The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-24
OPPOSED.
Mr.. Whites Views
on Expansion.
HE THINKS POLICY
Against the Traditions Of
This Country.

Washington, Jan. 23.-Discussion Of
the policy of expansion occupied nearly
all the time of the Senate in open SEES
sion today. Mr.. White of California,
one of the democrats who has an
nounced heretofore his opposition to
ratification of the treaty of peace, ad-
dressed the Senate in support of the
anti-eXpansion resolution introduced by
Mr.. Vest of Missouri, and of the reso-
luton offered by Mr. Bacon of Georgia,
declaring that the Filipinos ought to
be free and Independent. Mr.. White
is brilliant speaker, and he was COM
plimented by his colleagues and a large
audience in the galleries with careful
attention. He did not enter into con
stitutional argument, but confined him
self to discussion of expansion as a
policy of this government. He main
tanned that such a policy was contrary
to the fundamental principles of this
country, to its history and traditions
He declared his opposition to the rati-
hcation of the pending treaty of peace,
broadly intimated that declaration of
definite policy on the part of the adj
ministration would very much simplify
the situation, and as a matter of good
faith, ought not to be antagonized by
the advocates of the treatys ratifica-
ton.
Shortly after the Senate opened, Mr..
Frye presented the credentials of his
colleague, Mr.. Hale, of Maine, re-elect-
ed senator for the term beginning
March 4, 1899. They were filed.
Mr.. White then addressed the SEN
ate on the antl-expansion resolution Of
fered by Mr.. Vest of Missouri. Sena-
tor White spoke not only on the Vest
resolution, but also to that offered by
Mr. Bacon, declaring the inhabitants of
the Philippines entitled to liberty. Mr..
| White took as the text for his remarks
certain paragraphs from supreme court
decisions, sentence from President
McKinley's Atlanta speech and a par
agraph from the report of Admiral
Dewey to the navy department, saying
| that the Fflipinos were as well quail
! ned for self government as the Cubans.
He said he had no intention of dis
cussing the question from a legal
standpoint as such a decision would
serve no useful purpose. He MAIN
tanned that the question presented was
one purely of policy. Should we take
the Philippines? he asked Should we
take in seeds that would prove to be
seeds of dissolution of our body polite ?
He thought not, and said he would en-
deavor to show why we should not, for
he believed it our duty to see to it that
our system was kept from all such
contamination.
Mr.. White declared that no conclu-
sion was possible except that of the
intention of this government and the
officers in power to annex the Philip
| pine Islands. If this were not true. he
inquired, why would not the supporters
OF the peace treaty consent to the
adoption of such a resolution as that
offered by Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts.
declaring that there was no Intention
on the part Of this country to hold the
Islands In perpetuity? He referred to
the presidents statement that the at
tltude of the United States toward the
Philippines was to be one of 'bene-
violent assimilation"
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire in
terrupted Mr.. White and said THE
other day, when this benevolent as
sanitation bugbear was raised before
the Senate, l took occasion to look up
the definition given by MIR. Webster of
assimilation. If the senator will per-
init me: 1t means a resemblance, a
likeness, but not necessarily amalga-
nation or absorption
| After indicating just what the defini-
ton is, Mr.. Chandler said: 1T is not
a fair argument to say that the words
mean absorption, or to assume the
president used 1t in that sense"
Does the senator speak for the pres
! 1dent with authority?" inquired Mr..
White. Does he know what the pres
ident meant when he spoke?"
Undoubtedly" replied Mr.. Chandler
olandly, the president thinks as l do,
and l think he is right. The president
thinks we ought to bring these people
into reasonable likeness unto us, but
not necessarily to incorporate them,
and | hope the senator will not Law too
much stress upon the expression of
benevolent assimilation"
II the senator can assure" replied
Mr.. White, that he speaks with an
thority as to the utterance Of the presi-
cent: l may not have a higher regard
Tor the definition, but I might have
more respect for the policy involved. -
| Quite naturally" said Mr.. Chandler.
i am not and could not be responsible
for the presidents definition of his
words. This word assimilation does
not mean destruction or swallowing up.
but it does mean a likeness, Identity,
ETC."
Mr. White, continuing. said he was
| opposed to the entire policy of expan-
sion, and that his objections to it were
basic. He maintained that if this
country had the slightest regard for its
| position before the world, it was the
| duty of congress to declare definitely
It's position upon the subject before
proceeding further.
said he, I'VE ratify the pending
| treaty and take upon ourselves the re.
sponsibihty of the Philippines, there is
nothing else for us to do but to sub
Jugate them at all hazards. We must
show to the nations of the world that
| we have not only legal right but the
| physical power " hold them"
| Mr.. White inquired what this mani
| fest destiny was that had been heard
so much about recently destiny that
insisted that this nation should do
! what 1t ought not to do. 1t had been
maintained, he said. that wherever the
stars and stripes were once planted
| they must remain. But he had heard
distinguished senator say only re-
Gently that that was merely a figure of
speech, and was not intended to be A
rock Of absolute policy.
Further along, Mr.. White referred to
the necessity under the proposed policy
of expansion of large standing army
and demanded to know what benefit
was to be derived by this country from
such an institution. What is the limit
of the expansion?' he inquired. I'VE
are glrpadv told - ba no1t;a,od CO.