Speech #550167446

I do not forget that some of the objections which have forced themselves upon me were urged by much abler men long ago. against the acquisition of every Territory which the Government of the United.States has acquired. and the wisdom of the acquisition of which time has overwhelmingly vindicated. As the Senator from Colorado not long ago said here. if we had not acquired Louisiana. we would. nearly a century ago. in all human probability have had a British sovereignty to the southward of us. controlling the Mississippi. as well as to the northward of us. But I think I can see a valid distinction between the acquisition of territory contiguous to our own country. in our own climate. land to which we can march our troops. land into which we can build our railroads. land into which we can send our newspapers. land to which our people can emigrate and in which they can live and thrive. land easily reached by our public opinion. and territory and peoples of another race. alien to our associations and our blood. living under a tropical sky. and laboring under different conditions. I can not say. in view of the history of the country. that time may not change my views. but I must say that. as I now feel. if the ratification of this treaty involved permanent dominion by the United States over the archipelago and its people as a Territory of the United States. irrevocably committed us to the policy of territorial expansion. I could not give it my vote.