The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-08-05
PEOPLES PARTY TICKEE-
TIE AMKRICAE CHARTER OF LIBERTY.

district y B. McOorInlcA s
TEE AHKRICAK CHARTER OF LIBERTY.
At the present time, while there IS SO
much discussion OF the subject Of the
form of government for Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines, it behOOves
the people Of this nation and their
representatives. the powers that be IN
the legislative and executive branches
Of our government, to reread and to
firmly adhere to the Charter Of Amer
lean Liberty as set forth in our Dec
Iaration Of Independence, the preface
and preamble of which is as follows:
When in the course Of human events. 1t be
comes necessary for one people to dissolve the \
political bands which have connected tneIn II
With another. and TO assume among the powers i
of the earth that separate and equal station 20 /
which the laws Of nature and OF natuEs : 49, \
entitls them, decent respect Tor the opinions %
mankind requires that they should declare the /
causes that impeIled them to the separation;
We hold these truths to be self-eyident- that /
all men are created equali that they are En-
dOEed By their Creator with CERTAIN ~ T
rights; that among these are lie, HDeFIy anu |
mac to secure these rights governments are
instituted among men, deriving their Just pow
eTs from the consent OF the goFernedi az 10
i've OF these ends it Is the right Of the people 70
alter or abolish it. and to institute new govern
ment, laying Its foundation on sucn pIluCll- =
and ORGANIZING its powers IN such tOrfns a. 20
them shall seem most likely 20 secure lAeL
safety and happiness.
meuts long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes and acc9I
an experience hath shown that MANKIND are
more disposed TO suffer, while evils are suLLgI-
able, than to right themselves BY aDOllslllns llS
forms 70 which they are accustomed
But when a long train Of abuses and uspLpa-
tons pursuing invariably the same OBJECT,
eyince design y rednee tl5ll = NE 49, No. -
despOtisIn, 1t IS their rIght, II Is tnelE GItss -
throw OF such government and 70 PROVIDE ne"
guards for their future security. s.t.
Such has been the patient suherance OF tneSS
colonies, and such Is now the necessity "LllCL
coustrains them 10 alter their former system OF
government
Now where do we find this Amer
lean Magma Charta? In the first vol
ume Of the United States statutes, and
also, in the first volume Of the statutes
of every state in the union. This, with
the constitution Of the United States,
is the fundamental law of the land and
the first thing in the book. 1t is the
law governing the territories, and IN
far-off Alaska, in Hawaii, and in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines, in so
far as they shall come under Gus juris-
dietion, permanently or temporarily
it is the fundamental law.
Moreover, 1t has an emphasis and a
meaning broader than express statute,
deeper than the constitution, which IS
but a compact between the states 1t
is a bill of rights; as the decalOgue to
the Levitical law in the Jewish pOlity
so the Declaration of Independence Is
the source and fountain Of all our law
Anything contrary to its tenor and
spirit is null and void.
The constitution, springing from
this source, specifies that the United
States shall guarantee to every stat
in the union a republican form Of gov
eminent, aud shall protect them from
foreign invasion, and from dOmesti
violence upon the request Of the leg
islature, when in session, or of the eS
eeutive in case Of its not being in ses
sion.
The constitution provides for tn
admission of new states into the uniO
when they shall have become suftic
emily populOus and have adOPte
q constitution in harmony with th
genius of our institutions. 1t is nc
contemplated in our system of govern
ment that territorial possessions al
for long time to be excluded from th
family of states. When it is asked &
to what form of government shall B
given to the people in newly acquire
territory, the only answer that can
given Is, why, a republican form
government, of course
The case Of Cuba Is somewhat dife
ent. We have pledged oUrselve IN a.
vance to help them to independence
aud have disclaimed jurisdiction, an
have interviewed simply to asst the
to establish a republic. We have a
ready recognized the independence
sthe people Of Cuba and our busine
is, speedily as possible to put them {
their feet and 90 of and leave theI
If they get into trouble, help them OF
but let them try the experiment
self government, at all hazard, not fo
getting this, that governments ~deri'
their lust powers from the consent
the governed
The saying is current, "they are n
1T to govern themselves" The dit
Guilty is the American palm itChes
do the governing act for them We
a people, ourselves, have not made
hOwlinR success of the experiment
Again. it is said, ''they are all the VIII
in rebellion Indeed, but please to
member that the United States
shed more blood In establishing Al
maintaining a republic than all &
Latin republics Of the new world p
together, IN all human probability.
But finally, the Declaration Of Am,
lean Independence Is placed on {
brOadest possible grounds Like {
Pauline statement Of the scope OF
gospel Of Christ. in It "there is Meth
Greek nor jew, Barbarian nor Sythil
bond nor free, male nor female
reads, saH men created equal, and (
dOEed By their Creator with mailer
he rights, lite, liberty and pursuit
happiness What right has any Q
subscribing to this immortal do
msnt, or living under its benefits,
say that Cubans or PHILIPPINES are I
fit for self government 1t is the v
ouintessence Of arrogance.
With a broad. enlightened, bene-