The record-union., 1899-01-28


subject than theirs to temporary and
local prejudice.
Il do not mean to- suggest, Mr.. Presi-
dent that such legislation as does oc-
cur in the Constitution is any less
binding upon us because it was put
there as "a concession to the sentiment
of the hour, but do affirm without
hesitation that the differences which we
draw now from such legislation linn
iting the power of the General Gov
eminent and tending to render our
Government less competent than other
governments, need to be drawn care
fully and need to be considered in the
light of the whole scheme of Federal
authority. 1t is true that We are a
Government of limited powers, but the
purpose of the limitation was simply
to reserve to the people of the States
such ample powers as would enable
them to determine their own afrairs
in their own way-such affairs, l mean,
as were not also the affairs OF the peo-
pie of other States; and it was not the
purpose of such limitation to hinder the
Federal Government in providing, as
might seem best and wisest, for the
general welfare of the whole country.
1T is surprising, Mr.. President, now
often it has been necessary to make
this argument and to call attention
to these distinctions, and yet, I sup
pose, the temptation is natural one
to make the phrase, "A government OF
limited powers mean government
empowered to do whatever each man
wants DONE but forbidden to 30 what
ever each man opposes. That thought
must have occurred, it seems to me, to
every Senator who heard the PROPOSE
ton advanced here that we had the
right, under the Constitution, to annex
the territory for the purpose Of put
ting up guns to kill people, but lacked
the right of annexing it for the pur-
pose of putting up schoolhouses and
doing things that contribute to the
happiness and prosperity of the people
concerned.
This disorder now existing in the
Philippine Islands, to which Senators
who are opposing the treaty may
we'll afford to consider how far they
are contributing to this unwillingness
of the armed natives to accept Ameri-
can authority does not constitute In
any sense the slightest ground on winch
to base a vote against the Paris agree
ment On the contrary, it affords
new reason why our action should be
the more prompt and unanimous.
Mr.. President-I don't know and
don't think anyone else can know just
what ought to be done with the Philip
pine Islands beyond this-that we ought
as instantly as possible to complete the
withdrawal of their sovereignty from
the Kingdom of Spain, and we ought
ourselves to assume its obligations and
prndently to discharge them until we
have had full opportunity in our own
councils to determine their best dispo-
siticn. This is all that the treaty of
Paris proposes or imposes. 1t is all that
the administration has at any time sug-
gested. 1t is no more than a safe and
conservative policy advises. 1t is no
less than our public obligations require.
1t is a plain, clear, positive duty. 1t is
one of those'duties which is hard to be
got rid of by evasion or even by denial.
1t would remain after you had rejected
the treaty. 1t lies in the nature of the
situation. Your army, your navy and
your flag are at Manila. You can add
to their dangers if you will. But their
duty abides and the will of the nation
must De dOne.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Platt's
speech notices of speeches on the ex-
pansion question were given by Mr..
Money for next Friday, and Mr.. Chill
ton for Saturday February 4.
Fairbanks of Indiana, precipi-
tated some discussion by a statement
which he submitted at this point with
respect to the ti-expansion propa-
ganda. He said that on Thursday GER
tain clippings from agricultural news
papers from various parts of the coun-
try were inserted in the record. There
is very systematic and subtle at
tempt to mislead the people of the coun-
try with respect to the question of ex-
pansion," said Fairbanks, "and the
agricultural papers are being used as
a medium for this misinformation."
Fairbanks said that he had been
credibly informed that Herbert Myrick,
the editor of an agricultural newspaper
at Springfield, Mass, had sent to agri-
cultural newspapers throughout the
country the letter of Andrew Carnegie
to Secretary Wilson in opposition to ex-
pansion, and had urged them to print
it and comment favorably upon it, the
space in their papers to be paid for at
the usual rates. He then read some OF
the communications sent out by those
who were opposed to the policy Of ex-
pansion, remarking. in conclusion that
he desired simply to put the Senate in
possession of the information contained
therein, without commenting upon it.
Chandler of New Hampshire, in
quired whether Fairbanks could in
fc~,,, %I,<a Coz, q 70 x-hr, maid for the r,I1b-
LEGATION of this literature, and whether
he objected to the payment for it by
anybody who was able to do SO.
THE matter some Of it, may say,
replied Fairbanks, is being sys-
tematically published and sent to Sen
ators in this chamber at the expense of
somebody. I do not konw and do not
say who pays the bills. 1t was my de-
sire simply to bring the matter to the
attention of the Senate"
Hoar said that the matter which had
appeared in the agricultural papers
with reference to the question OF ex-
pansion was simply being supplied to
the Senate for it's information and as
a guide so far as it might be consid-
cred to be such to Senators, as to the
views of the great agricultural class OF
this country. If there could be, he said,
more absolutely harmless method of
communicating public opinion, he did
not know what it was. He indicated
that the expansionist press was being
employed to the same end, and said he
did not enter any objection to it. Hoar
said that he was stating facts. and had
no desire to impugn the motives Of any
body.
Under the arrangement concluded last
evening consideration of the pension