The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-25
LODGE AND CLAY SPEAK
AGREE ON NEED OF IMMEDIATE
RATIFICATION.
BUT AGREE IN SCARCELY ANY THING ELSE
Clay Says We Have no Right 10 Acquire and
Govern the Philippines or Any Other
Territory Without Constitu-
tional Limitations.

w dSulHSlOH, Jan. -t.-INO uoldDi'
speeches were delivered in the Senate
to-day, one by Mr.. Lodge (Mass.), and
the other by Mr.. Clay, Georgia.. While
the two Senators differed diametrically
as to the policy of expansion upon which
they dwelt. both are in favor of the i'm
mediate ratification of the pending
peace treaty. They contend that once
the treaty is ratified, Congress will have
full power to deal with conditions re-
specting the territory acquired during
the war with Spain and not before
Mr. Lodge began his speech by stating
that the United States has undoubtedly
the power. which it had frequently eX-
ercised, to acquire territory and to hold
and govern it. Continuing, he said
Il have heard no opposition expressed
to any part of the treaty, except such
portions of it as relates to the Philip
pines, and that, therefore, is the sole
point upon which l desire to touch. Ii
our war with Spain we conquered the
Philippines, or TO put it more exactly,
we destroyed the power of Spain in
those islands and took possession of their
capital The treaty cedcs the Philip
pines to us. 1t is wisely and skillfully
drawn. 1t commits us TO no policy, to
no course of action whatever in regard
to the Philippines. When that treaty is
ratified we have full power and are alb
solutely free to doewith those islands as
we please; and the opposition to its
ratification may be summed up in a sin
gle sentence, that the American people
and the American Congress are to be
trusted with that power, and with that
freedom of action in regard to the in
habitants of those distant islands
Every one of the resolutions thus far
offered on this subject is an expression
of distrust i'll the character, ability, hon
esty and wisdom of the American peo-
pie and an attempt to make us promise
to be good and wise and honest in the
future and in our dealings with other
people.
We must either ratify the treaty ol
reject it, for | cannot suppose that one
could seriously advance the proposition
that we should amend the treaty in such
way as to make pledges to Spain, and
to Spain alone, and give bonds to Spain
and to Spain alone, for our conduct il
matter which will be wholly our fowT
to decide. Let MS look, then at the two
alternatives. Suppose we ratify the
treaty. The islands pass from the pos
session of Spain into our possession
without committing us to any policy.
believe we can be trusted as a people
to deal honestly and justly with the
islands and their inhabitants thus given
to our care. What our precise policy
shall be / do not know, but | believe
that we shall have the wisdom not tC
attempt to INCORPORATE those islands
with our body polite, or to make theil
Inhabitants part of our citizenship, OF
set their labor alongside of ours AND
within our tariff to compete in any in
dustry with American workmen.
believe that we shall have the courage
not to depart from these islands fear
fully. timidly and unworthily and leave
them to anarchy among themselves, t.
the brief and bloody domination of onf
self-constitutional dictator and to th(
quick conquest of other powers, who vii
have no such hesitation as we should
feel i'll crushing them into subjection
by harsh and repressjve methods. 1t Is
for us to decide the destiny of the
Philippines, not for Europe, and we car
do it alone and without assistance.
believe that we shall have the wisdom
the self-restraiat, and the ability to re-
store peace and order in the islands and
give to their people an opportunity fOi
self government and for freedom under
the protecting shield of the United States
until the time shall come when they arc
able to stand alone. if such thing be
possible and if they do not themselve.
desire to remain under our protection
take now the other alternative. Suppose
we reject the treaty or strike out the
| clause relating to the Philippines. That
will hand the islands back to Spain
and | cannot conceive that any Ameri
can should be willing to do that. Sup
pose we reject the treaty: what follows
I We continue the state of war, and ey
cry sensible man in the country, every
| business interest desires the reestab
! lishment of peace in law as well as il
, fact. At the same time we repudiatt
/ the President ands his action before tho
whole world and the repudiation of thu
/ President IN such a matter as this is
! to my mind the humiliation of the Unit
ed States in the eyes of civilized man
4, kind. and brands MS as a people in
/ capable of great affairs or of taking ranl
where we belong, as one of the great
est of fhe great world powers"
! Mr.. Clay then addressed the Senate OF
: the general question of territorial ex