The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-21
COLONIAL POLICY.
As It Touches the states Right
Issue.

Issue.
To the Editor OF the Republican
In Debating the question now before
our people. snail the United states ADOPT
a colonial policy. the lrudamea'al pom.
~ issue seems ID be siuguiariy neglected
by politicians. editors and the generW
public The morality or the expectancy
of such course is discussed pro ana con
and welghtv arguments are advanced
from both sides. but tie risht OF such 4
government as ours o. seize Jy force anu
keep by authority unwilling territory
seems 10 bs unchallenged. 80 graNff
danger mas ever threatened our people
and the sentincis seem 70 Ice sleepihH-
NJ we once admit that there exist ceh-
tral government which can annex terri
tory. the United States cease TO DE-. -
the partisan ardor ol the co.'s, IN the JUST
enthusiasm OF the northern states i9r
the abolition OF slavery, the North Wa3
aDDarentiy arrayed against the doctrine
Of states rights 20 which the southern
people chung. But In reality this IA NOT
the teaching OF one class, or party, OF
section. il Is "a matter Of iact ana 81
history. and it has found statesmen 20
irnnress II tlpon the people. 10 less at the
North than al the south lne supreme
court of the United states has always
been a bulwarz 20 defend ihis fund amen
tai principle from cncrOachment Senator
Hoar in HIS magnificent address pcl're
the virginia Bar Association OF le.N, r.
minded his audience that or the eisnt uf-
cislons OF the Supreme Court reversing
acts OF Congress since the Civil way al'.
with the possible exception Of the ia@',
had been distinct victories for states
-ovoreignfv. This possible exception ithe
decision declaring the income tax unron-
stltutiOnaD is IN reality, as senator
Hoar clearly showed. but Win the lo'
besrance OF a great man. forebore 70 IL
sist upon the most signal instance OF tn~
rule In the debate ~ the House con-
corning the forming OF regiments without
regard TO state organization. gen'ie-
man from the South was found advocat-
INC this measure. and u was "A New Eng
land CONGRESSMAN VINO was the irst 10
noint out the danger. and the wrong az
thus eucro1ching upon the tights OF mo
States.
N : indeed only since the Civil war
that Stale sovereignty mas Deen spoAeit
OF as a doctrine" Bsen IN me stormy
dehates preceding that great disaster, 10
was treated as fact. TO be defended or
, IGNORED, but not 10 De- denied wren 'h'
English crown surrendered 20 eacn o. mo
orioinal colonies individually. and not 70
any so-cailol central government. mo
states became absolutely free sovereign
and equal TO admit that the govern
ment at Washington, which mas us au-
thorlty wholly from the States can ac-
qusre territory by conquest ana hlaAo -
a mart OF the United States, - a contra
dicflon In terms. To accept as a
working hypothesis IS 20 sIovert the en-
tire structure OF our republic.
The case Of Texas is. curlOusiy enough
ci.ed as a precedent BY tho annexation
ist. BIT surely to reach this conclusion.
their reading OF history must nave Dsen
as careless as their conception or the gov
ernmcnt under which we I'VE - pefNer'-
ed. Having won her freedom BY her own
brave effort and the generous help OK oar
strong states, she was admitted OF her
own desire 20 the Union or states, tho
reor of the proudest OF them all. Ana
| tha ifnDorialisf who would Delittle tho
riyhts Of the States ard call up the MS
| tory of Texas as an instance OF annexs-
| ton Of dependent ana subordinate terri
tory Will hardly ind Endorsement In the
/ Lone Star State. -.
| rents derive their just powers from inc
| consent OF the governed gives us inc
| rigbt 10 deny Spain's empire In any quar-
| ter OF the globe where her oppressed
| roionists have risen In revolt. But inc
| essential truth OF the sovereignty ana
! equality Of the States OF our Union
| makes It impossible TO annex territory
| or 10 enlarge our DOt"eAS ""' -. !,
| some free people shall sue 10 De a0mitten
| 10 the sisterhOod OF States.
| The history OF republics, as we are con-
SANITY reminded. shows how great Il the
| danger OF colonial possession. Inc ac-
/ quisition OF such territory has always
| heralded the beginning OF ire end. var
| tons reasons are assigned FOR this fact
bu, It IS not a fatality" "a coincidence.
nor anything other than the natural SO
ouence Of departure from the source
from which republics draw their very
lives. II government seizes ana hoid'
dependent colonies It ceases 20 be gov
eminent OF, for and by an independent
neon,e and Ike a spreading ulcer
which leechcraft cannot cure the un'
sound SPOT IN the BODY polite VIII poison
ard. as surely as consequences follow
upon action finally Kill H.
| HENDERSON DANGERfiELD.
| Lexington. KY, August lssa