The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-10

a person coming under the dominion of the
United States by virtue of a treaty con-
tanning the stipulation that 1.-THE civil
rights and the political status of the ma
tive inhabitants Of territory ceded TO the
United States shall be determined by the
Congress All the judicial opinion relied
on had been rendered in cases arising I'M
der treaties fixing and defining the per-
sonal rights of the inhabitants.
Those who represent what they term the
anti-imperial sentiment of the country
would not, he said, of course, accept his
view. They would attach no controlling
Importance to the covenants contained in
earlier treaties fixing the status of coun-
try and people coded TO US and not leaving
this to extend ex propria vigore under the
Constitution, but would claim that, with
out them. the Constitution would have ex-
tended the supremacy of its provisions
over the coded territories and converted
their inhabitants into citizens of the United
States.
THE TREATY OF PARIS.
Summing up his position with reference
to the difference between the treaty of
Paris and other treaties by which the
United States had acquired territory Sena-
tor Lindsay said: 1.-The treaty of Paris
does not provide. as have other treaties.
that the inhabitants of the territories
coded by Spain shall at any time or in any
contingency be made citizens of the United
States or that their civil rights are to be
measured by the federal Constitution.
These rights are committed TO the deter
mination of Congress. The Asiatic coun-
tries ceded by Spain annot be incor-
porated into our Union. Their people cam
not be admitted TO the rights of citizen
ship. We nave therefore the alternative
either to refuse the performance Of the
duty which, in the estimation of the civil
lied world. we assumed by the acceptance
of the cession or else courageously to set
about the task of giving TO these people
the best government they are capable of
administering. / do not favor and l do not
believe the American people favor the
permanent holding of the Filipinos in a
state of vassalage, but We do not hasten
the day of their national enfranchisement
by demanding for them rights which their
conditions make IL impossible for them to
enjoy or by charging them with duties they
are palpably unable TO perform.
81 insist that we may legislate for Porto
Rico and its people in the broadcast spirit
of justice and generosity without endan-
gering our authority TO solve the Asiatic
problem on lines consistent with the best
interests of the United States and of the
Philippines, on principles hat will secure
to the people of those islands national
autonomy whenever they may demonstrate
their capacity and disposition to preserve
domestic order and TO perform the inter-
national obligations that must be assumed
should they become an Independent state.
I'VE cannot forget mat with the ceS-
sion of Porto Rico she lost the principal
markets she had long enjoyed, that our
tariff laws have been Systematically APP
piled to her products, and that the mar
kets of Spain and Cuba, which were once
open to her, can only be reached now by
the m of Spanish and Cuban duties.
She has lost free intercourse will Spain
and Cuba, and 1t is now proposed to deny
her free intercourse with the people OF the
United States. We cannot afford to do this
unjust thing. / shall vote to amend this
bill so as to make 1t provide for absolute
free trade with the people of Porto Rico"
Il the conclusion OF Mr.. Lindsay's speech
he was not only ~applauded by the auditors
in the galleries, but was warmly congratu-
lated by his colleagues. The Senate then,
at 4:05 d. m, took a recess until s o'clock
tonight, when the reading of the Alaska
code bill will be resumed.
At the opening of the session to-day Mr..
Allison reported from the committee on
appropriations the House bill making ap-
preparations of customs dues exacted from
the Island of Porto Rico from Oct. Is. 1898,
to Jan. 1, 1900, amounting to $2.095, 455, and
gave notice that he would call up the meas
ure Tomorrow. He said as the measure
was we'll understood he hoped and believed
it would lead to no extended debate.
The rest of the Alaskan code bill was
read in the Senate tonight from s 10 1850,
when the Senate adjourned, having COM
piled with the formality that requires one
full reading of each measure considered.