The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-25

liberty which has made US all that we
are today or can ever hope to be.
Mr.. Clay of Georgia, one of the dem
ocrattc senators who expect to vote for
the ratification of the treaty Of peace,
then addressed the Senate on the gem
eral question of territorial expan-
sion. He made it very clear that moth
ing should be allowed to stand in the
way of prompt ratification, but that
TINS government should hold out to the
Filipinos the same promises of ulti-
mate independence that are held out to
the Cubans.
Discussing further, he quoted Presi-
dent McKinley's message to congress,
declaring it the duty of this govern
ment to assist the people of Cuba to
oulld up government that is free and
Independent, and asked why should not
the same declarations be made with
regard to the people of the Philippines
The responsibility is in our hands, and
we must meet it in a practical, COM
mon sense way"
He admitted the right of the govern
hleht 10 acquire the Philippines and to
govern them as any other territory be-
longing to the United States, but he
contended that such policy would be
unWise and against the best interests
OF the people of the United States. He
contended that we have not the right
to acquire those islands or any other
territory, either mainland or islands
in the sea, and govern the people of
Sucn territory without constitutional
limitations. He said: eff we ACQUIRE
tnls Foreign territory, we must deal
with the population in the same man
ner and in the same constitutional way
we nave dealt with territorial forms
OIL government heretofore. We cannot
nave ana maintain one form of govern
ment for citizens of the United States
anu 9nothef form of government for
sunJugated race. Subjects are I'M
hnoWn TO our form of government. The
inhabitants of these islands were the
SUBJECTS or Spain until they were coded
TO US. When we assume sovereignty
over those islands, we expect allegiance
from the Fflipinos to our government.
ana II we expect allegiance at their
bands, then why are they not entitled
10 all the rights and privileges of citi-
aens or the United States?'
Mr.. Clay described the islands and
tnelr INHABITANTS. contending that there
Ties being built up in that territory
CAPABLE OF statehood. About the only
sure result of an attempt to maintain
government in the Philippines which
ne could see, was that it would involve
US IN future wars with foreign gov
ernlnents
MIR, Clay said he thought an attempt
70 Iasten on the Filipinos a govern
ment without plain and unnoistalxah Ia
assurances of ultimate indenendence
must lead to bloody, cruel and expen-
slVe war. The American people would
never consent either to give the ISL
dhus back to Spain, sell them to some
european government, or force a gov
etn4nent upon them against their will
ana without their consent. The ONLY
th1ng left to do is to aid and direct the
psopie OF those islands to form a gov
efllment for themselves.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Claws sneecb
Mr. Davis, chairman of the commit
Tee on foreign relations, was recognized
TO move an executive session. He
yielded TO Mr.. Teller, who desired to
make an addition to the authorities
Which he had previously cited upon the
force and effects of the constitution in
tne territories. He read an extract
from a speech of Mr.. Webster, dealing
with the rights of nhabitants of terri.
tories of the United States. He ar-
pressed the belief that the citation he
had made covered a point raised pre-
Vlously by MIR. Hoar in a question.
MT Hoar, in reply, commended that
the quotation from Webster which Mr..
Keller had referred to, did not meet his
point His desire was, he said to
know before the Senate's feet were en-
| tangled by the ratification of the treaty.
Whether the Filipinos were to be re-
garded as citizens or subjects of the
united States. Mr.. Hoar argued that
they would be citizens, and if the Phil
lPplnes were taken by the United
states. every Filipino child born under
the nag of this country, be he Moham-
medan, Chinese, Japanese or Malay.
Woold be citizen of this country, and
Would be entitled to come to the limited
states and enter into competition with
me iaporers of Massachusetts or of
colorado or of any other state.
mat was the point, Mr.. Hoar. said,
ne desired to have made clear, and thus
I"r In the present debate, the advo-
eates OF treaty ratification had not met
II 10 MS satisfaction. In brief reply.
Mr.. Teller said he was not in favor Of
extending to the Filipinos at present all
me privileges and rights of citizers of
tne United States, and he did not
thihK the treaty extended any such
privileges.
u do not believe said he. that we
are, entangling our feet by the ratifl-
cation OF the treaty. We cannot meet
the condition which confronts us in any
otner way than by ratifying the treaty.
l know, or course, that we shall have
TO MAINTAIN in those islands a military
government for a few months. at
least, but 1 am anxious to afford those
people as soon as free, if free. a stable
and If feasible, an Independent govern
ment.
The Senate, at 225 p. M, on motion
OF Mr.. Davis, went into executive seq
sion. At 5S2 p. M, the Senate ad-
iourned