The Lamar register., 1899-02-08
SPEECH BY WOLCOTT.
HE DISCUSSES EXPANSION.
Takes the Position That tbe Peace Treaty
should BE Ratified Patriot c
Grounds.

no ulStuSSiOll vi tit PchtAht
resolutions but urged the ratification
of the treaty on purely moral and pat
riotic grounds.
"It was not said he, until 1t be-
came patent that the resolutions pend
ing before the Senate were being used
merely as cloak with which TO defeat
the treaty Of peace that he determined
TO say few words"
His own belief was that discussion
of the treaty should take place in er-
ecutive session. but senators had taken
opportunity in presenting their views
upon the resolutions TO discuss the
treaty, and he felt II necessary TO say
something also. He said that the war
with Spain had had no charms for
him. and he had walked with perhaps
reluctant feet along the lines of duty
marked out for him.
If the commissioners appointed by
the President had presented to the
Senate treaty yielding up the Phil
ipplne islands. he would have felt il
his duty to ratify their action: If they
had in the treaty held only coaling
station, he would have felt bound
equally to support their action.
I'm their wisdom" said he, they
have brought to us treaty providing
for the taking of the entire Philippine
group. and | see before me my duty
10 assist In the ratification of thai
action
After reviewing briefly the results of
the war and the negotiations which
led TO the appointment OF the peace
commission. Mr.. Wolcott said: THE
commissioners appointed by the Presi.
dent were men of eminent character
and ability. We may judge something
of the commission by the members of
II that were selected by this body. Not
one man here Is there who would nor
trust to any Of them the most intri-
cate and delicate matter. They have
brought back here a treaty with Spain
by which we may deal with the FIJI
pinos as Congress hereafter may wisely
determine. Yet we stand here day
after day wrangling over resolutions
Of no force and effect and which serve
only to embarrass our own people In
the Philippines and afford comfort to
our opponents on the islands. There
is not one of these questions raised
which may not properly be dealt with
after the treaty is ratified.
I'VE should present a united front
TO foreign foes and dissent only on in
ternal policies.
However much we may differ
among ourselves upon questions of in
ternal policy" said he. I'VE ought ia
stand as one before a foreign foe. J.
for one, recognize great difference
between n treaty establishing CONNER
cial relations with another nation and
treaty bringing TO n conclusion u
successful war. II is important thai
we should present an unbroken front
In meeting question of this kind
We owe "A debt to our brethren across
the sea. We had their unqualified
moral support and influence OF Their
trained diplomats throughout the war
Had il not been for England we should
not have merged from the late war
with colors flying so high. To-day we
have among the nations of Europe
only one friend-t;reat Britain The
other nations stand with rapacious
hate. hoping that we may encounter
some repulse.'
Adyerting TO the attitude of the op
ponents of the treaty in endeavorine
to inject. as he said, politics into tho
consideration of the pending question
and TO force ont of IL an issue for til,
next presidential campaign, Mr.. VOL
colt said:
But II Is daplorable that in forInu
iating such an issue and in pursuit of
such policy these leaders should find
1t necessary to seek to dishonor this
government and the administration
which has guided us so wisely through
the troubled sea of International com
plcations and brought us 10 the
threshold of an honorable peace. that
they should dishonor us in the face of
the nations of the world and they
should seek To bring about some fan
cied political advantage by an attemp;
TO defeat the ratification of a treaty
which. If unratified. must bring back a
condition of war as 1t existed before
the report of the commissioners. pass.
i've it may be. but full OF uncertainty
and full OF disaster to the interests and
the welfare of our country.
Il do not believe such tactics can
win There are men enough on both
sides of this chamber who will stand
by the government, not because it is
a Republican government. but because
II is an American government
The results of the war have left us
charged with duty to II 900. 600 of
people. We found them under the do
minion of Spain. Nobody wants to
turn them back to that nation. We
Know little about them, but we do
know there exists condition on the
Islands which would result in inferno
cine strife among people who may
or may not be fitted for self-govern-
mpnt