The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-02
Mr.. SHELLEY ON EXPANSION
The Pennsylvania Representative
Addr, sses the House
He Compares the Acquisition of the
Philippines to the Louisiana Pur-
chase-The Pathway of History
Marked with BIood-Libcrty Only
Achieved with Sword and Bayonct.

hour be held the attention OF the House
and he was warmly applauded when be
closed.
When the journal had been read Speak
er Henderson announced his decision upon
the controversy between the Committees
on Appropriations and on Military Affairs
over the estimates for machinery and plant
at arsenals and armories for the manulac-
ture of small arms. clothing, equipment,
etc. He decided tina; the Commiuee on
Military Affairs had jurisdiction over tie
estimates for manufacturing after the plant
apd machinery had been installed, and the
Committee on Appropriations Jurisdiction
over estimates for establishing the plant
ard purchase OF machinery.
The bill was then sent back TO confer
ence, and the House went into Committee
of the Whole. Mr.. Moody OF Massachu-
sets in the chair, for the further con-
sideration Of the Indian Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Shafroth of Colorado was the first
speaker. He said II was the duty OF the
United States to mediate between Great
Britain and the Transvaal. The interests
Of Justice and humanity, he said, demanded
that some nation should offer mediation.
Mr.. Talbert OF South Carolina replied
briefly 10 the speech made by Mr.. Linney
OF North Carolina on Tuesday. He paid
. glowing tribute to the valor, patiotism,
and progress of the South that had been
made In the last one hundred years. The
South he said, had furnished some OF the
brightest pages in history. The way 10
stop lynchings was to stop the crimes that
caused II. This was a white mans coun-
try and would be ruled by white men.
Mr. Sibley OF Pennsylvania then OBJ
iained the floor for speech in advocacy
of territorial enlargement. under the con-
ditions that exist now. He was Interrupted
at the very outset OF his remarks by Mr..
Cochran Of Missouri, who repeatedly en-
Quired II the speaker believed that the
Philippine Islands were open to American
settlement now and il he believed they
were as susceptible of American settle
ment and cultivation as the Louisiana Pur-
chase was at the time ii was added TO the
territory of the United States, and whether
he believed that the Filipinos were capable
of the growth and Improvement that had
marked the people of the Louisiana Pur-
chase?
The speaker parried successfully these
questions without making direct answer.
He said he was willing to trust to the AL
mighty the working out OF the future OF
the Filipinos and American control and he
was willing, he said, in answer to Mr..
Gaines of Tennessee, to trust this Admin
istration with the determination of the
form of government TO be given them un-
ill Congress had fixed the matter.
Every argument that had been ad-
vanced in the present discussion OF the
Philippines, Mr.. Sibley said, had been made
at the time Of the Louisiana Purchase. The
people Of that territory were called much
worse names than any that had been given
to the Filipinos, and 1t was asserted that
eternity itself would not be long enough
for the frackless desert waste west OF the
Mississippi River TO develop into habit
able region.
Men were asked 10 take counsel Of their
fears in this matter, said the speaker.
For those who were inclined TO do so. he
would review some of the stock arguments
against territorial expansion. II was said
that we cannot purchase sovereignty.
Well he said, I'VE did it in the case Of
the States cut out Of the Louisiana Pus-
chase. If We cannot, we did. II is said
that we cannot conquer sovereignty. Well,
1t was done in Texas, and in the States and
Territories taken from Mexico"
Members Of the Texas delegation ques-
TONED the accuracy of the statement re-
garding Texas, and Mr.. Sibley answered
that the exercise of force was the orig
inal impelling motive. Conquest he said,
tiquity and the path of history was marked
In blood. We had wrested, he said, from
the red man the land now occupied by the
older States as the Normans had con-
quered England. Invariably there had
been the substitution of the higher and
better forms of civilization and govern
ment for the poorer and weaker.
1t has been said that all governments de-
rived their just powers from the consent Of
the governed. In its grand, true sense
that was true, said Mr.. Sibley, but in the
narrow restricted sense In which IL was
sought to be used 1t became mere piati-
tude
The Administration OF this Government
was in power by the consent Of only half
the governed, who were permitted to vote,
and much less than half OF the Inhabitants
in the country. Another objection was to
the distance separating the Philippines
from the mainland of the United States. |
Electricity and steam, he said, had amir |
hilated time and distance. Yesterday |
shall be eternity and tomorrow infnity."
II had been charged that the United |
States forces were unjustiiably shooting |
down the Filipipos. Wherever, asked Mr.. |
sibley. was liberty achieved without the |
use of the sword and bayonet
Mr.. Sibley read some of the expressions
regarding the people and territory of the
Louisiana Purchase at the time it was an
nexed and reviewed the attitude OF Demo- 4
cratic leaders.
Come back" he said. addressing his |
Democratic associates, Ito the old Demo- |
cratic doctrines of expansion. II was the |
doctrine of Jefferson and Madison, and Of |
jackson. The last public utterance OF |
James Buchanan, replying TO serenade al
the White House. was Expansion is the fu-
ture policy of this nation al only towards
&c, nd . hat he nf
the last Democratic President we ever
had" Laughter and applause.l
In conclusion Mr.. Sibley eloquently pre-
scented the advantages moral and material,
TO be derived by the people OF the United |
States and the Filipinos alike from the |
possession and control of the Philippine |
Islands by the former. I
Brief speeches were made by Messrs. /
Kluttz OF North Carolina and Griggs of |
Georgia in answer to the remarks made on |
Tuesday by Mr.. Linney OF North Carolina |
upon the subject of lynehing.
Mr.. Cochran OF Missouri called Mr.. Sib- !
ley's attention 20 some arguments against |
the annexation of the Philippine Islands |
which could not have been used against the
purchase OF Louisiana
Mr.. Gaines OF Tennes see closed the gem /
oral debate with a short argument in sup l
port OF the view that the Constitution ap- |
piled TO the Hawaiian Islands and Porto
Rico.
The blu was then considered by para
graphs for amendments
without concluding the bill the COM
mittee arose.
Mr.. Hit reported the Consular and Dip |
lomatic Appropriation bill.
BY unanimous consent Mr.. Gaines Of
Tennessee secured the passage OF The |
Senate bill 10 present TO the city OF Nash /
VILE, Tenn. the cannon on the plfnl,oat