The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-21
TREATY OF PARIS SUPREME.
SENATOR MORGAN's VIEWS OF OUR
NEW POSSESSIONS.

Impossible for the United States to
Abandon Either Porto Rico or the
PhiIippines-Treaty Also Requires
Us to Occupy Cuba Proposition
Confronting Congress Is FOur-foId.
Inhabitants of Porto Rico Are EN-
titled to Citizenship.
Washington, March 2O.-Discussion OF
the Porto Rican government and the tariff
bill was resumed in the Senate to-day,
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama presenting a
speech dealing with some of the constitu-
tional phases of the measure.
He maintained that as the treaty of
Paris was the supreme law of the land
it was impossible for the United States
to abandon either Porto Rico or the Phil
ippines. He held also that The constitu-
ton extended to certain extent, at least,
over the acquired territory. and that the
inhabitants of Porto Rico were citizens of
the United States
Nr. Morgan declared that resistance 90
American authority in Cuba would be as
as much rebellion as it is in the Philip
pines. The national power must continue
to exist in all of the acquired islands I'M
i'll Congress should legislate In their re-
gard.
THE world" he declared. must be
amused at our discussion of che question
whether the Philippines are part of the
United States while we are voting armies
supplies and money TO suppress the insur-
recliou of one of the many tribes in those
islands"
Mr.. Morgan said the question presented
to the United States was four-fold:
First. Shall Congress provide a civil
| government for the island of Porto Rica
Second. Shall we leave the island to it's
present form of government?
Third. Shall we abandon it and recog
| niZe its independence?
Fourth. Shall We suffer it to float out
among nations as derelict, to be picked
| up or captured?
Cannot Abandon Cuba.
AS to the islands acquired from Spain,
| Mr.. Morgan maintained that the treaty
of Paris was the supreme law of the land
| Referring to Cuba he said:
| That treaty requires us to occupy the
! island. We cannot abandon Cuba without
disgrace and without violating our pledged
| faith to Spain. Nor can we abandon
Porto Rico or the Philippines without in.
viting anarchy and interneclne war
| Congress, therefore, should provide
| schemes of government for them. The
| President would then govern the islands
| until Congress should otherwise provide.
THE inhabitants of Porto Rico" he
| said, Ought 90 be given full citizen
ship as any native inhabitants of coun-
| try annexed heretofore. We have not
debarred from citizenship any native in
| habitant of any territory annexed. Those
| who have not chosen to retain their for
mer allegiance have become citizens of
the United States without regard to race
| or any other condition. l believe If Porto
Rico is a foreign country we cannot pass
| laws to be enforced there"
| Uniform Tax Laws.
| Concerning the tax laws of Porto Rico,
| Mr.. Morgan maintained that Congress
| should provide laws that should be uni
| form throughout the United States and
| Porto Rico. In conclusion, he said, no
| bounds to our territory were set by the
| Constitution. and no limits would be set
| to our expansion. He welcomed the Phil
| ippines as a part of our territory because
| 1t might become a new home for many
| colored people of the South as new mar
| ket for American silver mines; as a new
| and great American mart at Manila
and. too, as an extension of the power
and influence of the United States.