The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-17
VESTS NOTABLE SPEECH
is IT TREASON TO EXPRESS AN
OPINION?
WE PAID $4,000, 900 FOR THIS WAR
Cullom Presents Petition From Negroes Ask
ing That Lynching be Stopped. Spooner
EnIightenS Chandler as 10 Penalties
For Violating Election Laws.

washington, Jan. l6.-Ihe Senate to-
day ratified the Samoan treaty without
provision. The ratification occurred in
executive session and after two hours
Of debate, which was participate din by
number of Senators, principally in be-
half of the treaty by Messrs. Davis,
Foraker and Spooner and in opposition
by Senators Bacon, Money and Tillman.
Senator Bacon made the leading speech
in opposition. He based his objection
upon the general ground that it was con-
trary to the spirit of our institutions to
attempt to govern any people in opposi-
ton to their wishes. He said that he
was not opposed to the new convention
because Of any partiality felt 70 rthe
old tripartite agreement which it sup
plants. On The contrary the old treaty
was almost if not quite as repugnant to
him as the new, and he wanted to get
rid of it. There was no doubt of the in
tention to annex and exercise sovereign
ty in place of the protectorate which
was the distinguishing feature of the
trlpartite agreement of 1890. To this
proposed change of policy he objected
most strenuously. He compared the
provisions of the two agreements at
some length showing that the old one
made express provision for the approval
of the Samoan Government of changes
and guaranteed the independence of the
Samoan Government, whereas the pnd-
ing instrument annuls all sovereignty
of the Samoan Government and parti-
tiOns the islands between the United
States and Germany.
He cortended that it was not true that
the old arrangement was simply to be
continued under a division of authority
and asserted that the declaration that the
Samoan people We're savages was un-
tenable.
The United States had in many wa-s.
he said. recognized the Samoan Govern
ment, guaranteeing its independence and
making a treaty of amity or friendship
with it's Government. We don't, he con-
tinued, make treaties of friendship with
Savages. This country had sent consul
generals there and done other acts not
usual with savageS, and the consent of
the natives should therefore be obtained.
In conclusion Mr.. Bacon said he was
willing that the United States should ac-
quire the island of Tutuila with its Pago-
Pago harbor If that could be done i'm the
proper manner and without violating all
of our principles in securing control of it.
Senators Money and IiIman spoke i'm
practically the same line.
The friends of the treaty repudiated the
assertion that the old treaty provisions
were annulled. They claimed that this
country by the new arrangement retains
all the old advantages and avoids the
complicatiOns liable to grow out OF the
trfpartite agreement. They urged that
the opportunity could not be lost both tC
get out of am awkward predicament and
TO control in our own right the harbOr OF
Pago-Pago.
THE PHILIPPINE DEBATE.
Washington Jan. 16.-The Senate is
still i'm the throes of discussion of tbs
Philippine question and apparently there
is no near approach to dellverance upon
the subject Mr. Vest (AIo.) today voiced
the opinion of many Senators WheD he
said that such discussion as was now IN
progress was of no consequence, as the
country was confronted by a state Of facts
that could not be changed by talk.
Mr.. Pettigrew's resolution of inquiry
and Mr.. lodges substitute for it Were
laid ON the table today and Mr.. Hoar'
general resolution of inquiry as to the
facts of the Philippine war was taken
IN. An effort of Mr.. PettigTew to amend
IL so as to call for the Presidents I'm
st1uctions to the Paris Peace Commits
son led to a prolonged debate with flnal
rejection.
The debate for the day was concluded
by Mr.. Vest, who made a notable speech
i'm oppositiOn to the assumption in some
quarters that every man who does moi
agree with the policy of the Administra
tion is traitor to his country.
NEGROES ASK PROTECTION.
Mr.. Cullom (Ill) presented a petition
handsomely bound and signed by 3.20
colored persons asking for such legisia-
tic.n as will protect colOred men of tins
country from the "barbarous practice OF
lynching and burning coiored men,"
Mr.. Hoar. chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, said he believed every Sena-
tor would be glad to have such measures
adopted as would suppress this wrong
doing and enable the officials to enforce
the laws.
THE PETITION REFERRED.
No Senator. he thought, would disagree
10 that. He directed attention to the
fact that the State laws take cogniz9nte
of the crimes referred to in the peti-
+ion. By what Constitutional method
the United States could take action Oh
this question was a different inquiry.
Mr.. Chandler, chairman of the Com