The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-24
SENATE.

today, out the session was practically
barren Of results.
senator Nelson, of Minnesota, spoke
in opposition to senator Vests anti
expansion resolution and Senator
White, democrat, Of California, made
a personal explanation Of his position
with respect to the Instructions given
the California senators by the legisla-
ture Of that state as to voting on the
pending peace treaty.
Jena Nelson's address was a con-
stitutional argument in support Of the
right of the United States to acquire
Afshd COVER foreign territory. He main
tanned that it was no longer an unset
kIed question:; that this ountry had
'the power not only to acquire foreign
territory by discovery, conquest or
treaty, but also to govern territory so
acquired. That question, he said, had
been settled by decision of the supreme
court and was scarcely longer open to
debate. He referred to the territory
hat had been acquired in the past by
the United States government, and de-
clared that in no single case had the
people of the territory acquired been
consulted or their consent secured.
In the course of this debate he said
the contention was being made hat the
people of the territory proposed to be
acquired were not fit for citizenship
in our republic. Admitting that that
contention was correct, it was quite
as true that the people of much ter
ritory hitherto acquired by this cOun-
try were Unfit for citizenship at the
time the territory was taken into the
union. Had we applied the reasoning
that was now being advanced against
acquisition of territory to the people of
Florida and the Louisiana territory
when they were admitted into the
United States, they scarcely could
have passed muster, as it was well
known that they were not fitted for
citizenship.
Senator Nelson then entered upon
an elaborate constitutional argument,
citing numerous authorities in uppOr
of his position. He maintained that the
arguments that taxation without rep
resentation was tyranny, and that gov
ernments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed, were true
only in a limited extent. A majority Of
our people, he said, were without di-
rect representation. Women, minors,
apd imbeciles were without represen-
tatiOn in our government and had to
ar their share of taxation.
YIN response to a question by Senator
Mason, of Illinois, Senator Nelson aid
tina no man could say truthfully that
the rights of EngliShmen had been de-
StrOyed or ever in any sense impair
ed by Great Britain'S great scheme of
colonization. Further replying to Sena-
tor Mason, he declared that the United
States, our own magnificent govern
ment, was the product of the colOni-
cation plans of Great Britain, and he
n~IcmandedNto know whether Senator
Mason would desire to blot out that
great work of England.
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
interrupted Senator Nelson and, refer
ring to the contest betWeen Sweden
and Norway and the practical sever
ance of their relations, inquired why
the NOrWegians at home wanted lib
erty, while those of the United States
do not desire to give liberty to the
Philippines.
This reference to Senator Nelson's
Norwegian birth aroused him: Il am
a citizen of the United States, Mr..
President" he replied. Il am not rep
%resenting either the people or the gov
m of Norway, whose rights and
liberties I am satisfied are greater than
those of the people of South Carolina
(Laughter.)
In his discussion of the situation OF
the Philippines when Admiral Dewey
arrived at Manila on the memorable
First of May, Senate Nelson pointed
out that the islanders were in a state
of practical slavery under the domin-
ion of Spain. Aguinaldo had abandoned
them, he said, on the payment to him
by Spain Of a paltry thirty pieces of
silver" which in this case was to be
$500, 900, half of which amount the in
surgent leader had already received.
Ha/ZEas to leave the people and leave
thee Country to the tender mercieS OF
Spanish cruelties.
ooo+o Nelson r,oirfo;no1 fhot ~
would be the acme Of cruelty for the
United States government to despoil
the Philippines in this time Of their
need. I'VE are there" he said, etc
give them a just, free n good gov
eminent, and to keep them out of the
clutches of the great powers of the
earth. 1t is our duty thus to protect
them and it would be the highest cru
city for US to leave them at the mercy
of any powers who might choose tt
attack them"
Senator Tillman called attention tt
Senator Nelson's use of the wore
slave in his reference to the Philip
pines, and asked the latter if he APP.
preciated that those people were OF
the same class as those slaves Whose
rule and domination Senator Nelson
n his party associates had forced
upon the white people of the south.
You are undertaking." said Senator
Tillman, "to annex and make a com
ponent part of this government 10, 00O,'
900 of the colored race, one-half or more
of whom are barbarians of lowest type
1t is but the injection into the body pc
little of the United States of that viii
ated blood, that debased ignorant PEG
pie that we object to-" ~
At this point the hour of 2 o'clock
arrived and the chair laid before tn.
senate the Nicaragua n bill. Sen
ator Morgan, after some persuasion
yielded to permit senator Nelson tt
conclude his speech. =.
After the Minnesota senator had pro
ceeded for a time he was again IN
teHyupted by Senator Ti1lman, where
UPON Senator Morgan complained tina
Sfnasor Nelson was not justified il
6eEn1itting Interruptions when holdin,
thu floor by courtesy in the time o