The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-14

differs so radically from the policy
adopted as to that race in the South ?
There can DO but one answer to that
question, and that is that they su bstan-
| TALLY admit, In the light of a third Of .
century's experience, that universal
suffrage is a monumental failure and that
the time has come for the correction OF
this stupendous governpental error.
Universal suffrage In the South long
since degsnerated into race question.
continued Mr.. MoLaurin, land as such
led 10 the practical elimination Of the
negro from politics. policy that is today
wisely advocated BY the great leaders OF
the race like Professor Miller and Booker
Washington and which In time without
outside Interference under the guidsnee
Of the best thought Of both races Will lead
to Just and mutual satisfactory settle
mcnt Of the gravest problems that have
ever confronted any people In modern
times.
THE Senator from Connecticut has
m ost amply vindioated the South. per-
haps unintentionAlly. but we thank him
th more heartily for his complete an
nouncement of the divine right of the
Caucasian to govern the inferior races"
Mr.. McLAurin then entered upon a
constitutional discuss ion Of the question
presented by the resolution, maintaining
that all OF the rights and powers OF the
federal government are enumerated speci-
toally In the constitution and such as
were not thus specifically defined did not
exist.
1.-THE nation, as a nation" he oon.
tended. "has no sovereign rights except
those CON ferred by the constitution.
He further commended that II the soser
eighty of their action 10 vested in the con.
stitution as admitted by Mr.. Platt Of
Connecticut, 1T could only Be exercised
in the manner pointed OUT In the consti-
tuition. He maintained that there was
essential difference between the sover-
eighty exercised by the United States
and that exercised by Great Britain for
between the forms OF government Of the
two nations.
81 do not, however, con trovert the pro-
position that the United States have the
power to acquire territory ~ conquest.
purchase, or otherwise, and to govern
same under the grant OF power continued
In the constitution. do, however, den y
the proposition that territory can be
acquired and permanently held as such by
the exception OF small tracts acquired for
specific governmental purposes, like coal
ing stations and the Guano Islands under
the act OF 1855 think Hawaii comes
under the exception OF q military and
commercial necessity"
Afssr further discussing the constitu-
tional points of the question, Mr.. Mo.
Laurin said It was idle 10 speak Of Anne
ricanising tropical country. 5000 miles
away. Our people would never consent
that the people Of thAt::far on land should
have . voice In the affairs of this coun Z.
try. However" he said. believe the
time 10 not far Oh when our flag will
float over every foot of North American
soil, but IL must come naturally and
peacefully by consent sof the governed,
not by the fuds hand Of war"
Discussing the inhabitants OF the Phil
ippinss. Mr.. MeLAurin said: "Of one
thing I am sure: The American people
will never consent for these inferior races
to hood our land and I'D another oompli.
cation to the labor problem 10 permit
cheap Asiatic labor to come into com
pc sition with our intslliesnt we'll paid
labor win be- to degrade and lower our
civilization.
"If we embark in , colonial system, :"
Auguration Of . despotio power In Wash
layton. 1t means . large et.nding Amy
that will not only be used to rule out.
lying territories With an iron hand. but
that, sooner or lessr. Will b used AZ
home to ovsravue, end override IA, popular
will. An impsiiaustic democracy, itxs