Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-12-24

he writers running oil into the policy
such annexation as that of Cuba or
laval which is the only question in
lived.
here is provision in the constitution
~ he United States that new states may |
d. admitted by congress into the union.
I. is said that the compact of states is
O ore sacred than partnership OF lndi-
.duals, and that in the lower grade OF
partnerships one partner cannot intro
uce another without the consent OF his |
elbows. As though Hawaii or Cuba |
was being admitted without a proper
consent of all the partners while the
proceedings are in accordance with the
,nlv recognized methods of acquiring in
habitants and territories. Besides what
vcurious law argument is presented by a
rriter's putting the reception into the
anion of Louisiana, Florida, Alaska and
others on the ground of necessity. A
constitution which provides that con-
gress may admit new territory and new
states with no restriction except that it
saall not appropriate territory belonging
20 states without their consent: and
-,1,stirution under which the people have
led for more than a century in admit
ng or acquiring territory as foreign as
aska and as domestic as Louisiana
nght not t" be of very doubtful applica-
on now. But to say that the consti-
.utionalty of acquiring Cuba or Hawai-
ltpendsupon whether it is advantageous,
or good policy, or a necessity for this
.ountry to annex one or both of them
Gems to be great departure from the
ne method of examining constitutional
questions.
1t is constitutional to acquire these
new countries either because the law OF
nations permits their acquisition and the
constitution does not prohibit it, or be-
cause the constitution provides for and
permits it, Fundamental laws are not
born ont of nor are they dependent upon
subsequent exigencies, necessities or adj
vantagcs; nor are they in their nature
dependent on the judgment of men as to
what conditions require constitutional
Guarantees or limitations or privileges
It. is permitted by the constitution or it
is not. 1t cannot be said that whether
this right of acquisition exists or not de-
peuds on the necessity for or the advar'
tages of it's exercise and still be a const
tutional provision. If it is so dependent
On the occasion for it's use then the con
stitution has nothing to do with it and
consequently there is no constitutional
question involved.
Mr.. Drice, in his article in the last
Forum, is bright enough to not get
caught in any of the absurdities q
legal considerations, and confines himsel
20 the policy of annexation for America
and uses Cuba and Hawaii as illustra
tions of the policy which craftsmanship
would prescribe for America as a rule
He talks practical common sense out o
which comes the most valuable wisdom
and craftsmanship. He talks as though
ifIsland Pond was besieged by Canadt
he would not expend large sum o
money to place gunboats and men needed
for the defence OF the town in Big Averil
nor to tortify an island in Lake :Megan
tic.
Mr.. Brce tells this country very clearl,
why he thinks it don't want Hawaii o.
Cuba and argues that no continental
power wants the former especially. H
shows how he thinks other powers car
use islands which stand off from thei
coasts, and even remote from them, t.
advantage; and how America with
compact and continuous territory woulc
he situated with navy defending far OF
islands at time when foreign enemie
were swarming across her borders. TIL
only reason for wanting these addition
or attachments he seems to think is tina
other nations have them. He wou
argue the same reason which induce
many people to want poodle dog is bt
cause Others have one. A farcied wan
or weakness may be thus satisfied but
does not augment the necessity for or tn
usefulness of the.poodle. At time whe
foreign invaders will be pouring acros
hnrHaro onI ,,,l,I, G.
and Boston and Charleston are bein
bombarded he thinks it would be plea
amt for foreign foe to see all the nav;
force i'll the country instead of defendin
American civilization, American constru
ton and American homes off defendin
the barbarism and barbarians of son
tar of island i'll the sea. This countr
needs all its internal and especially ce
tripetal force. The danger from VIII;
homogeneous elements it has now is a
ready enough without taking on All
which possess more marked incongruit
and which moreover are nearer the ci
conference of the circle. To him it is Il
pleasant reflection to imagine the mi
tary power of this government using 6
its force to quell an internal disturban
while its best and most efficient men
both mental, moral and physical pow
are far from their own homes, their ow
kindred and their own institutions
Tending barbarism which itself may
that very moment be exhibiting one
its most hideous features, ingratitud
towards land that had bestowed on
an abundance of misdrected charity.
The ancien's worshiped a god wifi