecutive session. and at AS adjourned.