The times., 1899-01-10

itself WAS framed. in order 10 form
more perfect union, establish justice. in
sure domestic tranquility. provide Tor the
common defense, promote the general wei
fare and secure the blessings Of liberty 10
ourselves and TO our postcrity."
Arrnirns Scnnior Plat.
He said that the proposition Of the
senator from Connecticut was 10 under
take TO do such things not for a more
perfect union or the common defense or
the general welfare of the people OF the
United States, and in that he denied his
proposition and would tell him he could
find nothing either in the text of the Con
stitution or the exposition of the fathers.
or the judgment of courts from that DAY
10 this, TO warrant or support his doctrine.
He declared that Senator Platt's whole
argument toppled over when the first
article of the Constitution was read. He
admitted that the authority cited by
Senator Platt was ample that Congress
may admit new States and acquire
territory and govern territory. but
said that TO acquire and govern this Tor
eign territory, where no constitutional
purpose was subserved, and where the
people were not willing TO be governed,
was not contemplated in the above ad-
mission.
Imperial Regions.
Senator Hoar said he knew there were
senators vet hesitating as 10 what their
action may be in the future, who VIII
tell you that they loathe and hate this
doctrine that We may buy nations at
Wholesale that We may acquire imperial
powers or imperial regions by conquest
that we may make vassal states ana sun
iect peoples without constitutional re-
straint, and against their will, and with
ont any restraint but our own discretion.
He appealed TO those gentlemen when
ever and wherever they might be called
TO act 10 answer to themselves as the one
great proposition. the greatest question
that has ever been or ever will be put TO
them in their lives, the question, not OF
a year or of a Congress. not of a genera
tion, not century but question per
tanning rather TO the great period OF a
national life he might almost say
TO the great eternity of national lie,
whether-eyen if that action be permitted
or not by the letter of the Constitution
il be not Tepugnant 10 its form ana spirit.
VIII they commit themselves in principle
and in doctrine to such a policy, and then
saw that they will consider hereafter the
question of how they will act under II;
He did not agree that the lesson OF our
first hundred years is that the De aTatlon
of Independence and the Constitution are
a failure. and that America is to begin the
twentieth century where Spain began the
sixteenth.
The Monroe doctrine was gone. Every
European nation, every European aAl-
ance, has the right to acquire common
in this hemisphere when We aequr re II IN
the other. The senator's doctrine, ne SAID
put anywhere in practice will make q our
beloved country cheap-jack country.
raking after the cart for the leaving5 OF
European tyranny.
VIII you disregard every lesson oi eX-
perience?" he concluded. No tropical col
ony was ever yet successfully admlnl=ter-
ed without a system OF contract labor
strictly administered and enforced by me
government | Will not speak Of the thir-
teenth amendment. In our parliamentary
practice amendments fall with the orig
iual bill This amendment Will fall with
The original Constitution.
This spasm Of folly and delusion also,
in my judgment will surely pass by
Whether il pass by or no. thank God /
have done my duty, and that have ad-
ilered 10 the great doctrines of righteous
ness and freedom. which / learned from
my fathers, and in whose service my lie
has been spent
Senator PIatt Immediately arose to reply
10 Senator Hoar. II was evident from his
manner that ne mad. He said he
should not ask the indulgence OF the Senate
at this time 10 reply extemporaneously to
the carefully prepared speech of the sena-
that he had listened TO it with great atten-
ton ana with great interest
The senator from Massachusetts, he said
was master of language, and master of sar-
casin and he had succeeded on this occa-
sion in conjuring up spectre which was
a spectre only. To use more familiar Ian
guage Senator Platt continued, he had
spent large part of his argument in ere
eting a man of straw. and in the rest OF his
argument attempting 10 demolish that mar
OF straw.
Senator Platt thought his argument de-
livered in the Senate some days ago on thi!
question had not been answered correctly
but had simply been misrepresented. Th'
spectre which Senator Hoar coniured up h
had named Congressional despotism.
He assumes and asserts that have com
nitted myself TO the doctrine OF governing
territory which we may acquire, and whicl
he admits We have a right to acquire
No. ! don't interjecteC Senator Hoar
Il not only denied that right, but / re
peated that denial twenty times
Senator Platt, continuing, remarked tina
he thought that when the senator's speech
already printed. came to be read, it woul
be found that he had not mistaken him i
the admission he had made of the right t
acquire territory. He assumes continue
Senator Platt. that ! propose some gov
ernment for some territory which is con
trary TO the Declaration of Independence
or the spirit of that declaration. The faC
is. / have said no such thing. and ! be
leave to read to the senator sentenc
from my remarks TO which he refers"
Senator PIntf's Original Remarks.
Senator Platt then read from his speec
where he had said that Congress was unde
moral obligations and restraint,fOr the ad
vancement of liberty, justice and individ
ual rights 10 legislate in regard TO this ter
ritory in the spirit of republicanism an
not in the spirit of monarchy, and with tii
idea of the people there becoming fitte
for elf-government always in view.
1T vas our duty" he continued, -
provide for the people of any territory tn;
we might acquire the most liberal ju
and benefcent government which the
might be capable OF enjoying. and alwa!
with reference to their development al
welfare. with the end in view that tht
may be finally fitted for independent sci
government.
After having made that declaratiC
Senator Plat continued, the senator holi
me up here as having taken the p0sitic
that I expect 10 legislate for territory TIL
We may acquire in a spirit OF opposition
the Declaration of Independence and Il
spirit OF the Constitution of the Unite
States.
In this connection ! wish 70 say" I
continued. that the United States h;
never legislated otherwise than in accort
ance with the spirit OF the Declaration
Tudenaudauca aud in I ba gn{rft pg Co