Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-20
55th CONGRESS.
Senator Turner Takes Issue
With Plat and Foraker.
Nicaragua Canal Cannot Have Over
S20,o00,oo0 in Any One Year.
Swanson Of Virginia r. tains Seat-lmportant
Postal Bill Amendments.

Washington, Jan. 19.-The Senate
further listened today, TO discussion
of the policy of expansion. Mr. Turner,
Pop, Wash, delivered q carefully pre-
pared speech on the Vest resolution
The speech was for the most part
constitutional argument, in which Mr..
Turner took iesue- with Senator Plat
and Senator Foraker upon their recent
utterance5.
AT the conclusion Of Mr.. Turner's
argument, Mr.. Foraker took some
Sharp exceptions TO statements made
in the speech especially those refer
ring to him personally lie explained
at length the nature of mis- statements.
declaring among other things that he
had spoken only for himself and had
no intention or desire to pose as the
representative of the administration
so far as his utterarlces We're concern
ed. Referring to the Interested COM
ment which had been aroused in Great
Britain by his statements, he said: Il
was not speaking for the adfninistra-
ton and the chill that went up and
down the backs of our friends in Lon
don was due perhaps to misappre-
hension as to which, of the Ohio sena-
tors was speaking"
The Nicaraguan bill was under con-
siderBtion nearly three hours. After
much debate a substitute presented by
Mr.. Morgan, Ala, for the bond amend
ment offered by Mr.. Allison WAS adopt
ed. 1t provides that the secretary of
the treasury Shall not pay out for ca
nal work more than so. 900. 900 during
any fiscal year. Earnest efforts Were
made to amend the measure in other
particulars, but all failed.
At the beginning Of Thursdays scs-
sion of the Senate, a letter was read
from Frye, President pro tenn, appoint
ing Platt, Conn, to preside over the
Senate. today, in the absence of the
Vice President and himself.
II magnificent floral piece was placed
on the desk of Hawley, Conn.,, as soon
as the Senate convenedv
Mills. Texas, presented a joint reso-
luton directing the secretary of war
to have made Il survey and estimate
of cost of channel between Texas
City and Galveston, and it was adopt
ed. A resolution was also passed di-
recting the secretary of war to have
made a survey and estimate of cost Of
Improving the harbor of Camden. Me.
Turner. Wash, addressed the Senate
on the anti-expansion resolution of
Vest. Turner pictured the storms
which the gallant ship of state had en-
counterei and concluded the figure
with the statement that notwithstand-
ing the trials it had undergone, it had
weathered them all thus far and had
brought into port it's precious freight
of liberty and nationality.
The builders of the vessel. he said.
We're wise beyond their day and genera
ton Now, however. the noble craft.
its chart having been torn to tatters.
was drifting whittier she would in a
wind and unknown sea. This danger
Gus condition was being forced upon
the ship by the pretence that Prov
idence had cast upon us new RESPONSE
blities which we may not shirk.' He
could not agree, however. that this
dangerous responsibility was one for
the American people to assume.
Turner denied the contention that the
acquisition of far distant territory had
been forced upon this country by the
arDitrament of war. He maintained
that victory was not purchased at the
cost of assimilating into our race the
conquered and PROSTATE foe. This
country was at liberty to retain such
of it as was suitable in soil, climate,
inhabitants we might want to keep;
but he denied that our only other re-
course was to give back the conquered
terrietory to the enemy.
IF we keep it ourselves" he said,
I'VE may require it to be given to the
people who inhabit it, for the purpose
of independence and liberty
This, he believed, was the proper
course to pursue in the case of the
Philippines. The sovereignty of this
country would not be impeached by
such generous action. SO far as other
nations are concerned our sovereignty
is limitless and ilimitable. 1t is no
concern of other nations what we do
for our own national health.
The advice of Washington, he said,
was against entangling alliances, which
might overcome the great advantage of
our detached situation.
Passing from the domain of prudence
to that of principle, Turner maintained
that the proposition of power urged
ny piCuho uO"AA S'S'S '''A'N
mental principle on which our institu-
tons are founded. Under such "a prop
osition. the principles of the declara-
ton of independence. that taxation
without representation is tyranny, and
that the powers of government are de-
rived from the consent of the govern
ed, could no longer be guide to our
statesmen.
Turner adveIted to the statement of
Foraker, few days ago, that it was
not the purpose of the United States to
retain the Philippines permanently, but
he said he was forced to differ from the
Ohio senator, because he found in the
treaty which had been negotiated un-
der the direction of the President 'evi-
dence of such d character that it must
override the opinion Of the distinguish
ed senator from Ohio
He referred to that part of the treaty
he said. which made not only cession
TO this country of sovereignty over the
Philippines, but acceptance by us of
that sovereignty 1t was impossible
to forget. too that the treaty was ne
gotiated in the midst OF a clamor for
an extension of our dOminions.
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