The Springfield herald., 1899-02-10
SPEECH BY WOLCOTT.
HE DISCUSSES EXPANSION.
Takes the Position That the Pence Treaty
Should He Ratified on Patriotic C
Grounds.

Washington, Feb. 5.-1n the Senate
yesterday Mr.. Wolcott of Colorado
spoke upon the peace treaty lie at
tempted no discussion of the pendlns
resolutions, but urged the ratification
of the treaty on purely moral and pat
riotic grounds.
1T was not" said he, until 1t be
came patent that the resolutions pend
Ing before the Senate We're being useu
merely as cloak with which to defeat
the treaty of peace that he determined
to say few words"
His own belief was that discussion
or the treaty should take place IN eA-
ecutive session, but senators had taken
opportunity in presenting their views
upon the resolutions to discuss the
treaty, and he felt it necessary to say
something also. He said that the war
with Spain had had no charms for
him, and he had walked with perhaps
reluctant feet along the lines of duty
marked out for him.
| If the commissioners appointed by
the President had presented to the
Senate treaty yielding up the Phll-
iDpine Islands. he would have felt it
his duty to ratify their action; II they
had in the treaty held only coaling
station, he would have felt bound
equally to support their action.
I'm their WISDOM" said he. they
have brought to us treaty providing
for the taking of the entire Philippine
group and 1 see before me my duty
i to assist in the ratification of that
action"
After reviewing briefly the results of
the war and the negotiations which
| led to the appointment of the peace
commission, Mr.. Wolcott said: 1.-THE
commissioners appointed by the Presi-
dent We're men Of eminent character
and ability. We may Judge something
of the commission by the members of
it that were selected by this body. Not
one man here is there who would not
| trust to any of them the most intri-
cate and delicate matter. They have
brought back here II treaty with Spain
| by which we may deal with the Fill
pinos as Congress hereafter may wisely
determine. Yet we stand here day
after day wranglinR over resolutions
of no force and effect and which serve
| only to embarrass our own people In
| the Philippines and afford comfort to
our opponents on the islands. There
is not one of these questions raised
which may not properly be dealt with
after the treaty Is ratified
1--WE should present united front
to foreign foes and dissent only on in
| ternal policies.
However much we may differ
| among ourselves upon questions of in
ternal policy" said he, I'VE ought to
| stand as one before foreign foe. l.
| for one, recognize a great difference
between treaty establishing CONNER
cial relations with another nation and
n treaty bringing to n conclusion n
successful war. 1t Is important that
We should present an unbroken front
l N m tyD of III
We owe n debt to our brethren across
the sea. We had their unqualified
, moral support and influence of their
trained diplomats throughout the war
Had it not been for England we should
not have merged from the late war
with colors flying SO high. To-day we
have among the nations of Europe
only one friend-Great Britain. The
other nations stand with rapacious
hate, hoping that we may encounter
some repulse."
Adverting to the attitude of the op-
ponents of the treaty in endeavoring
to inject, as he said, politics into the
consideration of the pending question
and to force out of 1t an issue for the
next presidential campaign, Mr.. VOL
colt said:
But 1t is deplorable that in formu-
lating such an issue and in pursuit of
such n policy these leaders should find
it necessary to seek to dishonor this
government and the administration
which has guided us so wisely through
the troubled sea of international COM
plications and brought us to the
threshold of an honorable peace, that
they should dishOnor us in the face of
the nations of the world and they
should seek to bring about some fan
cied political advantage by an attempt
| to defeat the ratification of treaty
which. If unratified, must bring back n
condition of war rs 1t existed before
the report of the commissioners, pass
i've 1t may be. but full of uncertainty
and full of disaster to the interests and
the welfare of our country.
II do not believe such tactics can
win. There are men enough on both
sides of this chamber who will stand
n Republican government, but because
1t is an American government.
THE results Of the war have left lis
charged with duty to 100000 of
people. We found them under the do
minion of Spain. Nobody wants to
turn them back to that nation. We
know little about them, but we do
know there exists n condition on the
| islands which would result in interne-
| cine STRIFE among people who may
or may not be fitted for self-govern-
ment.
"If we should abandon those islands
as derelict 1t is certain they would
become prey to Europe. For one,
am certain that the ratification of the
treaty would ameliorate the conditions
there and advance the interests of the
Filipinos. We shall not put our hands
on those people except to bless them,
and our efforts will be to lift them up
to the standards Of civilization and
Christianity"
Referring to the charge made on the
Senate floor that the taking of the
Philippines by the United States would
result in scandals of office holding and
office holders, Mr. Wolcott repudiated
the idea with scorn, and declared that
the American people would see to it
that although they had had little eN-
perience in the management of such
territory. 1t would be given proper and
careful attention.
"Our relations with the inhabitants
of those islands," continued Mr.. VOL
colt, are certain to be fair. honest and
| Just. We may make mistakes. We
have made mistakes in the past. But
! ,,,;tJ bny