The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-04
Men OF Affairs
Talk
ABOUT EXPANSION.
Annual Banquet of Boston
Merchants Association,

Boston, Jan. Sat the yearly banquet
Of the Merchants Association OF Boss
ton at the Vendeme, tonight number
of interesting addresses on the future
policy of the country were made by
gentlemen Of prominence in national
anaars. Both sides of the question of
dealing with the country's new possess
sions We're discussed in an able man
ner to the edifying delight of the busl-
ness men OF the city.
/ The guests OF the association outside
of the state were Senator Perkins OF
\ California. Congressman De Almond of
Missouri and Boutells of Maine. In the
absence of Governor Wolcott the COM
monwealth was represented by Attorv
ney General Knowlton, while Mayor
4 Quincy spoke for the city. A Number Of
Massachusetts congressman were also
present and spoke, and interesting let
tiers were read from Senator Hoar and
Gen. Charles A. Whittier, formerly OF
this city, who has recently returned
from Manila, where he was sent by
President Mckinley. j. Richard Carter
= presided, and introduced Attorney Cen
eral Knowlton as the first speaker. The
attorney general, in speaking fer tho
commonwealth, referred to the slight
indisposition of Governor Wolcott and
said:
I'VE have expanded time and eime
again by conquest, by purchase and by
treaty, Not only IL It true under the
14th amendment to the constitution
of the United States, but every person
born in the United States is q citizen,
and the precept win apply to the an
| neXed territory, whether Ii is Hawaii,
! Porto Rico or the Philippines; but in
my Judgment, those people who are an
nexed and come under the political
AVYks ltdNa.
| Is some treaty right to the contrary,
become citizens of the United States,
and whatever appertains to the United
! states appertains to them.
Il know of no law whatever which
brings this imperial nation, which has
the absolute right of sovereignty over
everything IL takes, whether by CON
quest, by treaty or otherwise, except
Ing what the states take to themselves.
IL know of nothing 10 prevent the
| United States administering to the ISL
and of Cuba or Porto Rico or Manila
for an indefinite time the laws as are
administered to its present territories.
| Mayor Quincy was enthusiastically
received, and after the cessation Of APP
plause, in speaking 10 the point of the
| evenings subject, said; The common
sense Of the average citizen Of this
OouBtry-learned or unlearned-reeog-
nizes the fact that we have assumed
! CSTtdlu uullGE ana certain ODl1E4flOnA
| as consequence VI Our late war with
Spain, and that whatever it may cost
in dollars and cents, whatever 1t may
cost In toll or trouble and disturbance
we have got to face the duties which
we have undertaken with the peoples
! who have lived under the government
Of Spain and whom we have taken the
responsibility OF directing that goveDn-
ment."
Senator Perkins prefaced his re-
marks by complimentary illusions to
New England's wealth and business
energy, and also spoke of the great
productlveness of California. He spoke
enthusiastically of ship building on the
Pacific coast, which had turned out
such fine vessels as the Oregon, O1ym-
pia and Monterey. After referring to
the annexation OF Hawaii, he said:
THE war with Spain has developed
other questions. We made declaration
of itself more far-reaching than any
Of lis anticipated on imagined. We have
acquired Porto Rico, the Ladronas and
81 thousand more OF the Philippine ISL
ands.
Il do not think that it is a very good
! business Investment. / have only to
call your attention to the fact of their.
| pestilential character, that there is not
a congressman today who Is not daily
receiving hundreds of letters from vol
| unteers ia Manila, urging him to have
| those volunteers discharged
My manufacturing friends, do not
| believe you will find very much Of a
market in future for your wares and
merchandise. Gen. Aguinaldo says
| Spain does not own the Island
He says the United States have only
| got Manila, and we have got 70 800 men
there. Today ] see there are six more
regiments to be sent, and that will take
another city in the island Of Luzon.
4 fot
think 1 would be for the annexation OF
Louisiana if / had lived at the time,
but Is there any apology for taking
these isolated groups of islands with
ten to twelve millions of Asiatics. Can
we deprive them and tax them without
representation? DO we want such a
Heterogeneous class of people brought
into this country?
They say the flag should not come
down when once raised. ] have but
to recite the fact that Gen. Taylor and
Gen Scott raised It in Mexico, and Il
came down with honor. It is today
flying over the forts in Cuba and in Ha-
vana, and it win come down when its
mission Is ended. / believe in building
up American trade and extending our
1 commerce, but in doing it through those
channels that promote the dignity and
honor Of our American people,"
/ Congressman Boutele said 1--WE
/ this Philippine question, but / con-
| fes5 ] nave never heard anything said
about 1t until tonight. / have not
heard yet from anybody any reason
able suggestion, and | cannot conceive
of any why we should annex the
Philippine Islands. Whether we have
any citizenship in this country or not.
when state after state Is taking steps
70 disiranchise the majority Of its male
population. I cannot help thinking THAI
IT Is mighty curious for us to be taxi
ing in 10 100000 or 12000000 naked
Malays to be full-fiedged American cit-
zens the moment they are annexed.
I'VE are told that this thing is set
tied, and settled by any authority from
which / have no right to appeal II
there Is somewhere In our constitution,
some power which has the right 70 SET
Ito these matters. | would like to know
il. j confess l am not an anti-imperial-
ist."
Congressman De Almond Of Missouri
in his speech said he could not see how
any good would come TO this country.
II 1t carried the policy OF expansion TO