The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-02
OUR MILITARY GOTEPvMENr


The annexation of Porto Rico and
the Philippines is likely to impart adj
ditional momentum to the centraliza-
ton of government which has been
going on in this country ever since 1861
During the war of the rebellion, the
president exercised powers which nc
previous executive had ever assumed,
and there were not wanting those who
said he exceeded his constitutional au-
thority. Something to the same general
effect may be said also of the action of
congress. The results of the war and
| the acceptance of these results by the
whole country operated as legal rati-
fication of the war measures, and since
that era, the progress of Capitalization
has been constant even if it has also
been slow. The United States govern
ment is quite different machine from
that which the founders, with perhaps
| the exception Of Hamilton and others
who desired a strong government, had
in mind. The development has been not
only inevitable but in the main bene-
| fetal.
1t is impossible not to believe that
the acquisition of distant colonies will
accelerate the change that has been
going on. What has been learned of the
intentions of the commissioners in Ha-
waii indicates that even there innova-
tons are to be expected. The most sig
nificant of these is the restriction OF
suffrage. In Porto Rico and the Philip.
pines, this restriction is apt to be even
more marked. At present such govern
ment as exists in those islands is mill
tary, and it must continue to be mill
tary for some time to come The con-
spicuous success of Gen. Leonard Wood
in Cuba is to he explained by the fact
that he has exerted a rigid military
authority, and this is the only kind Of
rule that gives promise of prompt and
tangible results there.
To even greater degree is this true
Of the Philippines. The people are ut
terly without knowledge, of American
civic method, the natives are turbr.
lent, ignorant and savage, and the
small sprinkling of Europeans rather
ccmplfcates than simplifies the prob
lem of government. They constitute an
other class, who require and deserve
different treatment from that which is
essential for keeping the natives in sub.
lection. This need not mean the ano-
maly of having one set of laws for the
Europeans and another for the natives
but it at least suggests probable diff.
culties.
Military government is absolute anc
arbitrary, and its introduction into the
American political fabric must have
some reflex influence at home. It is
precisely the kind of government that
promises best success in the Philippines
and probably in Cuba and Porto Rice
as well, especially if it win help to keer
the islands out of politics and prevent
their falling a prey to spoils- hunting
congressman, who think they must pro.
vide for relatives and ward politicians
at the public crib. Militarism, however
is repugnant to the prevailing Ameri-
can ideas, and if it is adopted in the
colonies it should naturally and logical
ly tend to effect still further central.
iation of government at home, as the
people become accustomed to its opera.
ton elsewhere within the national do
main. How much opposition and tur-
MOL this sort of thing will excite ir
congress and in the country, is ques-
ton for the future to answer. The
grave problems of sovereignty involved
in territorial expansion are by no means
confined to the distant colonies. The
American people are apt to find that
they have troubles of their own.