The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23
SENATOR PERKINS.
it adjourns

IMPERIAL colonization, in its concrete FORM
territorial expansion in Asia, is deeper than party
and touches the foundation OF the Government
1t is hardly possible that it should become political
issue between parties notwithstanding the strenuous
efforts of Mr. Bryan deprive OF its patriotic dig
nifty. Therefore having maintained uniform and
uncompronising attitude against this treacherous ef
fort revolutonize institutions it is gratifying
The Call observe that on the substantial PROPOSE
ton, Senators White and Perkins, though elected by
opposing parties are in accord. But there for the
time least, the resemblance between them ceases.
Senator White stands by his own convictions. Sena-
tor Perkins expresses similar opinions but proposes
by his vote obey the conflicting instructions OF our
State Legislature and indorse the treaty OF Paris with
out amendment.
Believing, as we do, in the conscientious desire
of Senator Perkins to do right and respecting his
Difference to the will of the people, when properly
formulated and expressed, we are nevertheless con-
vinced that, upon reconsideration he will find that his
Judgment and his vote ought to correspond. He has
certainly misconceived the extent and the application
of the doctrine that State Legislature has the right
to instruct Federal Senator'S. Representatives are
elected by the people in Congressional districts and
them, there has been pretense that they
could be governed by Legislative direction. They
are simply requested" to vote in conformity with
Legislative suggestion But, within proper limits it
has been recognized that the right to instruct Federal
Senators exists and that they should either obey or re-
sign Senator Perkins has accepted the doctrine
without observing its limitations. In one aspect he
represents the restricted sovereignty of the State OF
California and his immediate constituency is the
Legislature, but in another sense he is Senator OF
the United States with the Nation for his constitu-
ency, and beyond any State legislative jurisdiction
whatever. On those questions arising in the Senate
interests OF the State he is raditionaly bound to fol-
low legislative instructions vacate his seat But
the affairs of the Nation matters relating consttu
tional Interpretation to intercourse with for
egn powers issues of peace of war, every subject
within the scope of Congressional action in which the
entire people OF the country equally interested
beyond the powers of any State Legislature, and in
relation to them instruction is plain usurpation
In respect to the proposed acquisition and reten-
ton of the Philippines Senator Perkins represents
forty-hve States and all their inhabitants He is not
agent of the State employed merely record its
legislative DEGREES subjects OF Federal cognizance
but statesman, chosen to protect the special interests
of the State but independently to employ his intel
lect his knowledge and his broad patriotism for the
equal benefit of seventy-fve millions of people, who
rely for the preservation and the development of
American institutions and American civilization upon
the Federal Government, administered under the
/
Constitution
This is the broad and the accurate view conforming
to political system, of the relation between a
Senator of the United States and the republic Any
other construction of his duties and of his obligations
would reduce him to the insignihcance Of legislative
clerk. The disgraceful struggle proceeding at
Sacramento and the moral and intellectual degrade
ton of the two leading candidates convey no true
idea of the proportions to which American states
is expected to attain when he reaches the Senate
of the United States We may love the common
wealth in which we live, but we must not imagine
that the State of California is the United States Of
America. The proposition is unanswerable that on
national issues Mr.. Perkins is a Senator of the
United States, and that in that capacity his allegiance
is due to the nation and not to majority in State
Legislature. 1t is his brains, his sagacity his indie
pendent and manly action, and not blind subserviency
to void resolution of instruction, that the Union
demands at his hands If in his opinion territorial
expansion in Asia is inconsistent with our insttu-
tons, then he should express and that opinion
for the benefit of forty-hve States held together in
indssoluble unity
Senator Perkins, without legislative instruction.
and in the face of the last preceding action of the
Legislature, voted for the annexation of Hawaii, in
response what he conceived to be the public sent
ment in this State. We differed from him then but
respected his evident desire to keep the Government
under popular control. We hope now that he may
take that broader view OF the broader question before
him, that will lead him to display before the world
the august figure of national Senator, true to him
SELF true to his country and true to mankind