The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-02
Democracy and Expansion.

In o speech made at Marblehead last week
Senator HoAR said:
A ariHtocraey or Q monarchy may govern sub
Sect States. 1t never was done and never will DO
done successfully by . democracy or Q republic"
A Democratic genius of a different order,
the Hon. JOSEPH WELDON BAILEY, sub
stantially said the same thing in an inter-
view printed by the Galveston Ne,cs:
"a republic. in the nature of things. Ia incapable
Of dealing with colonial possessions. and whenever
We enter upon . policy OF colonization We must
abandon very many Of our most cherished principles"
If Mr.. HoAR and Mr.. BAILEY are right,
o serious defect in democratic-republican
government exists. That form of govern
ment Is not equal to a monarchy or an
aristocracy in an important respect. 1t is
not capable Of governing successfully colo
mics or dependencies. The charge would
be serious II 1t were true. But it is not
true. The United States are not unequal
to the task which Great Britain performs
with 30 much skill in various parts of the
world, and amid alien races, savage, bar
barous, and civilized.
In Alaska the United States are now
carrying on what is substantially a colo
AAAeAA "a VI BONOlh III IlCdlS
there constitute, and will for some time
constitute, what is essentially u ruling
Rristocracy. Let us not be afraid of the
word. Our territorial governments are not
directly democratic except 30 far as the
Territorial Legislatures are concerned.
Here again let us not be afraid of a word.
Democracy means different things in diff.
ferent States. 1t does not everywhere
mean, for instance, universal suffrage. Tho
new Southern State Constitutions show a
reaction against universal suffrage and a
return to the property or educational
qualifications, which had been gradually
amended out of the Constitutions origi-
nally in part aristocratic and permeated
with conservative ideas.
Senator HoAR is old enough to remember
DORIS so-called rebellion against the
old Rhode Island Constitution framed upon
the model of the colonial charter granted
by CHARLES ii. Mr.. BAILEY is not old
enough to have forgotten the democratiza-
tion Of the Rhode Island Constitution in
his own day. Traces of the older ideas can
be found in most of the State Constitu-
tions. Certain restrictions of the suffrage
are permissible in any State that chooses
to put them into her Constitution.
Now, politically speaking. a civil govern
ment, confined in the first Instance to
American citizens, and in due time to
other persons having certain educational
or property or other qualifications, is pos.
sible in the Philippines, or anywhere else
where American sovereignty may be es.
tabllshed. The American preponderance
must be preserved in the suffrage of such
newly acquired territory. The emigration
from the United States to take ad.
vantage OF the new opportunities will
insure a considerable American popu.
lation in the new possessions in q short
time. Natives can be admitted as they
learn our ways and our civilization. The
Americans will be there for the purpose of
civiliEing them as well as of lettering
themselves. AS for individuals or races,
intractable or brutalized, the Apaches and
the Dlggers are not likely to be surpassed
in their degree by anything that walks or
crawls in the Philippines.
A restricted suffrage broadening as time
goes on is perfectly feasible for the Philip
pines. Our civilization cannot but improve
the subject populations that are capable OF
1t. Those hat are not will at least share
in some of It's benefits.
AS for the great material work of colo
nists or rulers over colonists, the building
of roads, railroads, bridges, telegraph lines,
the work of drainage and sanitation, the
construction Of hospitals, schools, and 80