The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-31
BASED ON Divine RIGHT
Representative Adams0n Questions
Our Title to the Philippines.
Dominion Obtained From Spain Re-
ougnant to American History and
Pr"fessions-Trnde of the Islands
Does Not Dcfruy 0De-dfth of the
Cost of SuDjugation and Retention.

WILMINGTON, Del, Oct 31-At 8
meeting last night Representative W. c.
Adamson of Georgia made a powerful
speech against imperialism and tue trusts.
He said il part:
The pretence that title acquired from
Spain vests us with dominion over the
Philippine Islands is preposterous, in view
OF oar history and professions. Our entirs
history EaS been a denial or the divine
right CT kings to own and transfer people
and countries. We are estopped from set
ting up claim to title under the transfer
from Spain. Her title had in fact already
been Giscredited and destroyed by the for
tunes Of war before the Treaty of Peace
was made, The folly of paying Spain for
the Islands when she was vanquished and
powerless at cur feet il is unnecessary TO
discuss.
The constitutional difficulties about
our holding YassaI colonies the Repubi-
cans DC not attempt to meet nor do they
undertake to deny the moral hypocrisy OF
Ignoring the Declaration OF Independence
OF the teachings of our statesmen from
JEFFERSON, through Lincoln, down TO the
days of Bryan. They talked awhile about
the lnterpositson Of Providence and Gesti-
ny, but they failed to impress the Ameri-
can people seriously with the suggestion
that Mark Hanna was the yiceragent of
Jehovah, diVinely commissioned to corrupt
American voters degrade American work
lngmen, and introduce carpetbag govern
ments to Cypress and rob the devoted and
DAhlShted denizens of the Pacific Isles
so they abandoned the pretence and
took conlmereialism. While I do not think
that II it is wrong it ought to be done
even though it will pay, yet to meet them
The lower laval Of +fe;-
l say 1t will not pay financially The entire
trade OF the Philippine Islands, exports and
imports. is about $50, coo, GOO # it was all
ours and all profit, it would not defray one
fifth OF the cost of their subjugation and
retention.
1t IS not pretended that the islands can
De conquered and governed with less than
an annual increase of $150, 600 000 in our
expenses. This would be a poor venture
Tor our Government, even If the Govern
ment itself was engaged in commerce
which is not a Democratic doctrine. If
the President had stated the question can
didly twenty months ago there would have
Deen no confusion about the question II
instead Of indulging in cant and Mandolin
expressions about the flag and imaginary
glory, ne had frankly stated the facts To
the country, there would have been no |
trouble
want to tell you about the Republican
Pl0te.iee oL iegIslatIng on trusts. Pretend
ing that they had no constitutional power
TO deal with trusts, they offered an amend +
snent to the Constitution proposing to vest I
III congress exclusive Jurisdiction over the /
SUBJECT. This We resisted, because We rec
ognized 1t as not only unnecessary. but an
attempt to deprive the States of the power
70 deat with the trusts We could NOT
asree to surrender to the Federal Congress
tne risht to regulate them, because a Re
puHileah majority would inevitably use the
op ' UNITY 10 foster and enrich the trusts.