The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30

The principal feature in the Senate
proceedings yesterday was the delivery by
Mr. Beveridge Of prepared speech on
the Pcrto Rican bill. It occupied an
hour and twenty minutes and was listened
10 in silent admiration by an immense
croNd in the galleries. While the main
argument Of the speech was reciprpcity
with Porto Rico its predominant tone was
the present and future grandeur Of The
people Of the United States
Various eulogistic notices We're applied
10 il. such as warden % the gate Of
the Gulf" IN a position TO command
peace. Sovereign nation Of the earth
Master people Of the world" Agents,
under God. of civilization Of the world "
The island possessions were described as
Ours by the decree of Providence" " and
Cuba WAS to be also ours in good time.
THE ocean empire Mr. Beredidge de-
clared lis ours now and ours forever"
American institutions were lauded as
older ana greater than the Constitution:
and court decisions could not restrain
them" For Congress he claimed absolute
and almost imperial power" but he had
no respect fer constitutional charlatsn-
ism. He favored immediate reciprocity.
said he should vote for an amendment to
the bill giving immediate and unrestricted
trade to the island possessions. While
the bill was not all that he could wish
it TO be. it was a step in the right direc-
tion, and therefore he should vote for it.
The Power of Congress.
In beginning his remarks Mr. Beveridge
said: The issue Joined in this debate in
wolves the power OF Congress over the
islands and the peoples which providence
has placed in our keeping, and therefore
the eXpeGiency Of retaining them. II in
wolves the power and progress of the Re
public throughout all its future Fer IL
Congress has not free hand to deal with
these islands as their different conditions
and changing needs demand. il is not only
ineEpedient. but it may be impossible TO
hold them To treat Porto Rico as We
treat Hawai-. and 10 deal with the latter
as We deal with the Philippines and to ap-
ply to all without delay the same fixed for
mula Of laws which custom and the iuten-
ton Of statehood nave prescribed for our
Territories from which our States are
formed, is a proposition as mad as it is
novel.
Mr.. Beveridge discussed the needs of
the newly acquired possessions and de- /
clared that they are utterly unlike those .
territories.
And" he continued. If we may rot
adopt measures fitting the condition and
the necessities of each and change those
measures as conditions and necessities
change. we must give them up There Is
nc other alternative or rather. there is
an alternative whose very statement puts
US TO this melancholy choice.
That alternative is the proposition that
q sHs--,
whom its sacred meaning is dark as mid ;
night; that these peoples shall be pro
vided for according TO a fixed formula
OF government and laws prepared for the
highest type Of governing communi-
ties the world ever saw; that before
these people ever c0mplehend the term
seif- go orerument before they realize its
duties its obligations. burdens and re-
wards. exercise Of that holy function is
to be forced upon them; that they are TO
b. made a part Of the American Ieople.
and States of the American Union: and
thai Porto Ricdn Senators, Hawaiian
Senators. and Filipino Senators shall sit
here. equal in dignity and power TO the
Of the historic state Of
Massachusetts, the imperial State Of New
York CT Of Indiana, the very heart OF
the Nation and that an this shall be
determined Immediately and irrev0rablv.
now aud for all the future.
The Government says that we reserve
The future for the future but that for the
present we viii hold these Islands as
sacred trust for them for US for mankind
and for the world, dealing with them as
wisdom and righteousness from day to day
shall dictate developing them into gardens.
heir Inhabitants into happy and prosper
bus peoples. and when the time shall come.
i ever. that American ideas American
ne ethOds and the American spirit change
he quality Of their blood the method OF
heir minds, the tendency OF their charsc-
Ter, and their ideas. ideals. and under
Standing Of government then our succes-
sors in the American Congress may admit
1r inject them into the blood Of our ma
ionsl HE a. the wisdom and Justice OF
posterity may determine.
In word, the question is whether The
Constitution gives Congress q free haul
over our possessions. or whether il We re-
tain them. the Constitution gives them
Tree hand over Us.
Free Hand Necessary
And SO again the issue focuses upon
That burning point which. according to our
decision. viii become the fixed and radiau.
star Of our progress and our hope or the
nalign and darleuiug orb of our decay
md dO0m-the retention OF our islands and I
bur future power % acquire 10 govern. 20
ieyelGp. For il We are not TO have the ]
n sa