The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-03
MIR. Spooner's Arsumeut.


conclusion OF Mr.. Depews speech, and 1t
was several minutes before Mr.. Spooner,
Oh wisconsin, who followed the New York
Senator, could proceed.
Never since the close Of the war Of the
,eoeihoh' said Mr.. Spooner in opening
MS address, has either the President or
inc congress been called upon to solve
problems equal in difficulty with those
which confront us now,
Inc Spanish war placed under our con-
tIol eleven or more millions OF people
S1dhsers 10 US, to our language, to our
eo'erninent' TO our institutions; and that
cOhtroI brings with it the gravest respon-
sioliitles' On the Democratic side II is
contenced that the Constitution. nv its
own lorce' extends over Porto Rico, and
makes the islands inhabitants citizans of
the United States. That is not in tb.. Hsb+
OF present events an academic question
1t is a great problem which confronts our
people"
AoVerung to the position taken by Mr..
Bate, IN his speech, that the Constitutio,
was no" In Porto Rico by its own force,
MT. Spooner pointed out that Gen Rate
ohly d rev days ago had voted for an
amendment providing for the extension of
'he constitution over Porto Rico The DO
SiDon taken Dy Gen. Bate in his speech
anu thal ne assumed by his vote, said Mr.
opooher' were like Kilkenny cats-"they
eat each other up"
II the constitution extends over the ac-
qulreo territory by its own force" said
MI Spooner. then it is very strange SEN
a'orS Should vote 10 extend the COnstttu-
ton by statute"
pidce Ia tnls discussion. Mr.. Spooner main.
e!ucldatad simply by catch nhrasas IT. pe
phrase, the Constitution follows The
mas was a Vely pretty enigrap hI,t
eplSram5 were dangerous.
Constitution Does Not Follow the F,ax
Does the Constitution follow the faqo,,
ne inquired. No. IT does not. Our army
entered Cuba during the war with Snain
our hnes were established before Sant,-
ago. and subsequently, our flag ffoated over
santiago. Our flag is there now. Rut is
our Constitution there? Certainly NOT
can we lesislate for Cuba? No. we can
not. Yet our flag is there. Our soldiers
are there, but the Constitution is no,
The only law which follows the aasJ is
the law OF war. The flag folIou,s ,ba
Constitution, not the Constitution tbo
flag" 'iie
IN response to a question asked by Mr..
Iliinah, OF South Carolina, Mr.. Spooner
sdlu' Inc proposition that the Consti-
luton extends OF its own force over ac-
qulred territory was invented in the in
lerest OF slavery the new dogma was
aaVocated IN the interest Of slavery. by
MT ealhoun. Mr. Webster opposed IL In
the interest OF liberty ard in the interest
OF sound constitutional legislation. The
calhoun dogma, we thought, was shot 10
death on the unnumbered battlefelds of
the war Of the rebellion. had surpassed
that after slavery had been laid awav
after the shackles of the slaves. in the
crucial heat Of battle, had been melted
away, that we had heard the last OF this
which is by no means so new
as many people seem TO suppose"
Mr.. Tillman, in the course Of a coIIoouv
with Mr.. Spooner inquired how il was
that the United States was in Porto Pico
BY the power OF the President as com
Mr.. Spooner.
M
Certainly, yes" responded Mr.. Spoon
er, TO the extent that the Constitution
makes him comma ander-in-chief OF our
army"
Power Of the President.
Then the power Of the President is lin
ited by the Constitution, suggested Mr.
Tillman.
No, not AZ ALL" replied Mr.. spooner
His limitations are only those OF any
commander-in-chief Of civilized nation"
rs not he bound by his oath Of Officer
asked Mr. Tillman.
i do not suppose" retorted Mr. Spoon
er, that because the President took his
oath Of Office, he Is bound
TO take . copy OF the Constitution in his
pocket wherever the army under him may
go. The President Is in Porto Rico lust
az he is in the Philippines, Just as he WI.
In California, after the treaty Of cession.
tie is there under the war power. and he
will remain there in the exercise Of that
power, until Congress shall legislate for
Porto Rico. BY the exercise Of that DOW
sr he changed some Of the Porto Riczn
laws and modified the Porto Rican tar
IFS"
In answer 20 a question by Mr. TYllrnan
as 70 why Porto Rico should be treated
from the Territories Of the
United States. Mr.. SpoOner declared the
pending measure vas the most generous
ever trSPosed for any Territory belonging
l. no United States and the people Of the
Island ~eFe being treated thus differently
from those OF the Territories because they
were In dire distress.
Mr.. Spooner maintained that territory