The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-21
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
Speeches by Senator'S Nelson, White,
Perkins and Others.

ton to Mr.. vest s antl-eX XpanSiOn resolution
and the other by Mr. White Dem, CALI,
in personal explanation of his position with
respect to the instruction given the Cali
fornia senators by the Legislature in that
State, as to voting on the pending peace
treaty. At the conclusion of the speeches
the Senate resumed consideration of the
Nicaraguan canal bill. Its completion was
prevented probably by the flibustering tao
tics adopted by Mr.. Tilman Dem. S. c..
who frankly announced that the bill could
not be passed to-day as he and other sem
ators if necessary. would remain in the
chamber until midnight to prevent final
vote.
At the opening of the session Mr.. Caffery
offered the following concurrent resolution:
THAT the President be- and he is hereby,
requested, if not incompatible with the pub
lie interest, to furnish to the Senate copies
of any communications received by the State
Department from any representatives or
agents of the so-called Philippine republic;
and also to furnish any information in his
possession. or any documents filed before the
State Department, relative 10 the bounds of
the territories in the Philippine islands, to-
gether with the number of inhabitants there
in, held, respectively, under the control of
the American forces and the authority of So
called Philippine republic. showing partic-
ularly what islands, or parts of islands, if
any, can in any event be delivered by Spain
to the United States" The resolution went
over under objection.
MR.. NELSON'S SPEECH.
Then Mr.. Nelson was recognized
to make his speech upon the Vest anti
expansion resolution. His address was a
constitutional argument in support of the
right of the United States government to
acquire and govern foreign territory In re-
sponse to a question by Mr.. Mason Mr.. Nell
son said that no man could say truthfuly
that the rights of Engiishmen had been de-
stroyed or even in any sense impaired by
Great Britain's great scheme of cooniza-
ton. Further replying to Mr. Mason he de-
clared that the United States. our own mag
hilcent government, was the product of the
colonization plans Of Great Britain and de-
manded TO know whether Mr.. Mason would
desire TO blot out that great work of Eng
land. What the people of England have
done, said he, certainly the people of the
United states could accomplish. Colonies
nave not destroyed England; how Will they
destroy us?"
Mr.. Tllman. interruptng Mr. Nelson and
referring to the contest between Sweden
and Norway and the practical severance of
their relations. inquired why the Norwegians
at home wanted liberty. while those OF the
to the Filipinos
This reference to Mr.. Nelson's Norwegian
birth aroused him. Il am a citizen of the
United States, Mr. President" replied Mr..
Nelson, Il am not representing either the
people or the government of Norway. whose
rights ana hDeTtles am satisfied are greater
tnan those OF the people of South Carolina" !"
Laughter
In response to another question put to him
by Mr.. Mason, Mr.. Nelson replied: Are we
bound by any utterances or any action Of
ours to enslave the Filipinos? Is there a
single word in the utterance of the chief ex-
ecutiVe of this country or in the utter
ances of any senator on this floor that leads
the senator from Illinois to believe that we
expect to enslave them? In making even an
lntlmatlon or such purpose the senator is
slanderng the officials of this government.
We are there to give them a just. free and
good government and to keep them out of
the clutches Of the great powers of the
earth. 1t is our duty to thus protect them,
and it would be the highest cruelty for us
to leave them at the mercy of any who
might choose to attack them"
WHITE AND PERKINS.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Nelson's speech
Mr.. White arose to a question of personal
privilege, relating to the action of the Leg
islature of California instructing the sena-
tors from that State to vote for the rati-
fication of the peace treaty He said that
he had not Joined with Mr.. Perkins in his
request for instructions from the Legislature
and therefore did not consider himself bound
by the instructions given himself, as we'll
as his colleague. United States senators
were, he said, in a certain sense, agents of
the State they represented, but this did not
mean that they were to shift in position
with every turn Of the tide The State Leg
lslature had no right to instruct him in mat
ters involving the exercise of his conscience
or his convictions. If so. senator elected
as a Republican would naturally be expected
to become a Democrat if the next Legisla-
ture should chance to be on that side.
As soon as Mr.. White had concluded his
Republican colleague, Mr., Perkins, addressed
the Senate He paid high tribute to the
honesty, energy and ability of Mr.. White
but Notwithstanding his able argument. he
believed this to be truly representative
government. SO believing. he felt that his
obligation was to the people of his State
ana that when he had ascertained what their
desires were he would be false to himself and
to them If he did not heed their wishes Il
am opposed. said he, Ito the policy of ac-
curing the Philippine islands, believing such
pollcy 10 be a menace to our government
and its institutions, but nine-tenths of the
people of my State, their wishes are ex-
pressed through Legislature recently
elected, think otherwise. While | shall vote
for the pending treaty, it will be under pro-
test. shall do so because | regard such
treaty, however, Mr.. President, fully believ-
ing 1t does not represent a wise policy but
after we have taken in those islands | will
join with my colleague and my friend from
Massachusetts (Mr HOar) TO give them the
best possible care and government
Consideration of the Nicaragua canal bill
Messrs. Carter, Elkins, Fairbanks. Tilman
and others. Mr.. Berry offered the following
amendment to Section 8:
Nothing in this act shall be construed to
authorize the payment TO said company or
TO any other person or persons a greater
sum than the value of such property as as
certained by the commission herein named.
nor shall any warrants be delivered until
such commission has reported such value"
Mr. Morgan accepted the amendment and
1t was agreed to. Mr.. Caffery's amendment
was then defeated-32 to 20.
Mr. Chiffon offered amendment reduc-
ing the number of directors of the canal
from eleven to seven, five OF whom are TO
be from the United States The amend
mont was agreed to-
Mr.. Spooner offered an amendment that if
the President he unable to secure from the
governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
such concessions as will enable the United
States to build and perpetually own and
gotlate for control of, the right to con-
sttuct, maintain and perpetually control
some other canal connecting the Atlantic
ana racine oceans: and the President is also
requested to negotiate for the abrogation or
iloulncatlon OF any and all treaty obliga-
tlons IN any way interfering with the con-
strucuon. ownership and perpetual control
or any such canal. Replying to a question
from Mr Morgan. Mr.. Spooner said that his
expression some other canal' would of
course. include the Panama canal He aid
not believe that the United States ought TO
be tied up in this subject to the govern
ments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
AS a desire was expressed that the amend
ment be perfected. on motion of Mr. White
at 5:25 p. m, the Senate adjourned
A--
LIVELY DAY IN THE HOUSE.
Speeches by Two Firebrand PopuIists
aud General Grosvenor.