The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-02-03

SENATOR LODGE. OF MASS
the constitutionality Of the purposes
which congress Is about to exercise these
or any other powers. must be determined
by. congress itself through its majority.
states In any territory or possession out
side the limits OF the United States, in
any territory or possessions outside the
limits of the states themselvesis absolute
with the single exception of the lirnta-
ton placed upon such outside possess
sons by the thirteenth amendment such,
az all events. has been the policy of the
United States and its course OF action
in practice.
THE DRIED SCOTT DECISION.
Will not enter into any discussion Of
the bred Scott decision. which has been
50 admirably dealt with by the senator
from Ohio. | was brought up to believe
that no greater injury was ever attempted
against the supreme court than when
for political reasons. that decision was
forced upon it, was also brought up to
believe that the famous obiter dictum az
Chief Justice fancy was as bad in law
as IL was wrong In politics and IN human
doctrine. 1 am not very old. but that is
now. | am content to stand on the broad
proposition laid down by Webster in de-
bate IN 1919, that the territories are not
part OF the United States but belong TO
the United States, as England's colonies
belong TO England.
BROAD PROPOSITION
constitutions do not make people: peo-
PIE make constitutions. Our constitution
Is great and admirable. because the men
who made 1t were so, and the peopie who
ratified II and lived under 1t were and are
brave. intelligent and lovers Of liberty
There Is higher sanction and a surer
protection to life and liberty. to the right
OF free speech and trial by jury. TO JUS
tlce ana humanity In the traditions the |
beliefs. the habits of mind and the char
acter OF the American people than any |
which can be afforded by the constitu- |
ton. no matter how wisely drawn IL |
the American people were disposed 10 |
tyranny. Injustice and oppression, con- |
stitution would offer but temporary bar |
fier 70 their ambitions, but the reverence /
Tor the constitution and for law and JUS |
ticc grows out OF the fact that the |
American people believe IN freedom and \
~ equal justice To an men.
and In equal rights before the law and /
while they so believe the great dOct rines
q the declaration Of Independence and OF
The constitution will never be in peril
Holding these views as to our consti-
'ntional powers. the great question now
before the American people resolves It.
There is only one question demanding
actual and immediate decision now be-
ore the congress and the people. and that
$ whether the treaty with Spain shall be
'atified or not.
THE QUESTION AT ISSUE.
desire merely TO state very briefly
: have heard no opposition expressed
Q any part OF the treaty except such por-
ions OF II as relate TO the Philippines. and
hat. therefore, Is the sole POM anon 1
yhich | desire TO touch. In our war with
spain We conquered the fnilippine is
ands, or, TO put IT more exactly, we de-
royed the power OF Spain I'm those is
ands and took possession OF their capital
The treaty cedes the Philippines to us II
$ wisely Adj skilfully drawn. 1t COM
nits us TO no policy, to no course of ac-
ion whatever in regard to the Philip-
lines. When that treaty Is ratified we
ave full power. and are free TO do with
hose islands as We please. and the oppo-
iton to its ratification may be summed
p in single sentence. that the Ameri-
an people and the American congress
re not to be trusted with that power
nd with that freedom OF action in regard
Q the inhabitants of these distant is
MUST RATIFY OR REJECT.
We must either ratify the treaty or re-
ect II. for i can not suppose that any
ne would seriously advance the PROPOSE
lon that we should amend the treaty in |
UGH "A way as 10 make pledges To snain
nd to Spain alone, and give bonds To
pain. and to Spain alone, for our good
ur own TO decide. Let us look then at
he two alternatives suppose we ratify ,
he treaty. The islands pass from the
ossession OF spain into our possession
ithout committing us to any policy | ,
elieye We can be trusted as people 20
cal honestly and justly with the Islands
nd their Inhabitants thus given TO our |
are WHAT our precise policy shall be | .
0 not know. because /. for one. am not
informed as to the conditions I
here to be able to say what would be
ny one Is, But | believe that we shall |
ave the wisdom not to attempt to incor-
crate those islands with our body r4iitic,
: set their labor alongside OF ours and
lthin our tarin to compete In any in
ns'ry with American workmon. (
THE NATIONAL COURAGE.
! believe that we shall have the courage 7
Of 70 depart from those islands fearful. I
Z timidly. and unworthiy. and leave =
lcm 10 anarchy among themselves. TO .
'e brief and bloody domination Of some