The Portland daily press., 1899-01-20
GIVE TO INHABITANTS.
How Senator Turner Would Dispose
Of Philippines.
ARGUMENT BY WASHINGTON MAN
AGAINST EXPANSION.

WASN'T Speaking Tor Aumtntstrauon
In His Remarks About Keeping
Isiands--Nicaragua Canal Under
! Discussion Three Hours But No Vote
| Washington, January 10 The Senate
listened further today to discussion OF
the policy of cxpansionis Mr.. Turner.
Popullst of Washington, delivered care
fully prepared speech on the Vest resolu-
tion. The speech was for the most part
u constitutional argument in which Mr..
| Turner took issue with Senator platt and
Senator Foraker upon their recent utter
anoes. Mr.. Turner pictured the storms
which the gallant ship Of state had en-
icountered and concluded the figure with
the statement that 1.-THE
trials IL had undergone. 1t had weathered
them all thus far and had brought into
port its precious freight of liberty and
nationality. The builders OF the vessel,
he said, were wise beyond their day and
generation. Now, however, the noble
craft, its chart having been torn to tat
ters. was drifting whittier she would on
wild and unknown sea. This dangerous
1 condition was being forced upon tbs ship
| by 1.-THE pretense thatt Providence has
cast upon us new responsibilities
which we may not shirk. He could not
agree. however, that this dangerous re-
sponsibility was one for the American
people to assume. Mr. Turner denied the
contention that the acquisition OF far
distant territory had been forced upon
this country by the arbitrament Of war.
| He maintained that victory was not pur-
chased at the cost of assimilating into our
race the conquered and PROSTATE foe.
| This country was at liberty to retain. .snch
| foreign territory as IL had conquered IL
1t so desired and such OF Ii as was suit
| able in climate, and Inhabitants, we
might want to keep: but he denied that
our only other recourse was TO give back
the conquered territory to the enemy.
1T we may keep IL ourselves, said
| he, I'VE may require Ii TO be given to the
people who inhabit 1t, for the purpose OF
independence and liberty" This, he be-
| lieved, was the proper course to pursue
sovereignty of this country would not be
impeached by such generous action. So
| far as other nations are concerned our
sovereignty Is limitless and illimatible.
| Ii is no concern of other nstlons what
we do for our own national health.
| The advice Of Washington, he said, was
against entangling alliances which might
overcome the great ad vantage of our de-
| tached situation.
Passing from the domain of prudence to
that of principle, MIR. Turner maintained
that the proposition of power, urged by
many breaks uownfor ever the fundamen-
| tai principles on which our Institutions are
| founded. Under such proposition the
principles of declaration Of Independence,
| that taxation without representation Is
| tyranny and that the powers of the gov
| ernment are derived from the consent OF
I "A I.s., "A
| to our statesmen. MIR. Turner adyerted
| to the statement Of Mr.. Foraker. few
days ago that 1t was not the purpose of
the United States to retain the Philip
pines permanently, but he said he was
| forced TO differ from the Ohio senator,
because he found in the treaty which had
been negotiated under the direction of
| the President, "evidence of such a char
acter that 1t must override the opinion of
| the distinguished senator from Ohio.
| He referred to that part OF the treaty, he
| said, which made not only accession to
| this country of sovereignty over the
Philippines, but au acceptance by us
10 forget. too, that the treaty was nego-
tinted in the midst of olamor for an ex-
tension of our dominions.
MIR. Turner entered upon a discussion
of the constitutional phrases of the sub
lect maintaining that the resolution of
principle founded upon the work of
''our fathers. He quoted extensively
from authorities In support OF his argu-
ment
In conclusion, Mr.. Turner said; "It
Is we'll enough TO hug the pleasing
thought that We are great people and
that there Is no responsibility that can be
thrust upon us which we cannot meet
and face and accept with safety. That
this is true, all may well believe, else our
fathers fought and wrought in vain and
We of this day aIe degenerate children.
But it Is the height of Quixotism. and
is ths reverse of the teachings of the faith
ers 10 go around the world hunting re-
sponsibililies and courting dangers be
cause we are able to meet them
mir. President, the American people
are not lacking in the faith and courage
of the fathers, which the senator from
Connecticut invokes They have some
times, however, for a brief period, been
lacking in the wisdom of the fathers.
But In every case the alteration has
been temporary. When the excitement
or passion or interest which led them
astray has subdued or gone by. they haye .
returned to that wisdom and conserva-
tism, always tempered with faith and
courage which, like free institutions is
the birthright they Inherit from the faith
srs. i would therefore. amend the invoca-
tion of the distinguished senator, oonf fl
dent that it will not fall on dulled cars
ana say; 20. for the courage aud the
faith and the wisdom Of the fathers.
At the conclusion of MIR Turner'S argu-
ment Mr.. Foraker took some sharp ex-
ceptions to statements made in the speech.
especially those referring &c him personal
ly. He explained at length the nature
of his statements, declaring among other
things that he had spoken only for HIM
self and had no intention or desire TO pose
as the representative of the administra-
| tion SO far as his utterances were con
cerned Referring to the interested com
ment which had been aroused in Great
Britain by his statements, he said;
II was not speaking for the admins
tration and the chill that went up and
down the backs Of our friends In London,
was dus perhaps to u misspprehension as
to which of the Ohio senators was speak
| ing"
| The Nicaragua canal bill was under
| consideration nearly three hours After
| much debate subj lie presented by
Mr.. Morgan OF Alabama. for the bond
amendment offered by MIR. Allison, was