Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-06-23
OUR TITLE THE STRONGEST.

Extract from a recent speech In the
house of representatives by Congress-
man Marsh Of Illinois:
/ hold, Mr.. Chairman, that our title
to the Philippine Islands Is as com
plete as is our title to the state OF
Florida. we acquired each OF them
from Spain; we acquired each OF them
by treaty with Spain, and the duty on
the national government to maintain
it's authority in the Philippine Islands
and suppress Instruction and armed
rebellion against the United States is
just as strong and just as powerful as
1t would be to suppress rebellion In
the state OF Florida. 1t rests upon the
fact that the sovereignty OF the Unit-
ed States extends over the Philippine
Islands as well as 1t extends over the
State of Florida.
Our title to the Philippine Islands
and to Puerto Rico is as complete
and as indefeasible as II title to the
Louisiana purchase. Weacquired one by
a treaty which has no more sanctlty
and binding efficacy than the other;
and while Florida contains one state
and the Louisiana purchase contaios
fourteen states and territories, the
aegis and sovereignty OF the United
States Is there, no more there and NO
more right to be there than 1t Is In
the Philippine islands.
I say here that II the President OF
the United States should OF his own
motion abandon the Philippine ISL
ands, withdraw the army and navy
thercfrom and allow them to go scot
free, he would be liable and subject
TO impeachment by the House OF Rep
re~sentatives and conviction by the
Senate. And In the prosecution Of this
armed force in the Philippine Islands
the administration is doing nothing
more nor less than what is its bound
en- duty to do. Aye, more! the Con-
gretss of tho United States, men on
both sides OF this House, / am glad to
say-men on both sides Of this House
In the last days OF the last Congress
passed a bill, with O very few dissent
ing votes, authorizing the President
to raise an army of 100, 1000 meo. For
what? To be sent to the Philippine
islands to maintain our sovereignty In
the Philippine islands, to maintain II
in Puerto Rico IL necessary, u to
carry out the purpose of the govern
ment with reference to Cuba. The
Democratic side Of this House bear Q
part of the responsibility of this ex-
listing army, as well as this side that
am on. what did you expect the
President to do with these troops
when you voted authority to him tc
raise 100, 900 of them? THE war with
Spain was over; peace had been de-
clared.
The treaty had been ratified by the
Senate of the United States and, / be
lieve, by the Spanish government, al
though the interchange had not taker
place between the executives of the
two governments; yet we were abso'
lutly at peace with Spain; no war with
Spain: no wal with any country or
earth: yet our Democratic friends, IN
the closing days of the last Congress
stood up here, with few exceptions
and voted authority to the President
to raise 100, 900 troops. Why did YOU
do Il II It was not for the purpose Of
asserting and maintaining the author.
ity of the UDited States government In
those islands? Why, then, this com
planning of the President for doing the
very thing that Congress, on both
sides Of the House, authorized him and
clothed him with 100, 600 men to do?
Did you give him that 100000 mer
in order that the secretary Of state
might write some diplomatic letters or
the subject? No; you gave 1t In order
to clothe him with the necessary mil
itary power to do just exactly wha'
he has been doing In the P~hilippin,
islands. And I say that it comes with
bad grace from gentlemen who votet
for that bill to attack the administra
ton for using these very soldiers II
the very way and manner that you
knew he was to use and expected tina
he would use them when you voted
him 100, 900 men a little over q yea