Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-08-26


CHARLES ". MATTHEWS. of CRANKY.
When we consider the propriety
perhaps of taking all the islands
that belong to America, that isy
that are pertinent to it, and on
which the inhabitants can be
Amcricanized and made homo
gencous with this country, and
favorable to our institutions,
either by flooding them with
American emigrants or by means
of education, and the manifest
improperly of going off after
islands beyond the natural bord-
ers of a national dominion and
standing there as challenge to
other nations for savage conten-
ton; and when we consider the
character of the beings in whose
behalf this contention is to be
made and the difficulty of adjust
ing them to our institutions such
striking expressions as the fol
lowing from the greatest of the
founders of our constitutional
basis is interesting reading:
These, Sir, are soon to be our
beloved cOuntrvmen
Mr.. President, for a good many
years | have struggled in oppo-
sition to everything which |
thought tended to strengthen the
arm of executive power. | think
it is growing more and more for
midable every day. And | think
that by yielding to it in this, as
in other instances, we give it a
strength which it will be difficult
hereafter to resist. | think that
it is nothing less than the fear of
executive power which induces us
to acquiesce in the acquisition of
territory; fear, fear, and moth
ing else.
In the little part which l have
acted in public life, it has been
my purpose to maintain the peo-
pie of the United States, what
the Constitution designed to
make them, one people, one i'll in
terest, one in character, and one
in political feeling. five depart
from that, we break it all up.
What sympathy can there be be-
tween the people of Mexico and
California and the inhabitants OF
the Valley of Mississippi and the
Eastern States IN the choice of a
President? Do they know the
same man? Do they concur in
any general constitutional prin-
ciples? Not at all.
Arbitrary governments may
have territories and distant pos.
sessions, because arbitrary gov.
.ernments may rule them by diff
ferent laws and different systems
Russia may rule in the Ukraine
and the provinces of the eau
'casus and kamtschatka by differ
ent codes, ordinances, or ukases
We can do no such thing. They
must be of us, part of us, or els,
strangers.
think l see that in progress.
which will disfgure and deforn
the Constitution. While thes,
territories remain territories
they will be a trouble and an an
noyance; they will draw after
them vast expenses; they will
probably require as many troops
as we have maintained during
the last twenty years to detent
them against the Indian tribes
We must maintain an army a
that immense distance. Whe1
they shall become States. the,
will be still more likely to give u
trouble.
| think | see a course adopte,
which is likely to turn the Con
stitution of the land into a de
formed monster, into a ours
rather than a blessing; in fact
a frame of an unequal govern
ment, not founded on popula
representation, not founded OF
equality, but on the crosses
inequality; and l think tina
this process will go on, or tina
there is danger that it will go on
until this Union shall fall t,
pieces. | resist it, today and al
ways! Whoever falters or who
ever flies, continue the contest
l know, Sir, that all the Dor
tents are discouraging. Woul,
to God that | could auspicat
good influences Would to Go,
that those who think with me
and myself, could hope TO
stronger support! Would tina
we could stand where we desir
to stand! | see the signs are sin
lister. But with few, or alone
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