The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-21


the territory proposed to be acquired
were not fit for citizenship in our re-
public. Admitting that the contention
was correct, it was quite as true that
the people Of much territory hitherto
acquired by this country were unfit for
citizenship at the time the territory was
taken into the union
He maintained that the arguments
that taxation without representation
was tyranny, and that governments de-
rived their just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed were true only in
a limited extent A majority of our peo-
pie, he said. were without direct repre-
sentation. Women, minors and imbe-
Giles were without representation in our
government, and had to bear their
share of taxation. They had in other
words to undergo the burdens of our
government without any voice in its
control. In response to a question by
Mr.. Mason of Illinois, Mr.. Nelson said
that no man could say truthfully that
the rights of Englishmen had been des-
troyed or even in any sense impaired,
by Great Britain's scheme of colonial
ton. Further replying to Mr.. Mason, he
declared our own magnificent govern
ment was the product of the COLOMBIA
ton plans of Great Britain and de-
manded to know whether Mr.. Mason
would desire to blot out that great work
of England. What the people of Eng
land had done, said he certainly the
people of the United States could ac-
complish Colonies have not destroyed
England; how will they destroy us?''
Mr.. Tillman of South Carolina, inter-
rupting Mr.. Nelson and referring to
the contest between Sweden and Nor
way and the practical severance of
their relations, inquired why the Nor
wegians at home wanted liberty. while
those Of the United States did not de-
sire to give liberty to the Filipinos.
This reference to Mr.. Nelson's Nor
wegian birth aroused him. II am a
citizen of the United States, Mr. Presi-
dent" he replied II am not repre-
senting either the people or the gov
eminent Of Norway, whose rights and
liberties l am satisfied are greater than
those of the people of South Carolina"
In his discussion of the situation in
the Philippines when Admiral Dewey
arrived at Manila on the memorable
first Of May Mr. Nelson pointed out
that the islanders were in q state of
practical slavery under the dominion of
Spain. Asuinaldo 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
sSOO,OOO, half of which amount the in
surgent leader had already received He
was to leave the people and leave the
country to the tender mercies of Span
ish cruelties,
When our fleet entered Manila BAY,
on the first of May" continued Mr..
Nelson. 1--WE entered not as conuuerors
not as despoilers Of liberty. but with
the earnest desire to assist the Fill
pinos by breaking the yoke Of Spain.
we went there as liberators, and as
such are there today"
our duty is to protect those people
from the anarchy and despotism that
threaten them"
Mr.. Nelson maintained that it would
pc the acme of cruelty for the United
states government to abandon the FIJI
ipinos in this time Of their need "We
are there" said he, ito give them a
Just, free and good government and to
Keep them out of the clutches of the
great powers Of the earth 1t would
be the highest cruelty for US to leave
them at the mercy Of any powers who
might choose to attack Them
He regretted, he said, to see a dis
position in the Senate to applaud all
efforts to make trouble in the Phil
ippines, both for the inhabitants of
the islands and for the United States
government. Mr.. Nelson commended
that the Fflipinos would not become
voters under the arrangement proposed.
He was here interrupted by Mr.. Hoar
with the objection that the people of
the islands which It was proposed TO
annex, could come to the United
States and become citizens.
Mr.. Nelson replied that when a
question bearing upon this same point
had been addressed to Mr.. Hoar, that
senator had raised no scruples over
1t.
In conclusion, Mr.. Nelson said that
prophecies just as gloomy as those now
made concerning the Philippines had
been made about Louisiana when that
territory was admitted. Many states
had been made from that territory and
no man was TO be found who would
give any Of them up. 1t was great
privilege to be able to give the Fill
pinos a good government, and the Unit
ed States was equal to the emergen-
cy.
Mr.. White of California rose to a
question Of personal privilege, relating
to the action of the legislature of Cal
ifornia. instructing the senator from
that state to vote for ratification Of
the peace treaty. He read the legis-
his republican colleague (Mr. Perkins,,
asking for an expression Of
opinion calling attention to the
fact that the legislature was re-
publican, as was Mr.. Perkins. Mr.
White said that he had not Joined with
Mr.. Perkins in his request for instruc-
tions from the legislature, and there
fore did not consider himself bound by
the instructions given to him as well
as his colleague.
The legislature had no right to in
struct him in matters involving the
exercise Of his conscience or his con-
yictions. If So senator elected as a
republican would naturally be expect
ed to become q democrat If the next
Legislature should chance to be of that
political party.
Mr.. Perkins said: II am opposed to
the policy of acquiring the Philippine
islands, believing such policy
to be menace to our govern
ment and it's institutions; but nine
tenths Of the people of my state as their
wishes are expressed through legisla-
ture recently elected think otherwise
While ] shall vote for the pending
treaty, it will be under protest After
we have taken in those islands, I will
join with my colleague and my friend
from Massachusetts (Mr. Hoar) to give
them the best possible care and govern
ment."
Consideration of the Nicaragua ca
nal bill was then resumed. Mr.. Carter
of Montana spoke in opposition to the
measure on an amendment offered by
Mr.. Caffery. He maintained that the
property Of the maritime canal was
no more than a hole in the ground that
had been filled up, and lot Of junk
amounting in value to not more than
$1,000, land for this" he said sarcastic
cally, ut is seriously proposed that the
government shall pay $4,000, 000."
Mr.. Tillman Of South Carolina de-
clared that the whole canal scheme"