The herald., 1898-10-08
A NEW CABINET DEPARTMENT

1t is reported that the president con-
templates recommending to congress the
creation of the department of the colo
nies. 1t can hardly be supposed that it
Is intended to provide a colonial sys-
tenn for any Of our continental possess
sions-Alaska possibly excepted-and
hence 1t is presumed that the powers
and duties of the new minister will re-
late exclusively to our possessions out
side the continent. There is secretary
of the interior, and we suggest that the
new officer be called secretary Of the ex-
terror.
The scheme of creating this REV de-
partment is suggestive Of purpose to
pursue the policy of territorial ag-
grandizement.
We really have outside the continent
but Hawaii and Porto Rico, and, should
we get Cuba and the Philippines, we
would hardly have what would be suf-
ficient to justify an increase Of executive
departments. Whether we are to reach
out after other islands and a slice of
China or not, the scheme smacks of an
aping of the British system, which is
government of colonies or dependencies
in such various ways as peculiar con-
ditions seem to require. 1t may be In
cipient to system outside or inde-
pendent of the fundamental law.
Our constitution was made to produce
Il, of ri oh in OF
1t is a universality, and applies equally
in principles of government to all peo-
pies over whom the flag floats.
In view of what may be, and probably
is, in contemplation. we beg to be per-
mitted to indulge in speculations. In
regard to Cuba and Porto Rico it would
hardly be prudent to call the rulers OF
those islands captain generals, for that
title is too Spanish and has become Of
fensive to those peoples; but they might
be called governor generals, as that is
British and Canadian, and is title less
obnoxious.
The Filipinps would not like the title
which has been borne by Spanish rulers
over there, but it might not be offensive
to call the officer we shall send to them
viceroy, for the Orientals are familiar
with that title, which the British have
adopted for the executive of India.
Hence, under the regime of Imperialism
upon which there is good prospect that
we shall enter, it is not unlikely that we
shall have governor generals and vice.
roys under the aegis of the republic. 1t
will be pleasing to those who are am
bilious for high-sounding titles. They
can play the role of sub-kings over the
savage minds of half civilized popula-
tions.
Then there will be fat places-civil
and military-generals in command of
legions in distant regions; quaestors and
revenue collectors, as we'll as viceroys
and governor generals, and Judges, etc.
They will, of course, all be instruments
under American inspiration to spread
civilization, and, in order to make their
efforts more impressive and effective,
the system must be clothed with dignity.
There is a law that two bodies in
proximity mutually attract each other;
if one pulls up the other pulls down; so
it is with contact between peoples of diff
ferent degrees of civilization. The
higher and better class may contribute
to the elevation of the lower, but the
danger is that the latter will pull down
more than the former will lift. The
greatest danger is not from the demor-
alization that may be caused to Ameri-
cans in the colonies or dependencies, but
at home, through familiarity with de-
partures from our fundamental princi-
pies of government.