The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-14
A JuriSt's OPINION.

JuriSt opinion.
The utterances' of United States ST.
preme Court Justice John NJ. Harlan
at the meeting of the Young Mems
Literary Society of the New York
Presbyterian Church. at Washington
d. c.. on Tuesday evening last, on the
subject of territorial expansion, were
somewhat surprising. not at all because
of their profundity Of reasoning, but on
account of their untimeliness and evil
dent improperly.
The treatment of the Philippine ISL
ands. in their future relations with the
government of the United States, as
we'll as the treatment of all subjects,
and points of subjects. associated with
the existing craze for expansion, bear
ing upon the linking to the territory
of the United States of America Of
other territory hitherto unidentified
with the physical system of this coun-
try. is likely to become prominent as
matter for decision by the supreme
court of the Union. No member of
that court who expects or desires to
take an honored place in the future
history of that tribunal should so far
even though it should be extra-judicial,
on so delicately technical a point as
that involved in Justice Harlan's dis
cussion in the incident mentioned.
J@tice Harlan's speech is regarded
as Unusually significant" especially
in view of Senator Hoar's recent dis
cusson OF the constitutionality of an
neXation and a colonial policy. Ger
tainly the dogmatic style of speech
adopted by the supreme court jurist in
this case supplies reasonable grounds
for the criticism noted. He is reported
as saying, in the first person:
l assume we have the Philippines. and
say keep them. for the present, at any rate,
and until We know where We are. We must
look into this matter. We cannot do it at
once We must determine what IS our duty
TO that people. II upon investigation the
FilipinOs are found TO have government Of
their own, and want 1t, let them have It, re-
quiring them TO pay US the $4,000, 900 We have
paid TO Spain and leave US one island for a
naval station.
But this country has digested good many
sorts Of people When We got Louisiana We
got territory full OF Frenchmen and a vast
territory full of Indians. All sorts of trouble
was then predicted. People asked, 'How can
we asslmilate these people?" but We have
done it. When we acquired Florida it was
said there was no one there except Spaniards.
w len We got New Mexico and CallfOrnla only
Spaniards were there. Mr.. Carnegie says it
is impossible to digest the Filipinos. Well,
this country mas digested Mr.. Carnegie, and
if there is any class of people hard to digest
it is that class to which our pastor here be-
longs-the Scotch-I Irish. But we have taken
them in, and they, have eXerted a wonderful
influence. When We have taken these islands
in the whole world will take off its hat to the
United States.
We have reached a period when we do not
care what any nation on earth thinks about
our politics. We have reached a pariod when
no nation on earth will seek a controversy
with us. We must have a powerful navy,
and l am not afraid that this American people
Will not be equal to any emergency that may
arise. We pure and chaSte in
thoughts today as any period of our his
tory-indeed, more so than ever before. This
nation cares nothing for military glory; has
no desire for the conquest OF territory.
The speech of Justice Harlan is ''un-
usually significant" not alone in view
of Senator Hoar's recent discussion,
but as an evidence of extreme indie
corousness and improperly flowing
from the lips of justice of the su-
preme court of the land, and that, too,
in advance of the regularly appointed
judicial arguments in the case.
Andrew Carnegie is an American
citizen, and an exceedingly successful
one, under the benefcent laws of the
country which have in the past pro-
tected him in his flights on the wings
of material fortune. But does the fact
that Mr.. Carnegie now happens to diff
fer from Justice Harlan and his own
political party, which elevated the lat
ter to his place as a jurist, afford
apology for so mean a sneer as that
embodied in the above quoted speech
Of inc Of he
the United States, against a man of
affairs, the trial of whose causes. in
the process of legal procedure. NAV
come next month before that body. Of
which the Kentucky jurist is a mem
Der?
Upon one occasion, President Lincoln.
early in his administration, and before
his personality was easily identified in
Washington, called at the house of Gen.
Winfield Scott, to discuss with him
a certain urgent movement of the
army. 1t was barely daylight, and a
staff officer, already up and on dutv.
refused to admit the tall, lean man
wearing a long linen buster and a
stovepipe hat of the old time degree of
elevation of crown. Mr.. Lincoln
promptly said: Tell Gen. Scott the
president of the United States wants
to see him.. The staff officer was ba-
fuddled, and when Gen. Scott appeared
attempted an explanation. Lincoln.s
temper was a little ruffled, but the old
general, looking at the long figure ar
rayed in the silk hat and linen duster
quietly smiled as he said: MIR. Presi-
dent, l cannot blame the major for
mistaking you fer some one who had no
business here. There is a dignity doth
hedge king Do you think that the
manner in which you appeared is cal