Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-12
SO SENATOR FORAKER SAYS OF
PHILIPPINE ACQUISITION.
NOT TO BE GOVERNED BY FORCE
ULTIMATE INDEPENDENCE SAID TO
BE M'kINLEY's POLICY.
Senator Foraker Maintains, However,
That America Has Right to Hold
Islands Permanently II 1t
ChOOses-AllenC Combats
FOraker's Views.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ia climax was
reached to-day in the debate on the ques-
ton of expansion which is in progress in
the senate. Heretofore all of the speeches.
with the notable exception of that of Mr..
Platt. of Connecticut, have been in opposi-
ton to what is presumed 10 be the policy
of the administration with respect to the
acquisition of the Philippines. To-day Mr..
Foraker. of Ohio. addressed the senate in
opposition to the declaration Of the Vest
resolution that the United States has no
constitutional power to acquire foreign ter
ritory to be maintained as colonies. While
much of his speech was devoted to a con-
stitutional argument in support of the right
Of this country as nation to acquire and
govern outlying territory. he gave particu>
lar attention to the utterances that have
been made in contravention Of that posi-
ton, especially those of Mr.. Vest and Mr..
Hoar. Mr.. Foraker has a clear, direct and
forceful style Of oratory which commands
attention. not only by reason of the rec
ognized ability Of the man but also by his
impetuosity and power as a speaker He
is at his best in a running fire in debate.
and the frequency of Interruptions to-day
afforded him ample opportunity to elucidate
his argument to the best advantage.
He laid down the broad proposition that
to adopt the Vest resolution was to de-
clare that our fathers had brought forth
a nation that was inferior to all other ma
tions, regardless of the generally accepted
idea that one nation was the equal Of an
| other. and all equally restricted. He main
tained that the right to acquire territory
was an inherent right Of nationality, and
that, as We have the right to make war
and to enter into treaty agreements, it fol-
lows logically that we have the power to
acquire territory by conquest and to as
sumo the responsibilities that may accrue
therefrom.
Mr.. Foraksr's strong assertion that the
acquisition Of the Philippines was tenn
porary created a sensation in the cham
Der. Mr.. Foraker reiterated it. We could
not desert the people of the islands, he
said. and subject them to the risks Of dis
order. anarchy, misrule and mob rule, while
they might be still UNIT for self-govern-
mert, but our occupation was not to be
permanent.
II do not understand that anyone desires
anything but the ultimate independence of
the people Of the Philippines" said he en-
phaticaiiy. neither the president nor any,
one in this chamber"
But what about our right if we choose
| to hold them permanently. with no thought
of their ultimate independence" inquired
Mr.. Hoar.
I'VE have an unauestioned right to do
so.'' replied Mr.. Foraker. Il speak par
| ticularly of our legal right
Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia, at this juncture
| asked what difference there was between
our relations to Cuba and our relations to
the Philippines, why We could not deal
with the latter on the same basis as the
! former, simply hold them now. with the
| DECLARED purpose Of giving them self-gov-
erAment as soon as possible.
1.-The case of Cuba" replied Mr.. Foraker.
| speaking with great deliberation, was q
single one, involving only our relations with
| Spain and the Cubans themselves. In the
case Of the Philippines there were other
complications which cannot be spoken OF
| here but which senators will hear in
| executive session, which justified the pres
I ident's course in most ample manner and
vindicates most completely everything he
| has done In fact, no other course Is safe,
| in view of the object We naturally sought
to attain-justice not only to ourselves. but
to the people of those islands"
What of the statement about hauling
down the American hag?" interjected Mr..
| Hoar.
mo one desires to retain the Philippines
| permanently" reiterated Mr.. Foraker
| again. THE president is as much a lover
Of liberty, truth and justice as is the SEN
| ator from Massachusetts,, and his love CT
| liberty goes out to the people OF the Phil
| ippines as unerringly as his own
Then we are to understand the state
ment that the American flag is not to be
hauled down." said Mr. Hoar. does not
mean that We are to hold perpetual CO.
main? If the people of the Philippines be.
| lieye their happiness can be best secured
by self-government, they are to be given
an opportunity to govern themselves?
| with the determination of the ultimate
policy respecting the Philippines" replied
| Mr.. Foraker, their feelings Will have
much to do. No one, SO far as am aoie
to learn. is prepared by force and violence
| to take and hold them. 1 am willing &c
| trust the administration. L nave no sym
| pathy with those who talk Of making wal
on Aguinaldo any more than mad WIFE
those who talked of making war er
| Gomez"
"Thank God for that" murmured Mr.
| Hoar from his seat, but in voice audible
| through the chamber.
Il repeat" continued Mr.. Foraker, thai
| we had four choices as to what We should
do. and I affirm that the president acted
wisely 1t is now for congress to investi'
gate whether the F'lipinos are capable oi
| self-goyernment and whether they desire
self-government. We will know in a short
time what the feeling of the population
of the islands is Then we can act intel
ligently. and know we will act justly"
/! In conclusion. Mr.. Foraker said he
would place in the record the recent proc
| lamation of the president to the insur-
gents as a declaration OF the spirit and
purpose of the United States. When he
took his seat, there was demonstration
of approval from the galleries which was
unchecked by the presiding officer.
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Foraker
speech, Mr.. Allen, Of Nebraska. continued
briefly the debate upon the constitutional
| questions relating to the acquisition OF
the Philippines. He combatted the posi-
tion taken by Mr.. Foraker. maintaining
that the United States government could
not constitutionally acquire the Philippine
islands without the ultimate object in view
Of admitting them into the Union as
| state.
| chairman of the committee on foreign re-
lations, the senate went into executive
| session.
LONDON PAPERS DIsPLEASED
They Do Not Approve of the Possible
Relfnouf.bment of the Phil.