The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-21

that the islanders were In state of prac-
teal slavery under The dominion OF
Srain.
the first OF May" continued MIR. Nelson.
I"we entered not as conquefors, no: as
despollers of liberty, but with the earnest
desire to assist the Filipinos by breaking
the yoke of Spain. We went there as
liberators and as such are .thore today.
Our duty Is TO protect those people from
the anarchy and despotism thstlthreatens
| them. Our duty is to breathe into chem
the life and spirit which will enable them
to enjoy and al preciate the govern ment
aud the privilege that are to be given
Them"
Mr. Nelson maintained that it would
be the acme OF cruelty for the United
States government to abandon the
Ftlipinos In this time Of their need. 1--WE
are there to give them q just, free and
good government and to keep them out OF
the clutches of the great rowers Of the
earth. 1t would be the highest cruelty for
us to leave them at the mercy of any
powers who might choose to attack
them"
He regretted. he said, to see a DISPOSE
tion In the Senate 10 applaud all efforts
TO make trouble irpthe Philippines both
for the Inhabitants of the islands and for
the United States government
| Mir. Tillman called attention to Mr..
reference to the Philippines and asked the
latter If he appreciated that those people
were of the same class as those slaves
whose rule and domination Mr.. Nelson
| and his party associates had forced on the
| white people of the South.
Mr.. N slson deprecated any reference to
| the race question in the South. lie did
not consider the point relevant. Mr. TIL
man urged that the race question was the
| one question In the whole problem and
his objection TO the Intention TO bring
these ignorant people Of vitiated blood in
to this country w0s an integral part Of
i it.
/ Mr. Nelson contended that the Filipinos
| would not become voters under the ar
| rangemept proposed. He was here inter-
rupted by MIR. Hoar with the objection
that the people of the islands which 1t
was proposal to aunex could come TO the
| United States and become citizens Mr.
/ Nelson replied that when question bear
ing upon this same point had been al
dressed to MIR Hoar, that Senator had
raised no scrEples over it,
In concl usion, MIR. Nelson said that
rrophesies just as gloomy as those now
IN AIDE concerning the Philippines, had
been made about Louisiana when that
| territory was admitted.
MIR. White of California; rose to ques-
4 ton of personal privilege. relating to the
action of the legislature of California in
| instructing the Senators from that state
| to vote for the ratification of the peace
treaty. lie read the legislative resolutions
| and also the letter of his Republican col
league fMr. Perkins) asking for an ex-
| preston of opinion calling attention TO
| the fact that the Legislature was Republi-
can as was Mr.. Perkins. Mr.. White said
that he had not joined with MIR. Perkins
| in his request for instructions in the
Legislature and therefore did not consider
himself bound by the instructions given
| to him as well as his colleague.
The Legislature had no right to Instruct
him in matters involving the exercise OF
his conscience or his convictions. If so,
n Senator elected as Republican would
| naturally be expected to become Demo-
crat II the next legislature should chance
| to be of this political party.
Mr. Perkins said: ~ am opposed tn
the policy of acquiring the Philippine
islands. believing such policy TO be
menace to our government and its In
situations; but nine-tenths of the people
of my state as their wishes are expressed
through a Legislature recently elected,
think otherwise. While l shall vote for
the pending treaty it will be under pro-
test After we have taken in those
islands, / will join with my colleague and
my friend from Massachusetts-Mr Boar,
10 give them the best possible care and
government"
Consideration of the Nicaragua canal bill
was then resumed. Mr. Carter of Mon
tana, spoke in opposition to the Senate
on an amendment offered by MIR. Gallery.
IL maintained that the property Of the
maritime canal was no more than hole
in the ground that had been filled up and
lot OF Junk amounting In value to not
more than $1,000 And for this, he said,
sarcastically, 1t is seriously proposed that
the government shall pay s.. o00,0o
MIR Elkins of West Virginia, while
-er tad taxv ho
United States was opposed to the United
States going into partnership with cor
poration. Such "A partnership. he said
had proved disastrous in the case OF the
Pacific railroads
Mr.. Fairbanks. of Indiana, took sub
stantialiy the same ground as Mr.. Elkins
He believed the bill was in CONFIRMATION
of the Clay ton bulwer treaty and that the
treaty was a Vital living force.
Mr. Iillman of south Carolina, declared
that the whole canal SCHEME" was pure
ly speculative, and had for its main idea
pulling out of the treasury $4,000. 900.
~ believe" he declared, that this
scheme is steal and nothing but steal,
The more you stir this ground. the more
you investigate. the dirtier 1t becomes
and the louder IL stinks daughter.
While Mr.. Caf1ery was discussing his
amendment reducing the amount avail
able to be paid the canal company &, co.,,
amendment to section three:
Nothing in this act shall be construed
to authorize the payment TO said company
or to any other person or persons greater
sum than the value of such property as
ascertained by the commission herein
named, nor shall any warrants be de-
uvered until such commission has re.
ported such value"
Mr.. Morgan accepted the amendment
and it was agreed to-
Mr. Caffery's amendment WAS then de-
feated 81 to 20
MIR Chiffon OF Texas offered an amend
ment reducing the number of directors OF
the canal from IL to I, five Of whom are
TO be from the United States The amend
ment was agreed to.
Mr. Spooner offered an amendment pro
viding that If the President be unable to
secure from Nicaragua and Costa Rica
such concessions AS Will enable the United
States to build and perpetually own ana
control the canal, he is authorized to
negotiate for control of, or the right TO
construct, maintain and perpetually con-
troll some other canal connecting the At
4 n III -.