The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-16
DEBATING ON EXPANSION
The Bacon Philippine Resolution
Taken Up in the Senate.
Mr.. McEnery Discusses Permanent
AnneNatiOn-Mr. Stewart Declares
Little LegasIatiOu Is Needed-His
Views on the Proposed ImpOst
DHty ON Porto Rican Products.

In the Senate today the resolution here
tofore offered by Mr. Bacon declaring it not
TO be the purpose Of the Government TO Sc
cure and maintain permanent dominion
over the Philippine Islands, was taken UP.
Mr.. McEnery was the first speaker.
The ali-absorbing question. he said, was
what should be done with the islands. He
thought Il unfortunate that they had been
thrown On the hands OF the United States.
II their products Of rice, sugar, tobacco,
and hemp were 10 be sent TO the United
States free OF duty. those industries here
would be dss royed Cotton would also be
cultivated there, and cotton factories would
be established which would interfere with
/ those OF the South and injure even those
Of the East and North. Nevertheless the
islands could not be given up.
The Sovereignty OF the United States
must be established there. He did not know
any one who would say thaI the American
troops should be withdrawn. There was a
disposition on al sides 70 vote all the
ships. men and money needed TO support
the Government. sun he was opposed 20
expansion. He was opposed to the annex
alton of territory beyond the natural
boundary OF the country. The permanent
annexation Of the Philippine Islands would
be fraught with danger. involving the
( United States in all the disputes and con
I teutions OF foreign governments.
Nr. Stewards Argument.
/ Mr.. McEnery was followed by Mr Stew
art He said.
The suggestion that the acquisition CT
/ territory is Imperialism is refuted by the
/ fact that neither jefferson. Monroe, Jack
| son. Polk. nor any OF their associates are
/ regarded as impeTialists. The Imperialism
! they advocated made homes for patriotic,
! liberty-Ioying, self-respecting citizens.
/ whose loyalty 70 the Government Of the
I United States is unsurpassed by the people
4 OF any Of the thirteen original States.
/ II TO assist the people Of the Philip
D pines 10 establish local self government
after the plan adopted by Jefferson is i'm
/ perialism. then Jefferson was the pioneer
I imperiaIist Of the United States. The Phil
/ ippines VIII never be dependent colonies
They viii be allowed 10 conduct their own
Z affairs with the assistance Of such officers
| as il may be necessary 10 appoint 10 aid
{ them in establishing local self-govern-
| ment
No one pretends that the Filipinos are
I now ht for Statehood. but I repudiate the
| suggestion that they are not ft for just
such government as Jefferson extended 10
the Louisiana PmhaSe and Monroe 30 the
acquisition Of Florida. There may not be
enough Americacs in that country to or
ganize a So te government without Con
grCssiOnal or Executive action. as In the
case Of California. but II the same Con-
7 ErsssiOnal and Executive care that was
/ extended 60 all other acquisitions Of ter
| Uitory except California S EXTENDED TO the
I Philippines, they viii progress. II may DC
slowly but they ~uI progress in working
out good government for themselves and
/ security FOR life and property which will
bring prosperity and progress 10 them and
1 great commercial and political advantages
! 10 US
Looking to u for Models.
The President has acted wisely in Sc
Iecting an eminent jurist in the prime OF
life TO assist the natives Of the islands IL
establishing local self government after
the models which our country so abun-
Gantly furnishes. The Filipinos. together
with all other foreigners. when they at
tempt 20 establish a government, look Il
our country for rAodels for their guidance
( Constitutions similar 10 our own hav,
been adOpted in Mexico and in variou,
States Of South America
although they frequently fall short o.
the high standard of legisl9 tiOn and ad
/ ministration prevailing in this country
stil they arc progressing in the right di
I rection. The Filipinos themselves alread,
look TO the United States for models FOL
constitutions AMI laws in their own coun
, try. as evidenced by the proclamations an,
/ publications which we read in the news
papers.
I'VE want very little legislation for tn
! Philippines. We want their leaders q
come here and see how we govern our
selves, to enable them 10 do likewise. "
wish for them peace and good order, an,
they will have IL with very little assist
snce from us. The absurd charge tha
there is any intention on the part Of tn
Administration or the Republican or th,
! Democratic Varty to govern the Philip
pines or any other territory which we havt
| acquired. CT NAV acquire as colonies. by
the strong arm Of the military power. j.
| entirely without foundation
There is no more doubt that the Phil
ippines with our assistance viii have gooC
government and that they viii be benef
cial 10 us, than there is that good govern
lnent has been secured under the Amari
can flag wherever il has Goated-
The Porto Rican Tariff.
Il am aware of the suggestion Of al
impost duty upon the products Of Port
Rico. which, of course, would be one Of tn
worst forms Of colonial policy This sug
| gestion is pregnant with evil and. il car
ried out would furnish substantial
| groundwork for the charge Of imperialism
Il would be too much like the exaction
! which imperial Rome made upon her con
| quered provinces, and It might furnish
| parallel to some extent Of the imperia
! policy Of mOnarchiCal countries in recen
l times. I am glad the President of tn
United States has not made that mistake
On the contrary, in his last annual mes
! sage he says:
'' our plain duty is TO abolish all Gus
toms tariffs between the United States an
Porto Rico and give her products free ac
cess to our markets
THE recommendation OF the Secretar
of War. contained in his last annual re
port. described In forceful language the in
D justice Of erecting a tariff barrier agains
, the products of Porto Rico Since tn
e transfer Of the island to the United State
20 Spain has erected such a barrier and
J | the United States does likewise, her mar
0 kets viii be cut of and the people will b
r in a deplorablc condition.
i am glad the President in his rec
s Ommendation and the Secretary of wa
Q in his report are governed by the estat
Q lished policy Of the United States in treat
$ ing with the people OF newly acquired tel
ritory.