The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-28
Mr.. PLATT OF NEW YORK
FAVORS EXPANSION
Makes His Maiden Speech in
the Senate.
His Remarks Very Brief. But Con-
else and Comprehensive.
is Undecided ns to What should he
the Future Government of the
Philippine Islands.

Senator Plat of New York delivered his
! first speech in the Senate yesterday. He
| spoke in favor of ratifying the Treaty and
against the Vest resolution. His speech
had been carefully prepared, and, although
it was very brief. it touches comprehensive
ly on all the vital points of the question
of expansion.
| The previous notice Mr.. Piatt had given
of his intention to speak was the occasion
| for a larger assemblage in the galleries
than usual and much interest was mani
tested by his colleagues when he took the
floor. Mr.. Platt took his position at Mr..
Gears desk, next to the centre aisle of the
chamber where large stack of books
had been arranged on which to lay his
manuscript. He arose to speak at 1890
o'clock and, much to everyone's surprise,
he resumed his seat in just ten minutes.
It was remarked that he had covered the
situation in that time in complete a
manner as would the average Senator in
. speech Of an hour and half's duration.
Mr.. PIatt's speech.
He spoke as follows:
| | suppose l may he permitted TO enjoy the
same latitude of discussion and the same liberty
OF expression which have distinguished the
marks of other Senators during this debate. 1t
is scarcely possible to talk to the resolution OF
! the Senator from Missouri without saying
thing concerning the Treaty which is being
! sidered IN executive session Indeed. the resolu-
| tiUn may almost be looked upon amendment
| to the Treaty. II the resolution pass,
and the Treaty were then to be ratified. the
! luton would be nothing less than definition
! of what the Treaty must be understood TO mean,
and in voting against the resolution, which will he
| my course when the occasion arrives. ! desire TO
| he understood voting against any limitation
! upon te terms 0f the Treaty.
There has never been absent from the floor
! of the Senate that class of intellect which has
found in thu Constitution its warrant for opposing
new things 1t has always been superior class
OF intellect, without doubt earnest and sincere,
| but not always TO be appreciated by ordinary
minds, that believes in finding practical solution
| for practical questions, they arise after
another in the cours. OF national experience, and
that starts ont in its consideration OF all public
| questions with the assumption that the founders
| of our Government did not intend it TO be any
| thing less than a competent Government Nor is
| II things only which so resolutely opposed
| in the name of the fathers Ii is the old things
| with new faces we'll Here have been for
whole century anneSing territory anneXing with
! club or cIress, Just the necessities de-
| nianded, ana vet Senators are discovering to one
another the most acute distress what they
! boldly describe departure from time honor
| ed traditions
| Mr.. President it was not the main purpose
| OF the makers OF the Constitution TO point out
way in accordance with which the problems OF
! government were TO be solved. That DurpC5f
no doubt. YVES i'll their minds 10 extent, but
| to an extent which must have had its boundaries
| defined in their experience. And even then
they allowed it to appear in the Constitution
! with reluctance and obvious misGying.
Devise Plan.
Their main purpose was to devise 4 plan OF
government and not To ordain policies and where
they seemed TO BE- ordaning policies. where they
departed from the main work OF establishing tEr
bodies which together should form the Govern
! ment. and of distributing TO each its particular
! functions, they were doing precisely what every
other legislative assembly. before their time and
| subsequently thereto, has had to dO-they were
satisfying popular prejudices and looking forward
| TO the day when their work would be passed upon
| hy minds less trained than their in the
! consideration of great principles and more sub
| Iect than theirs to temporary and local prejudice.
do not mean TO suggest. Mr.. President tina !
such legislation docs occur in the Const tuition
| Is any less binding upon US because il was put
there a concession 10 the sentiment OF the hour
| but do affirm without hesitation that the infer
ences which draw now from such legislation
limiting the power Of the General Government and
tending 10 render our Government less competent
than other governments, need 10 be drawn care
fully and need TO be considered in the light of the
whole scheme of Federal authority. II is true that
we arc Government OF limited powers but the
purpose OF the limitation simply to reserve
to the people OF the States such ample power Us
would enable them To determine their own al
fairs IN their own way-such Affairs, | mean, as
were not also the affairs Of the people Of other
States, and it not the purpose OF such limi.
tation TO hinder the Federal Government in pro.
| rlding as might seem best and wisest for the
general welfare OF the whole country
| II il surprising, Mr.. President how often il ha.
been necessary to make this argument and to call
attention TO these distinctions, and vet suppose
the temptation is natural one TO make the
| phrase "a Government OF limited power
mean Government empowered To do what
ever each man wants done, but forbidden to dc
whatever each man opposes. That thought must
have occurred, 1t seems to me, TO every Senator
who heard the proposition advanced here that
Wv had the right under the Constitution TO annex
territory Tor the purpose of putting up gun
! to kill people WITH but lacked the right OF an
neNing IT fUr the purpose Of putting up school
houses and Of doing things that contribute to the
Happiness and prosperity Of the people concerned
The disorder now existing in the Phiiippin,
Islands, to which Senators who are now nppus
ing the Treaty may well afford 10 consider hov
tar they are contributing the mwillingness o
! the armed natives to accept American authority
!, does not constitute. in my mind the slightes
! ground which base a vote against th
] Paris agreement on the contrary, it afford
. 4 why our action should he tn
. more prompt and unanimous. No Senator Ia
. had the hsrdihuod to suggest that we shall nov
return these islands to the Spanish government
and other disposition OF them than that
: inconsistent with vote to confirm the treaty
: lmputations have been made here upon the pur
poses of those who advocate the assumption b
the United States Of Philippine soycrrignt,
which oan scarcely be genuine.
: Spanish Misruic.
i All this talk about forcing goveruinen