The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-14
He Compliments Northern Senators
on Having Conceded Them.
WANTS TO INVESTIGATE WAR.
Senator Allen Offers a Resolution for
the Appointment of Committee
TO Inquire Into It's Conduct as
TO Transportation, Supplies,
Etc.-The Resolution
Goes over.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-ln the Ssn"1'
to-day Mr.. McLaurin Dem. OF sou'h
Carolina) took strong ground in a care
fully prepared speech against poiicy
Of expansion by this country.
"rhe manifold and serious questions
growing out of the war with SPAN are
now absorbing the attention OF the
American people" began Mr.. Mclaurin'
81 am satisfied that our action IN the
next month will settle the question oil
expansion
Mr. McI.aurin felt that as a representa-
tive Of South Carolina, be was pecull4ny
qualified to speak upon the incorpo alton
OF a mongrel and semi-barbarous Popu-
Iation into our body p0lituc.
..The experience of the South for fhe
mast thirty years with the negro race
said he 'is pregnant with lessons %
wisdom for our guidance in the Phlilp-
pines. 1t is passing strange that senator
who favored universal suffrage shouiu
NOW advocate Imperialism. There Is a
elaring Inconsistency in their policy. III
thev are sincere in their views as TO the
philippines they should propose an
amendment 20 the constitution which VIII
nut the inferior races In this country
and the inhabitants of the Philippines
nnon an equality as 10 their civil and po.
Htical rights 80 as TO forever settle lne
vexed race and suffrage questions in Clis
country as well as in the outlying ter
ritories.
A MONUMENTAL FAILURE.
How can they consistently. justly,
and | might add constitutionaiiy advo-
cate a policy for outlying territories
embracing races so nearly akin 20 the
negroes. which differs SO radically from
the policy adopted as TO that race IN the
South? There can be but one answer TO
that question and that IS that they SUD-
stanually admit I'm the light OF third
of a centurys experience. that universal
suffrage is a monumental failure ana
that the time has come for the correc-
tion of this stupendOus governmental er-
ror.
Universal suffrage i'm the South long
since degenerated into race question
continued Mr. McI.aurin, "and as such
led to the practical elimination Of the
negro from politcs-a policy that is to-
day wisely advocated by the great leaders
of the race like Professor Miller and
Booker Washington. and which in time,
without outside interference under the
guidance of the best thought Of both
races will lead 10 a just and mutually
satisfactory settlement of the grayest
problems that have ever confronted any
people I'm modern times.
ut is indeed comforting to hear some
OF those who I'm the past criticised us,
now that the question IS brought home,
completely Justify our methods I'm pro-
viding a scheme for colonial government.
"The Senator from Connecticut has
most amply vindicated the South, per-
haps unintentlonally. but we thank MIN
the more heartily for his complete an
nOuncement Of the Divine right Of the
Caucasian to govern inferior races"
OUR RIGHTS DEFINED.
Nr. McLaurin then entered upon a
constitutional discussion of the question
presented by the resolution maintain
ing that all rights and powers OF the
Federal government are enumerated
specifically IN the constitution and such
as were not thus specifically defined did
not exist.
"I do not controvert the proposition
that the United States has the power 10
acquire territory by conquest purchase or
otherwise and to govern same under the
grant OF power contained I'm the c0nsttu-
ton. / do, however deny the PROPOSE
ton that territory can be acquired and
permanently held as such by the United
States. Of course subject 70 the exception
OF small tracts acquired for specific gov
ernmental purposes like coaling stations
and the guano islands under the act of
1856. / think Hawaii comes under the
exception OF a military and commercial
necessity"
Mr.. McIaurin claimed that the COM
merce Of the Philippines was insisnificant
and he therefore doubted the advantage
OF the islands 10 this country from
financial view point.
A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT.
ITO become a colonizing power" he
said. 1--WE must abandon our Republican
institutions. or be paralyzed by them.
The creation OF Offices the extravasant
expenditure OF money by Office holders
and the natural corruption creeping into
any colonial system win sooner or later
SAP the foundation OF any government"
Discussing the inhabitants Of the Phil
tppies. Mr.. McLaurin said: "Of one
thing | am sure. the American people
will never consent for these inferior
races to food our land and add another
complication to the labor problem. To
permit cheap Asiatic labor TO come into
copetition with our intelligent. woll-paid
labor viii be to degrade and lower our
civilization.
.If we embark In a colonial system II
means the inauguration OF a despOtlc
power IN Washington: II means a large
standing army that will not only be used
to rule outlying territories with an iron
hand. but that sooner or later viii be
used AT home 10 oyerawe and override
the popular will. An imperialistic De-
mocracy ike the Athelstic religion Is an
impossible hybrid.
( Mr. McLaurin occupied the attention
or the Senate for an hour and ten min
utes. and was accorded good attention
by both senators and people In the gal
leries.
Mr. Sullivan (Dem. OF Mississippi and
Mr. Pasco Dem. OF Florida) discushed
the pending Nicaraguan canal bill. the
former supporting it and the latter OPP
posing ii.
Mr. Pasco maintained that many modi-
rcations ought 20 be made in the hill
before the Government was fully COM
nitted 10 the undertaking involved in the
canals construction,
TO INVESTIGATE THE WAR.
In the early part OF the session Mr..