The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-24
A QUESTION OF POLICY
PHILIPPINES MAY HOLD FOR
US SEEDS OF DEATH.
THEY MAY POISON OUR BODY puITIc
fthe Filipinos are incapable Of Self Govern
ment Why Bring them into Our Gov
ernmental System Asks
Mr.. Waite.

Washington, Jan. 23.-Discussion of
the policy of expansion occupied nearly
all the time OF the Senate in open
session to-day. Mr.. White, of Cali
fornia, one of the Democrats who has
announced heretofore his opposition to
ratification of the treaty of peace, adj
dressed the Senate in support of the
anti-expansien resolution introduced by
Mr.. Vest, Dem, MOI, and of the reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Bacon, tDem.,
Ga.), declaring that the Filipinos ought
to be free and independent.
In view of the proposition by the Cali
fornia Legislature to instruct Mr..
White and his colleague, Mr.. Perkins,
how to vote upon the policy of eXpan-
sion and upon the pending peace treaty,
the remarks of Mr.. White were re
garded with much interest. He was ac-
corded careful attention by both his col
leagues on the floor and hy a consider
able audience in the galleries.
Mr. White took as texts for his re-
marks certain paragraphs from Supreme
Court decisions a sentence from Presi-
dent McKinley's Atlanta speech and a
paragraph from the report OF Admiral
Dewey to the Navy Department, say
ing that the Filipinos were as well
qualified for self-governnlent as the Gu.
bans. He said he denied the doctrine
that seeks to give this country jurisdic-
tion in some cases and denied it in 9th
ers. The country, he said, was confront
cd to-day by situation differing en-
tirely from what it has been confronted
with at any time before. While it might
be admitted that we had the power to ac-
quire foreign territory, whether we
should do so depends largely upon the
circumstances. He maintained that the
question presented was one purely OF
policy Should we take the Philippines
he asked. Should we take in seeds
that would prove to be seeds of disso-
luton of our body polite?
He thought not, and said he would
endeayor to show why we should not,
for he believed it our duty to sec to il
that our system was kept free from all
such contamination.
Il care not" said Mr.. White "whetli-
er the people in the Philippines are fit
ted for self-goyernment or not. 1t is
certain that il they are not they ought
not to he brought into alliance with MS.
They repudiate our attempt to bring
them into our system and insist that
they should be allowed to govern them
selves. If we say that the I'ilipinos are
not fitted for self-government, pray let
us know by what process of reasoning
we can take them into our government
al system"
Mr. White declared that no conclu-
sion was possible except that it was the
intention of this Government and the
officers in power to annex the Philippine
Islands IL this was not true, he in
quired, why would not the supporters
Of the treaty consent to the adoption
of such n resolution as that offered by
Mr.. Hoar declaring there was no inten-
ton on the part of this country to hold
the islands in perpetuity?
Mr.. White, continuing, eail he was
opposed to the entire policy Of expan.
sion, and that his objections to it were
basic. He maintained that if this count
ry had the slightest regard for its posi-
ton before the world it would be the
duty of Congress to declare definitely
its position upon the subject before pro
eeeding further. If said he, 1--WE
ratify the pending treaty and take upon
ourselves the responsibility of the Philip
pine Islands there is nothing else fol
us to do but to subiugate them ut al
hazards. We must show TO the nation:
of the world that we have not only {
legal right but the physical power tC
hold them"
Further along Mr.. White referred tt
the necessity under the proposed policy
of expansion of 4 large standing army
and demanded to know what benefit was
to be derived by this country from sucl
an institution.
What is the limit of the eXpansonists?
he inquired. 1--WE are already told that
the expansionists desire to participate
in the partition of China when TINT
shall come, and tho indications are that
this country is to 60 on and acquire still
other territory, which in the nature OF
things will have to be defended"
Mr.. Teller said that the Government
could ratify the treaty and then tnrr
the islands over TO whom we pleased
within an hour. He called attention tt
the fact that the treaty gave to Con
gress full power to deal with the mat
ter.
Mr. White after referring to some re
marks made by Mr.. Teller contendef
strongly that it was the duty of Con
gress to make declaration of the count
rvs intention with respect Il
the Philippines. Congress possessed