The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-08-04
anRsrRIprIoN RATFai
F. D. LANDER, Editor.
MIR. McKINLEY,S WAR.

now before Int COuutIy II Jle uiiip-
pine question; and since the Ameri
can people have had no opportunity
to express themselves upon the /
course now being pursued by Mr..
Mckinley, they will necessarily
have to pass Judgment upon this
policy in the presidential and con-
gressional election of 1900.
Political writer's and newspaper
editors are expanding much energy |
and ink predicting the issues of the
next campaign. The politicians are
much puzzled over the situation,
and even the great administration
of the little Napoleon" is too
cowardly to announce its ultimate
purposes with respect to these is
lands.
The American people are demand
ing to know what the President ex-
poets to do in the Philippines. But
the President says "Wait; let US kill
and murder the PHILIPPINES who dare
to strike a blow for liberty and inde-
pendeuce, and first subdue them
into absolute and abject submission,
and then we will see what we will
do with them"
The people, however, are not salts
fed with this. They want to know
why their boys and their substance
are being used and wasted in a for
eign land. They want to know
whether the cause for which the
present war is being waged is just
and righteous one; whether the OBJ
ject to be accomplished is not only
consistent with justice and humani-
ty, but whether it is consistent with
the traditions, the constitution and
the well-being of this American Re-
public. They want to know whether
we are being led into strange path
ways. For they fear that we are
drifting away from the beaten paths
is being launched upon perilous
sea of conquest and colonial empire.
But more than that, the people are
demanding to know by what author.
ity the President is conducting the
present war against the PHILIPPINES.
Mr.. Mckinley has solemnly de-
clared to the world by proclamation
that the war with Spain is at an end
and this is the only war which the
American Congress has declared
and Congress alone has the rIgh
and power to declare war.
Subsection IL of section 8, article
of the our Constitution, provide;
that Congress shall have power. I'll
"To declare war, grant letters o
marque and reprisal, and make rules
concerning captures on land anC
water" and this power is exclusive
ly vested in Congress.
And by subsection 10, of same sec
ton, Congress is also given powe
"to provide for calling forth tn
militia to execute the laws of tn
union, suppress Instructions, an,
repel invasiOns."
But Congress has neither declare,
war against the PHILIPPINES, nor pro
vided for calling out the militia t
execute the laws of the union i
the Philippines, nor to suppress an
instruction there, nor repel any in
vasion here. Therefore, by what au
thority is President Mckinley usin
the armies and navies of these Unit
ed States to make war upon tn
Philippines.
1t is true, section 2, of art of til
Federal Constitution provides tina
1.-The president shall be commando
in chief Of the army and navy of tn
United States, and of the militia {
the several states when called int
the actual service of the Unite
States;" but in no case can he Law
fully and constitutionally wage We
or use the armies and navies {
militia, without the express autho
ity of Congress.
And yet the President is now waI
ing war against the PHILIPPINES, will
out either the authority of tt
American Congress, or the approvt
of the American people; and for tn
he and his party must answer to II
country in the next ca mpaign.
We know that it has become Il
fashion in certain corrupt and in
perial quarters to deride any appe
to the constitution; and there al
those who would push aside tn
sacred charter as antiquated, and
an impeachment to the grandeur an
splendor of this great country; bl
thanks be to God who gave us libert
and independence, such are not Il
sentiments of the great mass of col
sentative, liberty-loying, Americs
citizens. The people still cheri:
their traditions and their cOnstitl
tion- and we verify believe. tn,