New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-23


another. 1t might be asked how it would be pos
s;h,o IN alerate rights which are declared TO he
,palienable. or how rights can bc inalienable II
Inv ora in DANGER Of alienation. More prac-
ilcally it might. and may. we'll he asked how
this Nation can deprive the island OF something
II does not possess and never has possessed IL
II bc said that while Porto Rico has not pos
sessed ef-povernment Il has possessed anu
does possess the abstract right thereto II may pe
answered that this Nation does not propose 10
deprive il OF that abstract right. ana VIII not
he deriving It Of il even in denying to II the
esneclal form of self government which some
theorists claim for it, Spain has never granted
such self-eovcrnmnnt but has imposed upon the
island an odious and malignant tyranny. II we
do not grant it. either but give the island I'D
erol and benevolent government in place OF
tyranny. will Porto Rico not gain greatly rom
the change?
Rut about Inalienable Rights-what does the
uhrosa mean? And according to our poliil'1ii
philosophy does it include absolute sell govern
mert? Certainly It's first Application. III us yer!
origin. did not expressly include any such thih2-
The Inalenable rights specified We're life liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. Self government
ar government bv the consent OF the governed
was mentioned as n means Of securing those
rights II was not declared 10 De the Only
means. nor indeed an essential means. Ana Il
government was 10 be overihrOwn not b''aIs"
il was established without the consent or the
governed but because il infrlngcd those
rights There u.s. indeed. the best OF reasons for
thinking that the author Of the phrase did not
recorl self government as coming necessarily
under It's head for he was the very first OF our
statesmen at his very first opportunity. 10 deny
that implication. If in assuming sovereign!
over Porto Rico we shall he deprlying Them OF
auy rights inalienable or otherwise. much more
en- did Jefferson do to Louisiana Yet 1t X NOT
conceivable that he meant 10 deprive. or did
DEPRIVE. the people Of that province OF life. HID
crty or the pursuit Of happiness.
Let lis see what This theory Of lnahenablc
RIGHTS So srenuo,lsly demanded for Porto
Rico would come To if generally applied. II the
inhabitants Of Alaska should demand the al
mission Of their Territory into The Union as an
nJrpcndent. self governing State. would they
have any inalicnable right thereto? Every blf ~
good a right rs the Porto Ricans one would say;
vet those who are most insStcnt upon su'h
right for Porto Rico would most siubborniy OPP
nose and DENY II in the ease of Alaska or II
one of the States demanded The inaiirhA"ic
right Of self government independent Of all Fed
eral connection or control. should that be grant
ed? Why not TO Virginia or 10 South Carolina
as well AS To- Porto Rico? Yet We fought one 81
the greatest wars IN history for the express piir
pose of denying tie very existence Of any Such
right. Are We going TO rcpudatc ia" results OF
that war for the sake Of Porto Rico:
The fact IS. we too often make feiche@ oil
| phrases Somebody coins a taking phrase. whlch
/ NAV or nav not mean something. ana forthWfh
down goes half the Nation OH its marrow bones
and uIulajes Great Is Diana of the Ephosians.
II NAV be Inalienablc Rights. II may b"
| the Insidlous Wlcs Of Foreign Influence
| or II may be a Boojum Shark. No mat
ter: II is sacrosanct: like that blessed worn
Mesopotnma. And without pauslng Tor
momen, to ascertain its meaning. or wh''
It's author considered it. meaning. men
INTERPRET II N half cock and worship II. or ihcir
| own conception of II. as the Alpha ana omega
/ or Eternal Truth Hoincric indeed would be- IN"
/ laughter If Washington could hear the end
century chaticr about Foreign Influences ana
! Alliances or Adams that ahoui the Monrn" DOC
! trne or jefferson that about lnalicnabe Rights
/ And IL would not be- ~ their own expense.
| either but al that OF those who reckon them
/ selves more constitutional than the 'onstiiu-
/ ton. more independent than the Declaration
and more concerned with the foundation ~ TIE
| Republic than the men who founded II.