Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-25
Two Notable Speeches In the
Senate.
THE POWER OF CONGRESS
Mes.rs Lodge, Of uassachusctis. and
clay. OF Georgia. whiio DifrerinE
arto Policy OF Expansion, Contend
That oncc Treaty is RatiEed, Con.
gress Will Have Full Power to
Deal with Conditions.
tBy Telegraph to virglnia-Pllot.>

(By Telegraph to virglnia-Pilot.)
Washington. d. c., Jan. 24.-Two
notable speeches were delivered In the
Senate to-day. one by Mr.. Lodge, OF
Massachusetts, and the other by Mr..
Clay. OF Georgia. While the two Sena-
tors 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
respecting the territory acquired during
the war with Spain, and not before.
MIR. LODGES SPEECH.
Mr.. Lodge began his speech by stat
ing that the United States has undoubt-
eddy the power, which 1t had frequently
exercised. to acquire territory and to
hold and govern 1t. Continuing. he
said:
II have heard no opposition expressed
TO any part of the treaty. except such
portion of ii as relates to the Philip
pines. and that therefore. Is the solo
point upon which I desire TO touch. In
Philippines. or to put IT more exactly,
we destroyed the power of Srain in
those islands and took possession OF
their capital. The treaty cedes the
Philippines TO us. 1t is wisely spC.-
skilfully drawn. 1t commits us t1HV
policy. to no course of action It'll
ever in regard to the Philippines. spooS
that treaty is ratified we have full Pssns !
and are absolutely free to do WIS
those islands as we please: and the op-
position to Its ratification may be
summed up In single sentence TINT
he American people and the American
Congress are not to be trusted with that
power and with that freedom of action
in regard to the inhabitants of those
distant islands. Every one NJ the rcso-
buttons thus far offered on this sub
lect Is an expression of distrust in tho
character ability. honesty and wisdom
OF the American people and an attempts.
TO make us promise TO be good and
wise and honest in the future and In
our dealings with other people.
MUST RATIFY OR REJECT.
We must either ratify the treaty or -
reject II. for cannot suppose that any
ono could seriously advance tho propo-
siuon that we should amend the treaty
in such way as to make pledges to
spain. and 10 Spain alone. and give
bonds 10 Spain, and 10 Spain alone for
our conduct In matter which Will be-
wholly our own TO decide. Let US look
then. at the two alternatives. Suppose
we ratify the treaty. The islands pass
from the possession OF Spain into our
possession without committing us 10
any policy. believe we can be trusted
as people to deal honestly and lust
ly with the islands and their inhabi-
tantS thus given to our care. What our
precise policy shall be ! do not know
but believe we shall have the wisdom
not TO attempt TO incorporate those isl.
ands with our body polite. or TO make
their inhabitants part OF our citizen
snip, or set their labor alongside of
ours and within our tariff TO compete in
any Industry with American workmen.
believe that we shall have the cour-
age not TO depart from these islands
teartuily, timtdly and unworthily and
leave them 10 anarchy among them
selves. 10 the brief and bloody domina-
tion or one self constituted dictator and
10 the quick conquest OF other powers.
VINO VIII have no such hesitation as we
should feel in crushing them into sub
lection by harsh and repressive meth
DDS.
IN OUR HANDS.
II is for us to decide the destiny OF
philippines. not for Europe. and
we can do 1t alone. and without assist
aHce. believe that we shall have the
wisdom. the self restraint, and the a bill
ny 70 restore peace and order in the
isiahds and give 10 their people an op-
poriInity for SELF government and for
freedom under the protecting shield of
the United states until tho time shall
come when they are able to stand
alone, II such thing be possible and
II they do not themselves desire to re-
NAN under our protection. take now
the other alternative.
CONSEQUENCES OF TREATY RE-
LECTION.
Suppose we reject the treaty or
strike out the clause relating to the
Philippines That VIII hand the Islands
back to Spain and I cannot conceive
that any American should be willing To
do that. Suppose we reject the treaty:
what follcws' We continue the state Of
war. and every sensible man i'm .ha
country, every business interest. de-
slres tho establishment OF peace in
law as we'll as in fact. AT the same
time we repudiate the President and
his action before the whole world and
The rerudiation of the President in such
fCantinued on Sixth Page.)