The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-25

those islands and give to their people
an opportunity for self government and
FOR freedom under the protecting shield
OF the United States until the time
shali come when they shall be able to
stanu alone, II they do not themselves
desire 10 remain under our protection.
Anarchy Will Follow Rejection.
Suppose we reject the treaty or
strike out the clause relating to the
Philippines. That will hand the ISL
ands back to Spain, and l cannot con-
celVe that any American should be
Wiling to do that. Suppose We reject
the treaty, what follows? Let us look
at 1t practically. We continue the
state of war and every sensible man in
the country, every business interest de-
slres the re-establishment of peace in
law as well as in fact. By this act
We repudlate the president and his ac-
ton before the whole world, and re-
puclatlon OF the president in such a
matter as this. to my mind, is the hui
initiation of the United States in the
eyes OF the civilized world and brands
US as a people incapable of great af-
ialrs or or taking rank where we be-
long, as one Of the greatest world pow
efs. The president cannot be sent back
across the Atlantic in the person Of his
commissioners, hat in hand, to say to
spain, with bated breath, I am here in
obedience to the mandate of a major
lty or one-third of the senate, to tell
you that we have been too victorious
and that you have yielded us too much
and that 1 am very sorry that 1 took
the Philippines from you
Il 90 not think that any American
president would do that, or that any
American would wish him to. Still less
40 l think that any American> would
withdraw General Otis and his soldiers
and recall Admiral Dewey from the
scene of his great victory, leaving it
TO be said of us that we had deserted
our post without an effort to repair
the ruin we have made or to save the
people we have freed.
Ihe treaty commits the disposition
or the Philippine islands to congress
ana TO the ways and practices of peace.
It's rejection leaves them in the sole
power of the president, subject to the
usages and practices of war alone.
Have Never Failed.
IF I did not have faith in the Amer
lcan people and their government I
would do my best to prevent the ratifi-
cation OF the treaty, and I can see no
other ground for opposition. But as I
nave a profound faith in both, 1 want
TO take those Islands from Spain in the
only way which it can be done, by the
ratification of this treaty, and then
leave 1t to the president-wise, humane,
patTiotic-to the American congress and
to the American people, who have never
tailed in any great duty or feared to
race any great responsibility, to deal
with them in that spirit of justice, HUI
manity and liberty which has made us
all we are to-day and can ever hope
to be-"
Mr.. Clay of Georgia, one of the dem
n ffr
for the ratification of the treaty, then
addressed the senate on the general
question of territorial expansion, He
made 1t very clear that nothing should
be allowed to stand in the way of
prompt ratification, but that this gov
eminent should make the Filipinos the
same promise of ultimate independence
held out to the Cubans.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Claws speech
Mr.. Davis chairman3of the committee
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
erect of the constitution, in the terri
tories. He read an extract from
speech of Mr. Webster dealing with
the rights of inhabitants of territories
OF the United States, He expressed the
belief that the citation he made covered
point previously made by Mr. Hoar.
Question of Citizenship.
M Hoar, in reply, contended that the
quotation from Mr.. Webster which Mr..
Teller had referred to, did not meet his
point. His desire was, he said, to know
before the senate's feet were entangled
by the ratification of the treaty wheth-
citizens or subjects of the United
States. Mr.. Hoar argued that they
would be citizens and that if the Phil
ippines were taken by the United States
every Filipino child born under the flag
of this country, be he Mohammedan,
Chinese. japanese or Malay, would be
a citizen of this country and would be
entitled to come to the United States
and enter into competition with the la
horers OF Massachusetts or Colorado, or
OF any other state. That was the point
Mr.. Hoar desired to have made clear,
and thus far in the present debate the
advocates of the treaty had not met it
to his satisfaction.
In a brief reply Mr.. Teller said he
was not in favor of extending to the
Filipinos at present all the privileges
and rights of citizens of. the United
States. and he did not think the treaty
extended any such privileges.
Il do not believe" said he, chat we
are entangling our feet by the ratifica-
ton of the treaty. We cannot meet
the condition which confronts us in any
other way than by ratification of the
treaty. know, of course, that we shall
have to maintain in those islands a
government for few months
at least, but l am anxious to afford
these people. as soon as possible a free,
stable and, If feasible, an independent
government
The senate then, on motion of Mr..
Davis, went into executive session and
soon afterward adjourned.