The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-24
WHITE SPEAKS
ON EXPANSION.
The California Senator
Will Not Obey Orders
SHOULD SPEAK OUT.
Congress Should Make a Declaration
Of Our Intentions.
POLICY IS TO RETAIN ISLANDS,
Mr. White Seems TO Think That All
Uttcranccs Made by Friends OF the
Treaty Point that Wayne Vote
viii he Taken on the Treaty
Unless its Ratification
Seems Certain.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-Discussion Oh
the policy OF expansion occupied nearly
all the time Of the Senate In open ses-
sion to-day. Mr. White, Of California
one of the Democrats who has announeed
heretofore his opposition TO ratification OF
the treaty of peace, addressed the sell
ate in support OF the anti-expansioh res
olution introduced by Mr.. Vest, lDeh' Oh
Missouri and of the resolution ofierea
by Mr.. Bacon Dem. OF Georsia) deeiar-
ing that the Fnipinos ought TO be free
and independent
In view Of the preparation of the Cal
ifornia Legislature to INSTRUCT Mr'
white and his colleague, Mr.. Perkins
how TO vote upon the policy OF expansion
and upon the pending peace treaty, sne
remarks OF Mr. White we're fese'aeo
with much interest He was ACCORDED
careful attention by both his colleagues
on the floor and by considerable duui-
ence in the galleries
MIR. WHITES TEXT.
Mr. White took as the extracts Tor MS
remarks certain paragraphs from Su-
prome Court decisions, a sentence frois
President McKinley's Atlanta speech ana
a paragraph from the report OF Admiral
Dewey TO the Navy Department, SAYING
that the FilipinOs were as well qualined
for self-government as the Cubans. lie
said de denied the doctrine that seeks 10
give this country jurisdiction In some
cases and denied II in others. The coun-
trv. he said was confronted TO-DAY by
situation differing entirely from What IL
has been confronted with at any time
IFsstf tod hn
we had the power 10 acquire foreign ter
ritorv. whether we should do 80 depends
largely upon the circumstances. lie
maintained that the question presented
was one purely of policy Should we
take the Philippines. he asked. Should
we take In seeds that would prove seeds
Of dissolution Of our body polite.
He thought not and said he would on
deavor to show why we should not Tor
he believed II our duty 10 see TO it that
our system was kept free from all such
contamination.
~ care not" said Mr.. white whether
the people IN the philippines are htted
for self government or not. IL IS GER
tain that II they are not they ought not
ia be brought into alliance with rs.
They repudiate our attempt 10 bring them
into our system and insist that thev
should be allowed to govern themselves.
II we say that the Filipnos are not
fitted for self government, pray let us
know by what process Of reasoning we
can take them into our governmental
system -
MUST MEAN TO KEEP THEM.
Mr.. White declared that no conclusion
was possible. except that II was the in
tention of this Government and the OH
Gers i'm mower to annex the Philippine
a
ouired. why would not the supporters Of
the treaty consent to the adoption of such
"A resolution as that offered by Mr.. Hoar,
declaring there was no intention on the
part of this country to hold the Islands
in perpotuty.
Mr. White then referred to the Presi-
dents statement that the attitude OF the
limited States towards the Philippines
was 10 be ono Of benevolent assimila-
ton
A short debate occurred a this point
between Mr. White and Mr.. Chandler tof
New Hampshlre) over the definition of the
word assimilation" The later claimed
that Il means "a resemblance, a likeness,
but not necessarily amalgamatlon or aD-
sorption"
While he was not responsible for the
Presidents definition Of his words. he did
not thlnk IL q ldlI dIS uHthN W soy NN"N
the word means absorption or TO as
srv,e that the President used it in that
sense
SHOULD DECLARE OURSELVES.
Mr. White. continuing. said he was OPP
posed TO tho entire policy Of expansion
and that his objections 70 it were basic.
He maintained that if this country had
the slightest regard for its position be
fore the world. II was the duty or con-
gress to declare definitely its position
upon the subject before proceeding furth-
er ''If." said he, I'VE ratify the pending
treaty and take upon ourselves the re-
sponsIbiIlty OF the Philippine ISLANDS
there is nothing else for us to do but
subiugate them ar all hazards. Ne must
show 10 the nations OF the world that we
have not only a legal right. nut the
| physical power 10 hold them
Further along Mr.. White referred 10
the necessity under the proposed policy
OF expansion OF a large standing army
and demanded 10 know what benefit was
10 be derived by this country from sucn
an institution. What is the limit OF the
! expansionist, he inquired. We are al
ready told, he continued. that the eX-
pansionists desire 10 participate In the
| partition OF China, when that shall come,
and the indications were that this coun-
try WAS To 30 on and acquire stll other
territory. which in the nature or things
would have to be defended.
A RUNNING DEBATE.
At this point a colloquy occurred which
was participated in by Mr.. Mason tof IL
linols), Mr.. Teller (of Colorado), and Mr..
| White.
MIR. Mason inquired II II were not true
that territory whose inhabitants had 10
! be forced into submission did not always
require. an immense force 10 keep the
F, people in subsection.
Mr. White did not desire evidently TO
| commit himself TO Mr.. Masons position.
but Mr. Teller pointed out that the peo-
pie Of New Mexico. Arizona and California
| had been forced at the point Of guns into
! submission and their consent primarily
| had not been secured.
/ YES" replied MIR Mason but that
territory was acquired by treaty"
ut Is by treaty that we proposed 10
ACQUIRE the Philippines" retorted MIR.
| Teller.
Mr.. Mason: "By treaty with people
who have no more right TO cede the ter
ritory than the Devil had 10 offer the
: Saviour all the iand In sight Of the