The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-03

tory should not be governed by Con
gress.
Mr.. Tillman interrupting Mr. Spooner
inquired:
IF we accept the Philippines would
the inhabitants of that territory have
the right to come without hindrance
to this country?"
Mr.. Spooner: Eyes, for the purpose
of my argument | am disposed to adj
NIT it."
Mr.. Tfllman inquired whether the in
habitants of territory could be pre-
vented from entering the States.
Mr.. Spooner said the Senator from
Connecticut (Mr. Plato was inclined
to believe they could be, but he him
self doubted it,
Mr.. Tillman further along pressed his
question as to the right of the Filipinos
to come here and declared that by ad-
mitting the islands by treaty 10000, 900
people of that territory could take the
first ship for this country and upon ar
rival here could enter into competition
with American labor. That was the
reason why he would vote against the
treaty.
Mr.. Spooner said he had no doubt
about the constitutionality of the cession
of the Philippines or of our right to
accept them or of the Presidents au-
thority TO govern in those islands un-
til Congress should provide proper
government for them. Yet he could see
nothing inconsistent in that to the car
rying to the inhabitants of the islands
all the. rights guaranteed by the Con-
stitution. He then adverted to the sit
uation on the islands before the war
with Spain and defended SPANS right to
exercise sovereignty there.
Mr.. Caffery Ua.): "Then the longer
tyranny is exercised in a colony by a
government, the more firmly fixed be-
comes its sovereignty?'
Mr. Spooner: 1.-THE Senator knows
/ do not mean that and he knows, too,
that that is not true. He knows, too.
that an unsuccessful resistance of
tyranny does not displace the sovereign
ty of the controlling power"
Shortly afterward Mr.. Tillman again
interrupted Mr.. Spooner with the state
ment that if Mr.. Spooner had been
present at yesterdays session he would
not have made certain statements. He
then proceeded to cite from the reports
of the United States Consul at Manila
certain facts concerning the progress of
the revolution against Spanish rule in
the islands.
rs not the Senator making public, :"
replied Mr.. Spooner, smiling. ''some in
formation concerning the executive ses-
sions of the Senate?"
''Yes, / am" replied Mr.. TilIman,
But the information | have" holding
aloft a printed document, us contain
ed in this book which has been made
public and / will, therefore, be ex-
cused from violating faith with my
brethren of the Senate"
Mr.. Spooner said that no government,
as had been contended on the floor of
the Senate, had been established in the
Philippine Islands. 1t could not be
seriously regarded as government and
it was nothing more than a tin horn
affair at best.
Mr.. Tillman, again interrupting the
Wisconsin Senator and again holding
aloft the document which he held, said:
Unless the Senator withdraws his
imputations against the good faith and
honesty of Aguinaldo, / will read what
| have here"
ence to Aguinaldo"
Your remarks about Aguinaldo." re-
torted Mr.. Tillman, were made in
sneerlng and airy manner, indicating
no respect"
Mr.. Spooner: 'If the Senator from
Aguinaldo will permit me to pursue
my argument in my own way | will
be grateful. / have said nothing about
Aguinaldo and do not care to have
my speech anticipated
Mr.. Spooner then explained that he
had not been present yesterday on ac-
count Of illness and was anxious on ac-
count of his physical condition to com
piete his arguments as soon as possi-
be
Mr.. Tillman: ''In the circumstances. |
will not again interrupt the Senator
and will even endure the snecr about
my being Senator from Agunaldo."
Mr.. SpOoner promptly Withdrew his
reference to Mr.. Tillman and then pro-
ceeded with his discussion of the So
called Filipino Republic. Referring to
the authority and power or Aguinaldo
he said that what he represented nobody
knows: whom he represents nobody
knows; and nobobdy could say how far
his authority extended.
Mr.. Spooner ridiculed the idea that
distance could affect our right to ac-
qulre territory. Why was there 10
objection to the acquisition of Porto
Rico if there must be so much oppo-
sition to taking the Philippines? The
consent of the Porto Ricans had not
been asked.
Mr.. Bacon replied that the circum-
stances were different because Of the
proximity of Porto Rico, as the pres
ence of Spain in either of the West
Indian Islands would be inimical to the
United States.
Il thank the Senator from Georgia
Cor the admission" responded Mr..
Spooner. "Ihe declaration of indepen-
dence is to be suspended to the West
Indies because it is in the interest of
the United States"
'No. not our interests" replied Mr.
Bacon. Our public safety which is
greater than our interests are effected"
"Our interests are included in our
national safety" said Mr. Spooner
'The Senator practically admits that
we want Porto Rico because we need
it in our business"