The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-07
DOCTRINES OF GOVERNMENT.
This Writer Thinks the Consent of
the Governed Is Desirable.
40 the editor Of the 1ndianapolls journal:

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
1 confess that 1 was somewhat surprised
at the latitude given by Mr.. Maurice
Thompson and other writer's in the Journal
to doctrines of government which Amer
leans generally deemed fundamental in a
republican system in order to justify the
exercise of powers in countries likely to fall
under our control, for which we can find
no warrant in our Constitution, and which
are not, in fact consistent with the prin-
ciples of government we profess. But 1 was
not only surprised but startled by the con-
clusion to which the Journal brings us in an
editorial Of July 8. 1t says:
Applying these general principles to par
ticular cases, it follows that a majority of
the American people have right to extend
their government over the inhabitants of
any territory that may come under their
control without asking the consent of such
inhabitants, and enforce the Constitution
and laws of the United States to any ex-
tent deemed necessary for the promotion of
the general welfare and the greatest good
of the greatest number. The consent of all
the governed has never yet been given to
any government, and never will be till the
arrival of the millennium, when, according
to the theory regarding that condition,
there will no longer be necessity for gov
eminent of any Kind
Now 1 do not know why, as a matter OF
right, the word English, French, German
or Spanish might not be substituted in the
place of the word American in the forego-
ing paragraph or we might make the dec
laration general and say ANY people have
the right to extend their government over
the inhabitants of any territory that may
come under their control without asking
the consent of such inhabitants and enforce
their laws to any extent deemed necessary
for the promotion of the general welfare
and greatest good of the greatest number"
Certainly, America has no greater right in
this respect than any other nation may as
sumo to itself. am quite sure the Journal
would, on reflection, find some limitation to
such an assumption, based if not on moral
principles or constitutional grounds at least
restrained by a sound discretion, and upon
a regard for our own constitutional maxims
Surely the necessity of annexing Hawaii
or Cuba is not so urgent that we ought
hastily to conclude that our war of indie
pendence was fought upon false issue and
that adherence to the doctrine of the
Declaration of independence that govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed" has been merely
theoretical and this doctrine unsound I
think the doctrine is sound. Our government
does derive it's powers from the consent of.
all the people. They consent that the ma
Jority shall rule. The minority consents to
the rule of the government which they have
helped to institute and it is the government
OF the minority as well as of the majority
The minority itself often becomes the ma
Jority by the change of a few votes
am surprised that good reasons in plenty
cannot be found for annexing Hawaii or
providing good government for Cuba with
out throwing away the very reasons WIN
we interfere in their behalf. Certainly con-
quest will not confer upon us the right to
govern them without their consent The
cases of Louisiana. Texas and Alaska are
not in point. Louisiana was almost wholly
an uninhabited wilderness at the time of lis
annexation 1t was not under government
by the consent of the governed 1t was adj
mltted to the Union when self-governmert
was sure to result to the people who should
settle the territory. This authorization has
been realized. Texas had acquired her indie
pendence and acted freely in joining the
american Union. Alaska is advancing to
Louisiana did. without any violence being
done to the free will of the people I hone
that If the task is imposed upon us to es
taolsh a stable government according to
the will of the people of Cuba we will find
them willing to cooperate with us to that
end but it will be a difficult task
Richmond, Ind, July s wa ~