The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-02-10
CITIZENS Or SUBJEcrs-WHiCH?

CITIZENS Or SUBJECrS-WHiCH?
The treaty has been ratified by the
Senate, and, so far as the United
States is concerned, it is the supreme
law of the land upon the subject.
But what will be the status of the
PHILIPPINES? Will they he admitted to
eitiz ne nip, or will they he held b
subj ects of all impel iaistic power?
Either horn OF the dilemma will
prove tantalizing solution of the
question. As citizens, there is no
power to prevent them from swarm
ing in among our home people and
thereby further complicating the
labor problem, which is now more
difficult to solve than ever, by reason
of the ceaseiess creation Of trusts
which concentrate capital in the
hands Of a few ard curtail the chances
of the laboring man for permanent
employment.
What will the colored brother have
| to say and how will he deport himself
towards his lighter hued fellow citi-
zen? Will not he, who believes him-
self, in every way, TO be on equality
with the whites, and in some respects,
slightly superior to some Of them-wili
not he be a little inclined to feel
touch more of self Importance, and
demand with greater dignity his
| political prerogatives, when he con-
templates his PHILIPPINE fellow citi-
zens, purchased at two dollars head?
Even at SO low price it is an expen-
sively purchased problem in Ameri-
can citizenship.
But if citizenship be denied them
and an imperial hand which has
never yet held the reins of govern
nent in our land-should hold them
as subjects; there will then be a cen
tralization of power lodged in the
Executive for which there is no con-
stitutional authority, and for the ex-
ercise of which there must be II re-
written national Constitution.
| If we look back to the period just
| prior to the formation of the CoDsti-
tuition, when, under the Confedera-
ton, there was felt to be an inhar-
monious action in governmental
affairs and a desire for 2 more perfe
Union" we find that the want Of har
mony existed in the widely different
theories of government as held by the
two great parties of the day. The one
| contending for centralized power in
national government to which the
States should be subservien.; the
other holding that the national gov
eminent should be simply the agent
of tie States. The Trainers of the
| Constitution, i'll their cXcee ding wis
dom, harmorized these different
principles, and brought forth the
"more perfect union" in the &tab-
lishment of our organic law. But no
where in that instrument is there the
slightest authority for holding as sub.
iects the people Of any land.
No such power being in the Consti-
tuition, there is only one way it can
be exercised, unless placed there b
an amendment thereto, and that is by
bringing into action ii principle. which.
| for several years during the Ionfeder
alton, prevented the people from hav-
ing harmonious government under
a more perfect union" and which, il
put into practice now means, as then,
| the establishment of centralized
power in the form of an Imperialism.
In the meantime the Constitution be
comes amendcd.not in accordance with
its provisions, or in a manner tending
to preserve" it.
Either as citizens or subjects the
PHILIPPINES are liable to disarrange the
gear OF the national machine