The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-03

Washington, Feb "A notable
speech was made in the senate today
by Mr.. Spooner of Wisconsin He took
for his text the anti-expansion resolu-
ton offered by Mr. Vest, but discussed
the question of expansion in all of its
phases and urged the ratification Of the
peace treaty as the best means of
bringing the burning question home to
the people themselves, who, he said,
could well be trusted in their sober
second thought to do that which would
be fair, just and generous toward the
inhabitants of the Philippine archipel-
ago. Ms'. SpOoner spoke Tor four hours
and held the careful attention of an un-
usually large number of senator's and
q large audience in the galleries.
In beginning, after a brief statement
of his reasons for speaking at all, he
said:
i find no objections, constitutional
in nature, to the ratification of the
pending treaty. The senators from Con-
necticUt (PlatO and Colorado CTeller)
have fully presented the view 1 enter
tain.
IF I held the view that the United
States could not within its cOnstitu-
tional limitations acquire territory
which was not to be erected into
states, ] could not give my consent to
the acGuiSl ton OF the Philippine ISLANDS.
This Philippine proposition is one of the
fruits Of the war-to me one of the
bitter fruits I can conceive Of nor cir
cumstances under which 1 could give
my consent to the admission Of that
archipelago as q state, or as more than
one state of the American Union"
Mr.. Tillman, interrupting MIR. Spoon
pines, would the inhabitants of that
territory have the right to come with
out hindrance TO this country
Mr.. Spooner-Yes; for the purpose of
my argument I am disposed TO admit
it.
Mr.. PIatt CConn) They have that
right now.
Nj. Tillman inquired whether the in
habitants of a territory could be pre-
vented from entering the states.
Mr.. Spooner said the senator from
Connecticut CPlatO was inclined to be
lieve that they could, but he himself
doubted it.
Mr.. Tillman further along pressed his
question as TO the right of the Filipinos
to come here, and declared that by adj
mitting the islands by treaty, 10,0C0000
people of that territory could take the
first ship for this country, and upon ar
rival here could enter into competition
With American labor. That was the
with American labor. That was the
reason why he would vote against the
treaty.
\ TINHORN REPUBLIC.
Mr.. Spooner said that no govern
ment, as had been conteded on the floor
Of the senate, had been established in
the Philippines. 1t could not be Sc
riOuSly regarded rs a governI.e Il, as
is was nothing more than a nhorn
affair al best.
Referring 10 the authority ans over
of AguinaldO. he said that what -l- rep
resented, nobody knows; VI ho. - rep
resented. nobody knows, a1G H5bOdy
could say how for his autnori Y eX-
tended. Before the peace commission
in Paris it had been stated that Agul-
naldo represented only ! Der cent OF
the inhabitants Of the islands. He then
pointed out that it was necessary for
a government of any status TO meet
its domestic requirements and dis
charge its international obligations.
Mr.. SpooEer ridiculed the idea that
distance would affect our right to ac-
ouire territory. Why was there no OBJ
lection TO the acquisition of Porto Rico.
if there must he so much opposition to /
taking the Philippines The consent OF /
Porto Ricans mad not been asked.
Mr.. Bacon replied that the circum-
stances were inherent DtNduSE u AAlE
proximity of Porto Rico, as the pres
ence of Spain in either Of the West IN
dian islands would be inimical to the /
United States.
Il thank the senator from Georgia |
for the admission replied Nj. SpOoner.
1.-The declaration Of independence is TO l
be suspended in the West Indies be- !
cause it IS in the interest Of the United /
States.
Mr.. Hale made the point that there /
was a very sharp difference between ,
the two cases. The island OF Porto I
Rico could be considered as an indem- /
nity-a land Of some possible value to |
US and not a detriment-an ever /
blighting curse and woe TO us-as would /
be the Philippines. 1t was not a con- I
stitutional question, but a question of /
policy Did not 2lr. SDooner see the ,
grave danger?
Responding laconically, Mr.. SDooner /
SAID ne saw the danger
Mr.. Hoar interrupted to say that he /
made no distinction in the cases. He /
took the broad ground that we were |
not justified in attempting to govern |
any people without their consent
Resuming, Mr.. SpOoner said that |
there was no way out of it; that If at /
the end Of a war an indemnity is to be /
taken. 1t must be taken without the |
consent of the people
NOT AN EXPANSIONIST
Mr.. Spoouer announced his appre- |
bcnsiou OF the policy of expansion 1
s.Sone people waltz up to this PROPOSE
tion OF national expansion as gaily as
the troubaGour touches his guitar"
said he. Proceeding, he said ne was an
to the extent OF wanting
I, do everything possible to extend our
trade. but he thought that TO acquire
distant and -assimilable people was
The poorest possible means of getting it.
He shranlz, he said. from the policy
Of making a part Of our land tropical
islands thousands of miles from our
shores, a land whose people were alien,
not of our blood, who were foreign TO
our institutions. OF "a tropical climate
in which the white man cannot work.
IIa therefore considered as superficial. [