The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-24
White Of California Occupies Nearly
All the Open Session
In Support Of the Resolutions Offered by
Vest and Bacon.
peeIafes His Opposition to the
Ratification of the Peace Treaty
and to the United States Per-
manently Controlling the Phil
ippine Islands.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Discussion
of the policy of expansion occupied
nearly all the time of the Senate in
open session to-day. White of Cali
tcrnia, one of the Democrats who has
announced heretofore his opposition to
ratification of the treaty of peace ad-
dressed the Senate in support of the
nnti-expansion resolution introduced by
Vest of Missouri and another offered
by Bacon of Georgia. declaring that the
Philippines ought to be free and indie
pendent
White is brilliant speaker, and he
was complimented by his colleagues and
large audience in the galleries with
undivided attention. He did not enter
into g. constitutional argument, but
confined himself to a discussion of ex
pansion as d policy of this Government.
He maintained that such policy was
contrary to the fundamental principles
of this country, to it's history and ira
ditions. He declared his opposition to
the ratification of the pending treaty of
peace, but broadly minated that dec
laration of definite policy on the part of
the Administration would very much
simplify the situation, and as a matter
of good faith, ought not to be antago-
nized by the advocates of the treaty's
ratification.
bill reported by the Judiciary
committee providing for the attendance
of witnesses in matters pertaining to
the Court of Claims was passed.
Bills were passed authorizing the Sec
1etary of the Interior to authorize the
Territory or Oklahoma to use certain
buildings at Fort Supply military res
eIvation as an insane asylum; transfer
1hng the county at Minard, Texas from
the western TO the northern district of
that State; also a special urgency de-
faciency bill carrying $4,000
White of California, in accordance
with the previous notice, then adj
dressed the Senate on the anti-expan-
sion resolution offered by Vest.
White took as text for his remarks
certain paragraphs from Supreme Court
decisions, a sentence from President
McKinley's Atlanta speech and a para
graph from the report of Admiral
Dewey to the Navy Department, saying
that the Filipinos were as we'll quail
fed for self government as the Cubans.
He said he had no intention of discuss
ing the question from legal stand
serve no useful purpose.
THE views of Senators of eminent
ability" said he, demonstrate the flu
tility of endeavoring to secure accord
upon that point. 1t is certain if the
FilIpinos are not fit for government
they ought not to be brought into alli
ance with the United States. They re-
pudiate our attempt to bring them into
4 +I,.f y, ~1A bo
allowed to goveren themselves. If we
say the Filipinos are not fit for self
government, pray let US ask now by
what process of reasoning we can take
them into our own governmental sys-
tenn
White declared that no conclusion was
possible except that it was the inten-
ton of this Government and the Off
GERS in power to annex the Philip
pines. If this was not true, he in
quired, why would not the supporters
of the peace treaty consent to the
adoption of such a resolution as that
offered by Hoar, declaring there was
nc intention on the part of the Gov
eminent to hold the islands in per-
petuity.
White then referred to the Presidents
statement hat the attitude of the Unit
ed States toward the Philippines was
to be one of benevolent assimilation"
Chandler of New Hampshire, inter
rupting White, said: THE other day
when this benevolent assimilation bug
bear was ridiculed before the Senate, /
took occasion to look UP the definition
given by Mr.. Webster of assimilation
If the Senator will permit me, it means
a resemblance. a likeness, but not neces-
sarily to amalgamation or absorption.
After indicating just what the deflini-
ton is. Chandler said: 1T is not fair
argument to say that the word means
absorption or to assume the President
used 1t in that sense
Does the Senator speak for the
President with authority?'' inquired
White. Does he know what the Presi-
dent meant when he spoken
Undoubtedly replied Chandler
blandly, 1.-THE President thinks as I do,
if he is a wise man, and think he is.
The President thinks we ought to bring
these people into reasonable likeness to
us, but not necessarily to incorporate
them. and / hope the Senator will not
lay too much stress upon the express
sion benevolent assimilation ;"
IF the Senator can assure u.s." re-
piled White, that he speaks with au-
thority as to the utterances of the
President, / may not have a high re-
gard for the definition, but I might
have more respect for the policy in
yolved."
quite naturally" said Chandler, II
am not and could not be responsible for
the Presidents definition of his words.
This word assimilation does not mean
destruction or swallowing up. but it
does mean likeness, identity, ETC."
1T would take, certainly, long
time, retorted White, facetiously, ito
bring a Mohammedan from Mindanao
to assume a likeness to the Senator
from New Hampshire"
white, continuing, said he was Cd
posed TO the entire policy of expansion.
and that his objections to it were ba-
sic He maintained that if this coun-
try had the slightest regard for its po-
sfffon before the world. 1t was the duty
IF Congress to declare definitely its po-
sitfon upon the subject before proceed
ing further.
Further along White referred to the