The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-03
IN EXECUTIVE. SESSION
Senators Teller and HOar b the
Peace Treaty

Washington, February l~-Senators
Teller and Hoar were the speakers in
; the executive session Of the senate to-
day. Senator Teller made a set speech
in support OF the treaty and Senator
Hoar replied. Both went over much
ground that a been covered before,
but some new points were brought out.
Senator Teller devoted especial atten-
ton to the capabilities of the Philip
pinos for self-government. He contend
ed that they had not yet reached the
stage where they could be considered
capable OF taking care OF themselves,
and he based much of his argument
upon the incapacity demonstrated by
their leader. Aguinaldo. He read X
tracts from the Philippine leaders
proclamation, c~ontending that they
demonstrated beyond question that he
was ignorant Of the first principles OF
popular government, and especially OF
a democratic form of government. He
referred to the fact that the Philip
pino leader had in some OF his pronun
ciamentos spoken as a dictator, which
the Colorado senator said did not ac-
cord with the professions of democ-
racy made for him.
Senator Teller also referred to the
general situation in the Orient, enlarg-
ing upon the necessity for he United
States to hold the footing which had
Deen secured through WHIT might u
most be regarded as ~Providential means
He dwelt upon the reports of vast coal
deposits in the Philippines and said
they were invaluable on this account
to any nation, for in the future the
country which controlled the coal de-
posits of the world would dominate
the other nations. both from a
cial and a military point of view. At
present. the United States, Great Brit
ain and Japan control the principal
coal supplies and he predicted that so
long as they continued to control them
and were friendly with one another
they would hold the roins Or power.
Other European nations appreciate the
Importance of the coal supply, and this
fact, more than any other,
many to get a foot hold In the Philip
pines. Russia was, he ,said. especially
grasping, and 1t behooved this country
to be on it's guard against the encroach-
ment of that great power.
In conclusion, Senator Teller referred
to his a~ntagonism to the administra-
ton, saying that he expected TO oppose
the party in power in the e. cam
paign, but, strongly as he felt on the
questions which separated him from
that party, he was, nevertheless, will
ing to sink party questions and sub
din partisan advantage to what
he believed 10 be a mucn broader view
"a patriotic, rather than a partisan
view.
Rising to reply, Senate Hoar said
there could be no doubt of Senator Tel
ler's attitude toward the republican
party after his anxiety to have the
treaty ratified had been made SO evil
dent, for he could not possibly do any
thing that would go farther toward en-
comprising the REORGANIZATION and de-
feat of the republican party than to
make certain the ratification OF the
pending treaty.
Senator Hoar devoted the greater
part Of his reply to a defence OF Agui-
Bolivar, the South American patriot.
1t would be remembered, he said, that
Bolivar also had upon occasion taken
upon himself the title Of dictator, and
yet who, on this account, would accuse
the Bolivian liberator Of being false to
his people or to their aspirations for
freedom? A~guinaldo had SO far shown
himself to be a shrewd and able lead
er, and he had not, by any act OF his
: shown himself to be incapable Of the
highest degree of leadership.
During the course of his remarks the
senator said that the argument had been
advanced that the United States should
be near at hand to participate in the
predicted partition of China. and pro-
ceeded TO say that this argument in
dicated a disposition to grasp even
more territory thai had yet been AIKEN.
Such a policy. he thought, should be
nipped in the bud, as he Was very con-
hdent that the people Of the United
States would not profit by joining the
European powers in their afforts to dis
tribute among themselves the posses
sions of this ancient en- pire.
. This last remark brought Senator Da-
Wis to his feet. While his name a
not been mentioned it vas evident tina
senator Hoar alluded 20 a remark OF
the Minnesota senator. The latter said
he had not advocated any participation
by the United States in the process OF
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but that he had only
alluded 10 its proba 11iity and had said
merely that the United States should
be on hand 10 protect their own in
tsrests.