New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-23
TREATIES WITH VASSALS.

The anti-expansionlsts are having n great
deal Of fun over the idea of a treaty with the
Sultan Of Sulu. That the United States should
make treaty with one Of Its own subjects
and permit the existence OF monarchy with
in the domain Of its authority seem so
grotesque as to be humorous and SO monstrous
as to be tragic. For months they have been
urging the President to send out into the jungle
and try while lodging rifle shots, to get near
enough to Aguinaldo to put salt on his tail. so
to speak and induce him to undertake for us
the government of the Philippines, though there
is no evidence that he could control more than
a fraction of one island. But when we find
local chleftain Of friendly disposition already
fully established In local authority IT immedi-
ately becomes outrageous for this free Repub-
lie to tolerate the existence Of any such bar
barian empire within the empire. 3d.
Indeed, It is only less outrageous for the
President to leave Mahometan despot In con-
troll of territories belonging to the United
States than it would have been In the eyes Of
these critics If he had not treated with the
Sultan Likewise. we suppose 1t would. have
been as outrageous for the President to set up
Aguinaldo as despot as Il now Is to ask him
TO stop fighting and leave the Islands long
enough in peace for US to discover what sort
of native government is possible with due
regard for the international obligations Of the
United States 1t Is evident that anything the
Administration can do in the Philippines Is
wrong. II II makes treaty with some native
chief it violates the Constitution, and If It fails
to make one 1t also violates the Constitution.
The only thing that is really constitutional
there is to haul down the flag and sail away
1o,, oyHa Cd Nv
for subsequent outrages which may be com
mitted in what they will say is under interna-
tional law our territory.
But what is there so new and strange in a
treaty with the Sultan of Sulu? There has
been hardly President from George Washing
ton to Grover Cleveland who did not make al
most exactly the same sort Of treaty. From
the foundation of this Government we have
been accustomed TO enter into treaties with and
delegate power TO barbarian governments over
whom we possessed authority as suzerain
Such negotiation and delegation may seem
anomalous to some spinners Of theories about
republican government under our Constitution
but the arrangement Is anterior TO the Constitu-
ton itself. and finds warrant In that document
Section S. Article III. declares that Congress
shall have power 10 regulate commerce with
"foregn nations and among the several States
land with the Indian tribes" thus clearly
recognizing the Indian tribes as distinct po-
litical bodies, with government and institutions
Of their own. They did not make States or
Territories They were simply vassal nations
To-day their nationality is but shadow, but
when Washington was making his treaties
with the barbarlans in control Of territory be-
longing to the United States, leaving them lib
erty TO practise paganism and administer their
own savage laws those vassal peoples were
much more formidable than the Sulus and
much more able to dispute our paramount au-
thority than the Mahometan despot whom we
plan to leave in control OF his own Mahometan
people.
American historical papers are full Of treaties
with Indian tribes. They were not merely
legal regulations Of commerce under the con-
stitutional provision quoted, but were much
broader negotiations with distinct though vas
sal people, such a. were recognized by the Con-
stitution 10 be already in existence. Presidents
appointed commissioners with the consent OF
the Senate. II II was In session. 70 negotiate with
Indian chiefs just as they would TO negotiate
with European kings These ENJOYS came
back bringing treaties, which were laid before
the Senate for ratification. There was nothing
wonderful or subversIve OF republican prin-
ciples in making treaties with Senecas and
Miamis and Creeks In Washington's time and
letting the Stars and Stripes cover them. their
harems and their captives. Their internal ad-
ministration was not such as conformed either
to our ideas or our laws. but we did not estab-