The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-05
THE COLONIAL POLICY.

We are at the beginning, at the
morning star, Of our Colonial policy,
limited as it probably will be, until the
South American States are taken
in. II one chooses TO carefully sift
out and understand the facts; watch
the operation of the facts on the pub
lie mind; notice the force of racial
habits in estimating their value; will
regard the different points of view
taken by the conservative population
of the Eastern States the advanced
views of the Western States, and the
Indifference Of the Southern States, he
will see that there is yet no we'll set
tied public opinion regarding the poll
teal treatment Of the newly acquired
territories.
President Mckinley, as the Chief
EXECUTIVE, has no power in the prem
ises, because he cannot make Jaws.
CongressE alone can settle .the new
policy. The President, however, under
the Constitution, is directed to advise
Congress in this, and other matters.
The President is now most seriously
at work formulating the new policy,
which is called the Colonial policy. He
is confronted with unusual difficulties
owing to the inelastic nature of the
Constitution. At the time that instru-
ment was made, there was such a vast
wilderness of unoccupied land, the
statesmen Of that period made provis-
ion only for creating States out of the
land III sight The Question of colonies
or outlying possessions was not enter
tanned. No provision was made for
such acquisitions, and the power to do
SO was strenuously denied. The Sup
RENE Court has declared, incidentally,
that the Constitution does not permit
any colonial system; that its end and
aim is the union of independent States
The difficulty therefore, before the
President and Congress is embarras-
sing They, find the Constitution is
large and diversified political garden,
with many paths running through it,
but nthere are innumerabe" notices
posted up in all directions, Keep off
the grass These supreme and final
directions to Keep off the grass" are
incpnyenient when "a short cut is ne
cessary as 1T is in the case of govern
ment under colonial system.
It is said that the President, after
close study, of the British colonial
system, docs not think it desirable to
treat Porto Rico as an integral part of
the Union" He inclines to the theory
of rule by a governor general, who may
appoint an advisory board upon the
recommendation of local commercial
bodies, through which the people may
utter their grievances against the gov
eminent This is one of the British
methods Under it., it is, expected that
the people of that island will be gradu-
ally educated in local self government.
The. objections to it, that will be
urged in Congress, especially by the
Democrats, will be, that there is no
provision, under the Constitution, for
dIy ItittIOIJ WhdtCFSA WIN
full and lawful possession, and at the
same time treating it not as an inte-5
grail part of the United States, and
therefore not subject to the Constitu
ton. Such opposition never arises
against the British colonial policy, be-
cause the innumerable keep off the
grass % notices are not found in the
British form of government.
Whiie4the difficulty is a serious one,
and will give rise to protracted debate
in Congress, the public mind will fin
ally reach some conclusion, and Con-
gress, with the President, will act upon
lit. The Supreme Court will, also, find
some way, of interpreting the Consti-
tuition so as to 1egalize it.
The debate on the question of a
colonial policy, will without any doubt,
involve to some extent, the government
of the Hawaiia1i territory, and i the
capacity of the, people here efor. self
rule, not the capacity of the few Anglo
Saxons for self rule, but of all classes,
excluding we presume, the Asiatics.