The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-13
The Evils Which Lurk in q Policy
of Annexation.
NOT A WAR OF CONQUEST
Coaling Stations Are All Right. but It
Does Not Imply an Extension of
Domain-we Should Keep Our
Politics at Home.

The annual address of the president,
ex-Attorney General Harmon, was
mainly devoted to questions of territor-
ial acquisition by the United States.
He said on this subject:
Put-in-Bay. July 1.-THE annual ad-
dress of the president. ex-Attorney
General Harmon. to the Ohio Bar as
ISOLATION to-day was mainly devoted TO
the question of territorial acquisition
by the United States. He said on this
subject:
I'VE have made war on a ground go
unusual that there is scarcely a prece-
dent. That ground vas so high ana so
consistent with our ideas that l am not
ready to deny that, under all She cir
cumstances. we were justified in max
ing a precedent. But we knew for
various reasons we were liable 10 he
suspected of covetousness lurking he
hind our professed motives. and to be
accused of making a pretext rather
than a precedent. The war resolutions,
therefore, which were passed almost
without dissent and approved without
hesitation, were made expressly to de-
clare that we did not covet our neigh
boris lands from when we demanded
her withdrawal.
That neighbor, thus made u en-
envy, has, scattered over the globe, the
remnants of her great possessions. 1t
was of course proper to attack her in
any OF these as well as in Cuba The
victory which Commodore Dewey
promptly won seemed to bring within
our grasp a large group of inhabited
islands nearly 5000 miles away, and to
show that still others might be had
for the taking.
aUy1wtI,A hfAra xA hnA Ann-
quered a foot of Spanish soil. it was
declared by many. for whose state
ments we are held in a measure ac-
countable, that we shall keep what
ever we take. We must seize the do
minion from which we thrust Spain,
and become the ruler of numerous and
distant peoples of u~nkindred race and
tongue.
Various pretexts are suggested for
escape from our disclaimer of terri
torial cupidity. 1t applied to Cuba
only. 1t merely expressed u inten-
tons at the time, subject to change.
Spain did not promptly yield. but per-
sists in pretending she is making war.
The declaration was of no consequence,
anyway, because il was voluntary inc
without consideration.
IF, without seeming to discredit our
country, we may assume that she Will
countenance tricks of special pleading
against her solemn, self-assumed obli-
cation of honor, or II we may suppose
that circumstances will arise to re-
lease her from it in the judgment of
mankind, it becomes our duty to con-
slider the action proposed. 1t involves
a radical change in the course the
country has followed from the begin
ming, and is not a matter to be set
tied by hue and cry. l shall briefly
discuss 1t, not as a question of policy,
but as one of constitutional right
n authority to acquire territory,
anywhere, is expressly granted. Jeffer-
son thought the book of the constitu-
ton had to be closed while he bought
Louisiana. He depended upon subse-
quent approval by an amendment. the
form of which he prepared. The fed
eralists, except Hamilton, agreed with
his construction though they con-
demned his course.
THE purchase of Florida followed. in
connection with the fixing of u
boundary with Spain west of the Mis-
| sisslppi river, which extended our do
main to the Pacific, north of California.
Then we annexed Texas and by con-
quest, confirmed by treaty, pushed our
frontier southwark. Dor after We
made the Gadsden purchase from Mex
leo, giving our present southern bound
airy. Then we bought Alaska.
The power has been established by
general acquiescence in these prece-
dents. The courts have said it is i'm
piled from the war and treaty powers.
But there has been no occasion to de-
fine the limits which are fixed for this,
as for all implied powers. by the ne
cessity which alone justifes the impli-
cation.
THE authority of congress to pro-
vide for the entire government of ter
ritory acquired. until 1t shall be in
cluded in a state, has passed the stage
of controversy. HI to admit new
states is express and unquestioned.
Are these powers absolute, in the
sense that they are subject to 10 sort
of restrictions? The government may
of course seize n hold any or all az
an enemy's dominions, as an act Of
war. 1t must govern what IL holds, il
inhabited. The holding may be pro-
longed after the war as security or for
indemnity. In such cases, as was de-
cided with respect to Mexico. IT is
still the enemy's country. But may
the government make part of our do
main n country, no matter where or
how settled. and either admit 1t as a
state or. though in the nature of things
IL can never become a state, proceed
to govern 1t permanently?
Thus far. in every instance, the ter
ritory acquired has been on this CONT
nent. 1t has been contiguous, except
Alaska. which is practically so. 1t has
been actually or virtually u~ninhabited:
the French, Spanish and Texan settlers
had barely clipped the edges of the
wilderness here and there. 1t was
plain that our own people would quick
ly spread over and occupy IL. The flu
ture inhabitants will be our sons said
Jefferson.
in the cases of Louisiana, Florida
and Texas there were express stipula-
lions for ultimate admission to state
hood. inserted at our instance. because
IL was feared the transactions would
be invalid without them.
These circumstances were not mere
accidents. but indicate. throughout all
the precedents of our history. recog-
nized. restrictions of the power of &C
QUESTION. The presidents which have
established the power have fixed its
limitations. They are not express.
| Thnu could mt he hacansn Tia nnu.ar