Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-10-14
THE RIohToF SELF GOVERNMENT.


An able speech of Ex-Gov. Boutwell, of
Massachusetts upon the question of ma
tiOnal expansion was delivered this week
by that gentleman in Boston, and ap-
pears in full in the Bos ton Herald. 1t
echoes the sentiment, which appears to
be nearly universal in New England,
against any extension which could for
get that fundamental principle of Amer
lean institutions, the right of self govern
ment. Mr.. Boutwell, says:
We are assured by some of the advocates
of annexation that the outl' ing islands of
Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines and
Hawaii, when acquired and appropriated,
are never to become states of the American
Union. Thus are invited by advocates of
what is called policy of expansion to enter
into political arrangements with bodies of
men to be counted by millions on millions,
of other races of other languages of other
religions, of other habits of life and industry,
who are never, never to be permitted to
govern themselves, nor TO aid in governing
others. This, this is to be an outcome of the
civil war. which cost a halfmillion lives and
thousands of millions of dollars and which
for a time we thought-vainly thought il
may now appear-had not only emancipated
a race, but had moved the world many stems
on towards higher civilization and to purer
views of personal rights and of public Justice
By what authority, or by what example,
or by what teaching may this country find
justification for the seizure and appropria.
ton to its jurisdiction of vast populations
alien populations-equal in numbers to the
combined millions of the states of New York
and New England, and upon the avowed
purpose of denying to them and to their de-
scendants forever the accustomed rights of
American citizenship? In what American
precedent can this government find shelter
for the doctrine that ii may seize communi-
ties, exercise jurisdiction over territories
and deny to the inhabitants the right do
not say the privileged say the right of self
government? On the contrary, l MAINTAIN
that every person over whom the jurisdic-
ton of the United States is thrown should
see before him the prospect-the certain
prospect-of citizenship in the United
states and in state which shall include and
protect his own home, and give promise that
the homes of his descendants will be pro-
tected through all coming time.
Again referring to this subject Mr..
Boutwell, eloquently asks:
Having abolished one form of slavery, are
We to create another form of slavery? Hav.
ing emancipated individu ais, are we to en-
slave communities?
And again he says:
The suggestion has been made that we may
govern outlying possessions as England
governs her colonies, whom she admits 10 no
considerable self government. That is the
phrase of Senator Hoar as he has been re-
ported. He may have said "whom she adj
mits to no inconsiderable self government"
England has two or more systems of civil
government for The provinces and countries
that are under her rule. II cannot be said
that any system of self government exists in
British India, and assume that we are not
referred to British India for our American
policy. On the other hand, Canada may be
quoted as a colony in which the people man.
age their own affairs with but little inter-
ference from the home government. The
difficulties that have arisen in the manage
ment of foreign affairs In which the Canadas
have had a direct interest, justify the OF inion
that our government would be greatly em.
barrassed IL similar colonial arrangements
should be established between the United
States and Hawaii, Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines. 1t is manifest that the interests
OF those islands, in foreign affairs, especially
in matters of trade, would not correspond TO
the interests of the United States.
There are degrees of subordination, but in
Canada and In Australia, as in India, the In.
habitants are subordinated to a government
in which they are not represented. All these
forms OF government are un-American. To