The San Francisco call., 1899-06-11
LOYALTY TO THE GOVERNMENT.


lie to keep his country's honor virgin. Nothing
L marks more plainly the difference between our
republic and the monarchies elsewhere than this in
dvidual responsibility OF the citizen for the character
OF the Government In a monarchy pledges may be
broken faith violated and dishonor riot, but the
subjects may remain individually devoted to public
and private virtue. The Russian people not re
sponsbe for the deep dishonor OF their Government
in breaking its covenant with Finland That is the
work OF the Gar But if this republic break its
pledges to Cuba, and to the world in the case OF the
Philippines it will be the dishonor OF the people
for the Government is theirs.
Already the cry arises that loyalty to the Govern
ment requires that we support the conquest and for
cible annexation of the Philippines, the seizure of
Cuba as soon as we have dsarmed her people, and
the establishment of a military satrapy in Porto
Rico There is but one kind of loyalty to this Gov
ernrent and that requires that the people keep the
Government strictly within its constitutional limita-
tons Every man who supports and defends the ex-
ercise by those who administer the government Of
powers not derived from the constitution is loyal to
the persons who trespass, but he is doya to the
Government and untrue to the constitution.
This is simply an automatic statement. The con-
stituton creates the Government and delegates to it
the powers it may exercise When it claims the right
to powers not so delegated it is guilty OF revolution
and has equal right to overthrow the whole consti-
tuition and proceed to create any kind of government
it may choose
The Federal courts have never affirmed the consti-
tutonal rights of the Government to acquire and
hold imperial colonies On the other hand this right
has been expressly denied
The Supreme Court of the United States has de-
c;ded this in precise terms That court says This
brings us to examine by what provision OF the con
stitution the present Federal Government under its
delegated and restricted powers, is authorized to ac-
quire territory outside OF the original limits of the
United States, and what power it may exercise there
in over the person and property OF citizen of the
United States, while it remains Territory and until
it shall be admitted of the States OF the Union
There is certainly power given by the constitution
to the Federal Government to establish maintain
colonies bordering the United States at dis
tance, to be ruled and governed at its pleasure
nor to enlarge its territorial limits in any way, ex
cept by the admission of States. That power is
plainly given, and if a State is admitted it needs
no further legislation by Congress, because the
stitution itself defines the relative powers and duties
of the State and the citizens of the State and Of the
Federal Government But power is given to re-
quire territory to be held and governed perma-
nently in that character To acquire territory and
govern 1t by Congress it fit would be danger
Gus to the liberties OF the people"
With the principles above laid down, every consti-
tutona lawyer and every commentator from Web
ster to Judge Cody and Morefeld Story, has agreed
Ii conquestng territory for any other purpose
than its admission States and people as equal ct-
zens engaged in an enterprise which no man
can ndorse who is loyal to the Government and con-
stitution.