The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-23
EXPANSION INDoRsED.

EXPANSION INDORSED.
"And now, Just when the necessity is
upon us to find markets for our surplus
products, the way to the best markets of
all is opened by the annexation of Ha-
waii and the war with Spain. 1t IS not
in Europe, but In ASIA where we are
TO find relief
Give or six hundred millions of peo-
pie, chiefly IN China, are just now be-
ing introduced to our civilization in the
near future they will make heavy de-
mands on tie :est of the world. Russia,
Franco, Germany and England are striv-
ing for their share of this trade, and
we owe it to the shops and farmers Of
this country to secure our fair share also.
To neglect our opportunities would be
stupid folly
considerations of this character must
not be overlooked when we consider the
acquisition of the Philippine islands. The
wisdom of that acquisition will be In due
time demonstrated, just as in every other
case of annexation of territory. 1t is
true these islands are far distant from
US, but they are near by the great mar
kets we must enter 1t Is true that we
paid Spain $20,0G0, 600 on account Of them,
when we might have taken them by
force, but that was only to reimburse
her for money actually expended for the
improvement of harbors and the con-
struction of public buildings and other
improvements which it would have been
ungenerous, to say the least for US to
have deprived her of in her hour of help
less humiliation.
''It is true that these islands are in
habited by heterogeneous population,
speaking many different languages, and
possessing varying degrees of capacity
and possibility for civilized government,
md hot oil nd had
to the terms of the treaty, to pass under
our Jurisdiction: but 1t is not true that
by their mere annexation they are to be
come citizens of the United States, par
ticipating in and competing with our Ia
bor
"On the contrary it is expressly pro-
vided in the treaty that the civil and
political status of the inhabitants shall
be determined by the congress- and this
provision of the treaty is as much the
supreme law of the United States as
though it were set forth by the constitu-
ton itself, for by the constitution it is
expressly provided, not that the consti-
tuition alone shall be the supreme law
Of the land, but that the constitution
and the laws enacted In pursuance of the
| constitution, and all treaties made, or to
be made, not under the constitution, but
under the authority of the United States,
shall be the supreme law of the land.
TREATY Is Law.
'In other words, treaty with a for
eign power is, as to all matters with
| which it appropriately deals, an instru-
ment Of equal dignity with the constitu-
ton, made so by the constitution Itself
The whole subject is, therefore, entrust-
ed to the American congress, to be Gealt
with as 1t may see fit, and the congress
can be safely trusted to so deal with it
as to fully protect American interests,
both at home and abroad. And not only
can the congress, the direct representa-
tives of the people, be trusted to do JUS
tice to ourselvs, but also to the Philip
pines.
'An unhappy war is now in progress.
1t is costing us many lives and many
millions, but President Mckinley has an
nounced that he has no purpose in prose-
cutting 1t except only to restore order and
prepare the way for the establishment
in due time, of such civil government as
the congress may provide. When con-
| gress convenes all can be heard, and
have no doubt but that wise and just re-
suits will be reached. In the meantime,
| SO long as the war continues, there can
be but two sides to it, and only one is
the American side. Where our flag and
our soldiers are, there must stand the
whole American people.
'When the end of the strife comes, if
| not sooner, 1t will be made manifest that
our purposes are altogether benefcent.
We do not want to oppress anybody, or
deprive anybody of self-government who
is capable of it. On the contrary, to the
fullest extent consistent with the main
tenance of law and order, and the dis
charge of our internal obligations, and
as rapidly as possible the Tagalos, the
Vicolls, vizayas, the Moros, the Negri-
tos, and all the other peoples and tribes
of that archipelago, will be advanced in
the enjoyment of freedom, liberty, inde-
pendence and self-government under the
protection of the American flag"