The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-24
The Trsaiy Must Be Ratified or Rejected
asa Whole, and Not Amended.
SHOULD MAKE NO PLEDGES TO SPAIN
In Matter Purely Our Own 10 Decide Americans
Can Be Trusted 10 Deal Honorabb and
Justly With The fIIipLos.

Washington Ian. ef.-Senator Lodge
discussed the question OF expansion be
fore the Senate today. In connection
with the resolutions before the scpate.
he said two questions have been raised.
one of constitutional law ana one of
public policy TAe constitutional ques-
tions are many. and the hypothetical
s,tuatiens. which haze been imagined
with much ingenuity as rests OF the
constitution are almost countless.
II believe that the United States has
the undoubted power 10 acquire terri
tory and 10 hold and govern It, | am
ready To admit if necessary that ac-
ton In these directions must be taken
for constitutional purposes but the con-
stitutionality OF the purpose must be
determined by congress itself through
its majority. 1 believe that the power
OF the United states In any territory or
possession outside of the limits Of the
4 states themselves is absolute with the
single exception OF the limitation plac-
ed upon such outside possessions by
the 18th amendment.
Constitutions do not make people
people make constitutions our con-
stitution IL great and admirable be-
cause the men who made IL were so
and the people who ratified IL and nave
lived under IL We're and are brave, IN
felligent and lovers of liberty. There
is n higher sanction and a surer pro-
lection 60 life and liberty, 10 the right
OF speech and trial by jury. 10 justice
and humanity. in the traditions, the
beliefs, the habits of mind. and the
Z character of the American people than
any which can be afforded by any con-
stitution, no matter how wisely drawn.
III the American people were disposed
to tyranny, injustice and oppression,
constitution would offer, but "A tempo
rary barrier To their ambitions. and the
reverence for the constitution and FOR
law and justice grows out of the fact
that the American people believe in
freedom and humanity In equal justice
TO all men and i'm all equal rights be-
fore the law: and while they so believe
the great doctrines of the Declaration
OF Independence and OF the constitu-
tion ~iH never be In peril.
The great question now before the
American people resolves itself. In my
mind TO one of policy purely. There is
only one question demanding actual and
immediate decision now before the con-
gress and the people. and that is
whether the treaty with Spain shall be
rdQ0e0 or not.
] desire merely 10 state very briefly
what rs undcrstau6 IL. that question
il. j have heard no opposition cS-
pressed To any part of the treaty SN-
cept such portion OF il as relates 20 the
Philippines and that. therefore. ~ the
sole point upon which | desire to touch.
The treaty cedes the Philippines 20 us.
when that treaty is ratified. we have
full power and are absolutely free 10
do with those islands as we please.
and the opposition Go It's ratification
may be summed up In "A single sentence
that the American people and tue
E American congress are not To he trust
ed with that power and with that frec-
dom of action i'm regard TO the inhabit-
ants OF those distant islands. Every
one OF the resolutions thus far offered
.n this subject is an expression OF dir
trust in the character ability. honesty
and wisdom OF the American people
and an attempt TO make us promise q
be good and wise and honest i'm the fu-
tprc and in our dealings with other
people.
VIZ must either ratify the treaty or
reject it for ! cannot suppose that any
one would seriously advance the propo-
sition that We should amend the treaty
in such a way as 20 make pledges 10
Spain for our good conduct I'm n matter
WHICH VIII bf NntllN tNn ht-
eide.
Suppose we ratify the treaty. The ISL
ands pass from the possession Of Spain
into our possession without committing
us 10 any policy. ! believe we can be
trusted az people TO deal honestly
and Justly with the islands and their
inhabitants thus given 20 our care. 1
believe that we shall have the wisdom
not TO attempt 10 Incorporate those ISL
ands with our body polite. or make
their Inhabitants part of our citizen
ship or set their labor alongside ~ ours
and within our tariff To compete I'm any
industry with American workmen. /
believe that we shall have the courage
not 10 depart from those islands fear
fully, timidly and unworthily, ana
leave them TO anarchy among them
selves to the brief and bloody domina-
tion OF some self-constituted dictator
and TO the quick conquest of other
powers. who will have no such hesita o
ton az we should feel I'm crushing them
into snbjection by harsh and rcpres-
sive methods. IL Is FOR us 10 decide the
destiny of the Philippines. not for Eu-
rope. and we can DO II alone and with
out assistance.