The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-03
No STATEHOOD
FOR PHILIPPINES
Mr.. SpOoner Says Acqul-
SitiOn Does Not Mean 1t.
A TIN HORN AFFAIR
Is What He Styles Il Q Government on
the Island, if Any Exists.
WHERE DOES AGUINALD0 STAND?
No One Knows Whom He Represents
or the Extent of His Authority.
The House Passed the River
Harbor Bill by Almost
Unanimous Vote With
Slight Amendments.

WASHINGTON. Feb. AIT the
opening of the Senate session
Mr.. Chiffon, OF Texas, presented the
credentials Of Charles \. Cuberson
elected a Senator from Texas for the
term Of six years from March a. 1859
They were filed.
Mr.. Trlman. of South Carolina, offered
the following resolution, which was
adopted:
THAT the President be requested, If
not incompatible with the public inter-
est. TO inform the Senate whether any
franchises or concessions of any charac-
ter are being or have been granted by
any municipality IN Cuba and Porto RICO
since the military occupation Thereon by
the United States: If so. what they are;
for what length Of time and the sdthor-
ity By which they have been granted
Al the conclusion OF the morning busl-
ness Mr.. spooner addressed the Senate.
MR. sPOONER SPEAKS.
After a brief statement of his reasons
Tor speaking at ALL he he said: Il nnd
no objections. constitutional I'm nature,
TO the rafihcation of the pending treaty.
The Senators from Connecticut (PiatO,
Colorado (TelleD. Ohio CForaker). Min
nesota (Nelson), have fully presented the
views on that point which / entertain
.Tf I held the view that the United
States could not, within it's constitutional
limitations. acquire territory which was
not 20 be erected into states ] could not
give my consent 10 the acquisition OF
the Philippine Islands This Philippine
nropositiou is one Of the fruits Of the
war-tO me- one Of the bitter fruits.
can conceive Of no circumstances under
which ! could give my consent TO inc
admission OF that archipelago as a state
or as more than one state Of thu Amer
lean Union
DRED SCOTT AGAIN.
Mr.. Spooner then presented an argu-
ment I'm comtravoniion of Chief Justice
Tanev's decision I'm tho Dred Scott case.
wmcn ne said, ceased years ago TO be
referred 10 as a correct Interpretation
OF the law upon this question.
Mr. SpoOner maint aimed that tho INT
ted states undoubtedly had the power %
acquire territory beyond our own do
main and with that power was coupled
OF course. the collateral authority to
govern that territory.
Mr. Bacon. OF Georgia. called Mr..
Spooners attention to the fact that the
doctrine that the United Staes had no
with the intention Of comforting upon Il
statehood. did not rest alone upon JUS
tice Taneys decision More than forty
years before that decision was promul-
gated Representative quincy In the House
had laid down the same principle.
To this Mr. SpOoner maintained that
the doctrine laid down by Mr.. Quincy
dld not affect his argument. and ne
pointed out how impossible it was that
these dicta should be taken as a per-
manent construction or the Constitution.
He knew. he said. of no reason why ter
ritory and people OF a territory should
not be governed by Congress.
Mr.. Spooner said be had no DOUBT ABOUT
the constitutionality Of the cession OF me
PHILIPPINES. or our right 20 acquire ana
govern IN those Islands, until Congress
should provide a proper government lot
them. Yet, he could see nothing neon
sistent I'm that provision guaranteeing 70
.ho trbahlfauts Of the Islands all the
lights guaranteed by the Constitution
IT., thon adverted TO the situation on the
Islands prlor to the war with Spain anc
attended Spains right 70 exercise SOW
ereignty there.
A TIN-HORN AFFAIR.
NJ soooner said that no government.
as had been contended on the hoor Oh lne
co,ofe had been established in the lhlI-
ippine Islands It could not pe seilo"9's
REGARDED as a government. as IL Wa H.
thing but q tin-horn aualr at DSst'
AIR Tiuman. mtorrupting the VISION
sin senator. and holding alolt uoo''''''''
which he held, said: .,.
"rrnless the Senator withdraws MS
,r,nutatious against the good faith and
rorcstv of AculnaldO, i will read what
have here. -.,.u...o
10 Aguinado.'
Your remarks about Aeuinaldo," re-
torted Mr.. Tilman. were made IN
sneering and airy manner, indicating no
MIR. spooner: IF the Senator from
Agulnaldo will permit me TO pursue my
argument in my own way will be CRATE
full 1 have said nothing about Agm-
naldo."
Mr.. Spooner then explained that ne
had not been present yesterday on fc-
count OF Illness, and on account Of physi-
cal weakness was unable to complete his
speech as soon as expected.
Mr.. Tillman: Under the circumstances
I will not again interrupt the Senator
and will even endure the sneer about my
being a Senator from Aguinaldo."
AGUINALDO'S POSITION.
Mr. Spooner promptly withdrew his
reference To Mr.. Tillman and then pro-
ceeded with his discussion OF the So
called Philippine republic. Referring TO
the authority and power OF Aguna'do,
he said that what he represented, nobody
knows. whom he represents nobody
knows, and nobody could say how FAR
his authority extended.
Mr. Spooner announced hts apprehen-
sion Of the policy Of expansion. some
people waltz up 20 this proposition OF
national expansion as gaily as the trou-
badOur touches his guitar" said he. He
shrank he said. from the policy of max
ing a part OF our land tropical islands
thousands OF miles from our shores. a
land whose people were alien. not OF our
blood. who were foreign To our institu-
tions. OF a tropical climate In which the
white man cannot work. He there
fore considered as superficial, sentiment
tai and fantastic. much OF the talk con-
cernlng the permanent annexation OF
these faraway Islands. II the ratihca-
tlon OF the treaty involved permanent
dominion. he said. he would never vote
for H. but he had not been able 20 lind
~. L.t..