Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-27
DEPEW TALKS
ON AFFAIRS IN
PORTO RICO.

Washington, Feb. 27.-In the senate
today Senator Depew was ONE of the
chief speakers.
Mr DepeW declared that most of the
questions regarding the American occu-
pahy or the Philippines which are now
being discussed are purely academic.
Said he:
'We are in the Philippines. We are
there to stay by conquest and by treaty
rights. All which precedes the ratfi-
cation of the treaty by the senate of the
United States is an academic question" /"
NO one denied, he said. that the ma
tlves OF the Philippine islands, had been
used to conquer the Spanish, but he de-
MED that any treaty had been made with
them. Said he: only the president Of
the United States could bind the country
and he only with the subsequent assent
OF the senate, Only when war is pro-
the army or the admiral of the navy
make committal which the president
would be bound in any form to consider
or respect. Admiral Dewey alone had
thai power ard he most. emphatically de-
MES any committal whatever to Agui-
naldo for the independence of his So
called government President Scbur-
mann also elnphatically denies any COM
initial on the subject on the part Of the
Philippine commission. The various
tails on their part. All the ,consuls con-
cerned positively denied having made
any such suggestions"
Senator Depew reviewed at some length
the various eras of expansion by which
the United States has grown from the
original 13 colonies to the present vast
empire, saying: whether our territories
have come by conquest and treaty, by
purchase, annexation or discovery, the
people, president, congress and the coun-
tn, fIo -
our title. The time will be brief until
by unanimity Porto Rico and Hawaii,
Guam and the Philippines are held 20
be equally and sacredly territory of the
United States"
Regarding the plea chat the consent
of the governed" is necessary, ne said:
The government which we organized for
the territory of Louisiana had every
element which has been denounced as
despotism in the Philippines"
'"rhe act of Oct. 81, 1SO3 passed by
congress and signed by Jefferson, vested:
'A!l military, civil and judicial powers
In such person or persons and to be ex.
ercised In such manner as the president
of the United States should direct
There was no consultation with the
no participation in the
government accorded them and no rights
assured to them except the free enjoy
ments of their liberty, property and re-
ligiOn. 1t is no answer to thispreca-
ueHl ID Say tHal because Lnefe were only
10000 white people in the territory, 1t
was unnecessary to gain their consent.
The constitutional rights of 10000 are as
precious and as sacred as the rights of
50, COG, $50
ut has been repeatedly said here that
government by the United States in
these islands would be a despotism Such
a be ief shows singular ignorance or
m. pprehension of the constitutional
limitations upon our powers and the splr-
it of our institutions. While the con-
stitution does not extend over the ter
ritories of it's own force and without leg
islation. it's propositions are binding on
congress. On these prohibitions which
are also privileges enjoyed by the peo-
pie wherever our jurisdiction extends, is
a complete charter of rights which con-
gress can neither limit nor impair. All
privileges and immunities, such
as religious freedom, property rights.
freedom of speech and the press and
before the laws prevail where
ever our flag floats. But outside the
constitution and laws is an unwritten
law created 10y the genius of the institu-
tions of the paramount power and con-
trolling it's acts and officials in all COL
Onial governments"