St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-01-31
Senator Ross Speech.
Press Comments ON His Resolution and
Speech of Last Week Tuesday.

Press Comments ON His Resolution and
Speech of Last Week Tuesday.
Judge and Senator Ross of Vermont
would have the United States Congress
resolve that the provisions of the Consti-
tuition unaided by act of Congress, do not
extend over Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. But would that suffice to suspend
the force of the organic law to the extent
specified? In Senator Ross opinion as
jurist, would congressional resolu-
ton suffice to hold up all provisions of
the Constitution to any extent, until
Congress let any or all OF them down
again? Congress, in word, superior
to the fundamental law?-[ Springfield,
Mass, Republican.
However people may differ from Sen
ator Ross of Vermont as to the status OF
the people OF our new colonial posses
sions under the Constitution OF the
United States as declared in his speech
in the United States Senate yesterday,
his sentiments as to that for which the
stars and stripes should stand will be
generally applauded. He recognizes our
flag as the emblem of individual man.
hood. the right to enjoy religious and
civil liberty, the right to stand protected
equally with every other man before the
law in the enjoyment of freedom, OF per-
sonal rights and property"
In view of the fact that the people of
the islands in question are manifestly
tration of such government as the peo
pie of this country enjoy he would have
Congress create department of the
government charged with the duty Of
looking to the interests of the islands and
supplying accurate information to Con-
gress with reference to them, instead Of
leaving them in charge of departments
already overworked. This accomplished
Senator Ross would have all civil ap.
pointments in the islands removed from
the realm of politics, holding that our
nation will utterly fail in the discharge
of its duty, if the islands are made politi.
cal footballs.
Senator Ross has devoted much atten-
ton and study to the problems connected
with our outlying dependencies, and his
speech shows that he has arrived at def
mite conclusions as to the course which
our nation should follow in dealing with
the inhabitants thereof. When he urges
that politics be excluded from the depart
ment charged with the administration of
the affairs of our new dependencies, he
strikes at the root of the greatest evil
likely to make itself manifest In connec-
ton therewith.-[ Burlington Free Press.
Senator Ross is not an orator, and his
recent speech in the Senate on our island
possessions did not catch the public ear.
Nevertheless, it established Senator
Ross reputation at Washington as a
statesman and constitutional lawyer,
and it has had profound effect on the
National policy.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York Tribune telegraphs that
MANY Congressman, after reading the
report of Mr.. Ross powerful speech, de-
clared that it completely cut the ground
from under the latest disciples of Cal
houn and advocates OF his theory in
Congress.
The correspondent further reports that
it is almost, if not qui e, certain that the
majority in Congress will hold that the
Constitution and laws of the United
States have not, and do not, automatic
ally operate so as to extend over or in
clude the islands coded by Spain, but that
those islands are simply territory ''be-
longing TO the United States" and that
the power OF Congress over them is linn
tied only by the nature and spirit OF
American institutions; that in the alb
scence OF treaty stipulations to the con-
trary the political status and civil rights
of the inhabitants of Porto Rico and the
Philippines are subject to future action
by Congress, and that such action will
not change their status or rights; that
such territory is common property OF the
several states of the Union, and not a
part of the United States-which is what
Senator Ross contended for in his great
speech.
The venerable lawyer, judge and sen,
ator is to be congratulated on the high
position he has won in the Senate, and
the people of Vermont may we'll be proud
of him. Burlington News.
Senator Ross speech before the Senate
Tuesday was an able argument in favor
of the Senator's Philippine resolution
and was accorded marked attention.
Hardwick Gazette.
Senator Ross speech will not attract
so much attention as the speech of Sena.
tor Beverage, or cause the comment that
followed bis oratorical fight, but there
is meat in it, plenty of it.-[St. Adams
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