Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-30
FILIPINO CONSENT ASSUMED
Senator Lindsay on Our Right to Govern the
Islands.
He Cites the Cases of Florida and
Louisiana and the Civil
War.


Association at Buffalo. n. Y. yesterday.
The senator made elaborate argument
in support of the right and power of the
United States to accept sovereignty over
the Philippine Islands. He said In part:
ITO the want of consent by the Filipinos
great Importance is given. Their want of
the opportunity to express consent receives
no consideration. We cannot presume that
the offer of law and order through stable
government to a people who have never
enjoyed the blessings of either would be re-
jected could they be afforded the oppor-
tunity to consider the offer and freely to
express their will. Insurgent chieftains
may challenge our admiration and arouse
our sympathy, but they and their followers
cannot be permitted to decide for eight
million people whether they are willing to
accept orderly government administered
under the restraint of American institu-
tons.
Our forefathers did not take up arms
against the British king for the mere as
sertion of the principle that governments
derive their just powers from the consent
OF the governed Their claim was that
whenever any form of government becomes
destructive of the ends of government it
is the right of the people to alter abolish
It, This fundamental right to be en-
forced when a long train of abuses and
uSurpat1ons. pursuing invariably the same
object, evinces design to reduce them
under absolute despotism,' and the British
king was arraigned for repeated injuries
and usurpatons all having in direct object
the establishment of an absolute tyranny
over the American colonies
American dominion in the Philippines
viii destroy none of the ends of govern
ment; will disregard no one of the inalien-
able rights of man; will sancttfy no abuse
Or usurpation. but will terminate the des-
potism under which their people have lived
for more than 300 years.
The United States did not ask the con-
sent of the inhabitants of Louisiana, or
Florida, or New Mexico. or Upper Call
fornia to the cessions made by France and
Spain and the republic of Mexico. nor was
it understood when we assumed sovereign
Jurisdiction those peoples that We
were violating the principle that govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed. Orderly govern
ment faithfully administered In the inter
ests of the governed supernduces consent
New Mexico and Arizona have been gov
erned as territories more than nfty years
Congress has governed the DISTRICT or Co
Iunhia more than hundred years. yet the
Declaration of Independence is neither dead
nor sleeping 1t remains the thought ana
spirit of the Constitution ana continues "
command the reverence OF all our peopie.
The right to withdraw consent ana 10
form independent national relations was
nut to the test by the seeding states IN
1SGl The effort was supported by afihitS
such as the world had never seen pN
craftsmanship, generalSnlp. neFp'Sin' todi :
age and devotion which challenged uni
yersal admiration: but the experiment
failed because the majority of the people
of the United States did not concede the
proposition that consent can be withdrawn
except for sufficient cause, and denied the
existence of any such cause TO the states
of the south.
Senator Lindsay urged the establishment
of the sovereign power of the United States
in the Philippines, with no design for in
definite expansion: with no design of estab-
fishing Il general colonial policy. but with
the earnest hope that after our national
authority shall have been established, and
established it will be. the people of the
Philippines may show themselves capable
of upbuilding and maintaining local gov
eminent of their own
IF failure attends our Efforts he con-
tinued, lit will be but another instance of
defeated hopes and disappointed expecta-
tons. But if by holding up the hands of
those who aspire to orderly and stable in
situations shall open the way to home
government under which individual rights
will be respected. domestic tranquility in
sured. and life. liberty and property pro-
tected, by the fixed and regular administra-
ton of just and equal laws, we shall give
another and striking evidence of mans ca
pacity for Self-government, and over and
above all considerations of pecuniary or
commercial advantages, however great
they may be. We shall be coInpensa ted for
the blood and treasure we have expended
and may expend, by the consciousness of
having secured TO the lnaHenaDle rights OF
man wider field and to free institutions
the opportunity to extend their blessings To
the human family in quarter of the
world in which despotism has had its I'M
disputed reign from the earliest period OF
recorded time"
The committee on commercial law made
its report and promised to report next year
upon the subject of Involuntary bank
ruptcy.
a cable message was sent to President
Choate, extending greetings and best
wishes, and regretting his inability to be
present
The committee on grievances offered A
resolution Of sympathy with Maitre Labor
the defender of Dreyfus, out it was tabled
on a close vote.
Resolutions expressing the sorrow of the
members of the association in the death of
former President Thomas j. Semmes of
Louisiana We're adopted.
AT the afternoon session Sir William r.
Kennedy. justice of the high court Of
Justice OF England. was introduced and de-
hvered an address on State Punishment
of Crime.