The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-31
OUR NEW POSSESSIONS
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS DIS
CUsSED BY JUSTICE $. T.. BALDWIN.
No Authority for Transfer of Philip
pines to the NatiVes-Onicers
Elected by Historians.

NEW HAVEN, Conn, Dec. 30.-Probably
the most important paper published during
the sessions of the American Historical AS
ISOLATION was that read by Justice Simon
E. Baldwin, of New Haven, on THE Con-
stitutional Questions Incident to the Acqui-
sition and Government of Island Terri
tory" Professor Baldwin cited as one OF
the first difficulties which would arise by
the acquisition of the Philippines the ques-
ton of the right of suffrage. He said: AS
to the children born in former Spanish ter
ritory after the ratification of the treaty
now pending, If it should be ratified they
will all be citizens of the United States,
and under the fifteenth amendment, en-
titled to the right of suffrage" He added:
THE provision of the first article of the
Constitution, that all duties, imposts and
excuses shall be uniform, will also prove
an obstacle to any open-door policy of our
protective system if it is maintained" Pro-
fessor Baldwin said that no constitutional
authority can be found for the transfer of
the Philippines to the Filipinos. Touching
Cuba he said: "As to Cuba, Spain has re-
linquished her sovereignty but she has not
transferred it to us. The President is hold
ing all these islands with the right OF
military commander, but until the Senate
voked, state of war still continues and
these islands, though ours as to the rest of
the world. are still Spains as to u.s.
In closing the speaker said: How long
and with what effect Congress might allow
our possessions to be held under military
law; whether Porto Rico can be held per-
manently as a colonial dependency; wheth-
err the Philippines could be held permanent
ly; whether with or without view of ul
tlmately dividing them into states to be adj
mltted as such into the Union whether
they could be given over to the inhabitants;
whether Cuba, which we have freed under
a pledge of self-aggrandizement, should
we come to despair of its self liability to gov
ern, can be kept as a permanent part of the
United States-these are questions which
are not irreVocably settled so far we can
consult the oracles of the past. and in view
of which the Senate must act. The people
of the United States must be asked to de-
clare their will, through the slow process of
constitutional amendment, but until they
speak we must take the Constitution as
The nominating committee presented to
the convention the following nominations
of officers for the ensuing year: President
]. F. Rhodes, LII. D., of Boston; first vice
president, Edward Eggleston, of New
York: second vice president, Moses c. Ty-
Ter, LII. D., of Cornell; secretary. Herbert
b. Adams, Phi. D., IL. D., of Baltimore;
Clark, of the Smithsonian Institution;
treasurer, Clarence w. Bowen. Phi. D., Of
New York: secretary of the church history
section, Samuel NJ Jackson, d. D., LII. D.,
New York; executive council. Prof II. M.
Stevens, Cornell: Prof. Frederick j. Turner,
Madison, Wis; Prof. A. b. Hart, Harvard;
Chief Justice Melville w. Fuller, Washing
ton; Prof George 3. Adams, Yale; Prof. A.
C. Mclaughlin, of the University of Mich
igan. These nominations were unanimously
ratified Icy the convention, and it was then
voted to hold the next meeting of the asso
CITATION in Boston during the holiday season
of 1899.