The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-15

questions, the two Senators were in nrac-
tical agreement. Both were opposed to
the pending Porto Rican Bill and both
objected to any of the insular territory
becoming part of the United States or
any of its inhabitants citizens of the
United States.
MI Teller who expected to leave for
Cuba tonight, took the floor first. In
general way he announced he had no
doubt Of the power of the Government to
govern the possessions it had acquired
Mr. Teller declared he could find am
pie authority for legislation relating to
our insular ossessions-authority not
derived from the Constitution.
And do not believe" said Mr.. Teller,
that the Constitution is in force in any
Of our new possessions. Congress. | be-
lieve, is supreme so far as the making
Of legislation for acquired territory is
concerned. OF course, in enacting sucn
legislation. Congress is bound by certain
fundamental principles that underle this
free government.
"After a careful examination of all
Supreme Court authorities | have been
able to find only one case that will sup
port the doctrine that the Constitution
goes OF its own vigor into the acquired
territory
He believed that making the acquired
territories a part of the United States was
optional with Congress and that we have
the same power as Great Britain to hold
colonial possessions. He did not believe,
however, that such territory should be
regarded and governed as incipient States
OF the Union. Porto Rico might, he
thought, be held under the sovereignty of
Lo
ject to our dictation, might make tho
laws of the island and the United States
might determine what the inhabitants
should or should not DO. He found no
legal difficulty in dealing either with the
acquired possessions or their inhabitants
Il do not want to make Porto Rico and
the Philippines a part of the United
States and | do not want to make their
inhabitants citizens of the United States,
said Mr. Teller. He added that the rela-
ton he would establish between the Uni
ted States and the acquired territory was
entirely consistent with the history and
traditions and principles Of this coun-
try If he had time, he believed he
could prove that the fathers OF the coun-
try contemplated the acquisition and the
holding OF colonies by the United States.
IF anybody" he continued, "can show
a better way out of the trouble than the
holding Of the possessions we have ac~
quired l am willing to consider it.
Il would great deal rather make
Porto Rico and the Philippines colonies or
.4rcvinces than to make them states,
,t.lich would Uring all their inhabitants
under the flag as citizens OF the United
States These islands are not part OF
the United States today.
I'VE don't want the inhabitants of
these islands TO be made citizens OF the
United States. That is what this bill
does and if there were nothing else
against it thai alone would induce me to
vote against it,"
Mr.. Teller said he desired all possible
and reasonable advantages and privileges
TO be extended to those people but he
would not have them participate in the
election of a President of the United
States. nor would he give them represen-
tation in Congress.
III the people of Porto Rico are citizens
Of the United States then we are doing
them a great injustice If We levy tarln
on their products; if they are not citi-
zens then we have The same right to
levy tariff on their goods as we have
10 place a tariff on the products CT Great
Britain.
The question Of the treatment Of Porto
Rico and the treatment of the Philippines
are entirely different and distinct. The
great question is how can we do justice
to the inhabitants of those islands and do
Justice TO ourselves at the same time.
Bad as this bill il is infinitely better
than anything the people of Porto Rlco
ever had before
Mr.. Turner then resumed his discus
sion Of the Porto Rican measure, recltlng
more constitutional authorities in support
of the contention that the Constitution
followed the flag into all territories ac-
ouired by the United States with the
idea of being held permanently
Mr. Turner challenged any Senator 10
produce decision OF the Supreme Court
holding it 20 be necessary that the Con
stitution should be extended by act OF
Congress over acquired territory or that
the Constitution did not extend eX proprlo
yigore over such territory.
In conclusion he declared the pending
bill was manifestly unconstitutional. III
was un-democratic. un-republican and
an unauthorized exercise of power over
the nhabitants of Porto Rico; and he
thus warned the powers in the majority:
Beware unless you betray the hopes
of the future in the eXgencies OF the
present"
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