Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-11
CAN CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY.


ed from its organization down to the
ratification of the Spanish treaty. They
understood the distinction between re-
publican government and the tyranny
of imperial rule; and long before our
commissioners visited Paris to fornlu-
late the Spanish treaty of peace, the
military authorities at Manila had re-
ported to the President the willingness
of the Philippine people to accept IN
common the rule which we enjoy, but
their fixed determination to resist the
tyranny of colonial government. In
that report are the following words:
There is not a particle of doubt but
that Aguinaldo and his leaders will re-
sist any attempt of any governmenttto
reorganize a colonial government here.
They are especially bitter toward the
Spaniards, but equally determined not
TO submit any longer to being a colony
of any other government
In concentrating the treaty at Paris.
the Commissioners, as / understand,
REFUSED ALL CONFERENCE OR
EVEN INTERCOURSE WITH THE
AGENTS OF THESE PEOPLE,
WHILE THE EXECUTIVE AUTHOR
tiles AT WASHINGTON CONTEMP-
TUOUSLY SPURNED THEIR SUP
PLICATIONS.
In all previous treaties, from the ces-
sion by Virginia of the Northwest Ter
ritory down to that with Russia in 1867
by which Alaska was obtained, it was
substantially provided, as specified in
the treaty with France by which the
Louisiana territory was acquired, that
''the inhabitants of the ceded territory
shall be incorporated in the union of
the United States, and admitted as soon
as possible, according to the principles
of the federal constitution, to the en-
joyment Of all rights, advantages, and
immunities of citizens of the United
States; and, in the meantime, they shall
be maintained and protected in the
free enjoyment Of liberty, property and
the religion which they profess.
In the late treaty with Spain this
provision, FOR SOME UN3XPLAIN
ED REASON, WAS OMITTED, AND
THE DOCTRINE OF UNMODIFIED
IMPERIALISM WAS INSERTED. Ar
ticle 10 of this unfortunate convention
provides that the civil rights and po-
litical status of the native inhabitants
of the territories hereby ceded to the
United States shall be determined by
the Congress-.
After this treaty was confirmed by
the Senate, that body passed resolu-
ton evidently designed to stand as its
construction of this extraordinary in
strument. In that resolution it is de-
clared that by the ratification of the
treaty of peace with Spain it is not
intended to incorporate the inhabitants
of the Philippine Islands into citizen
ship of the United States, nor is it in
tended to permanently annex said ISL
ands as an integral part of the territory
of the United States"
In the Presidents proclamations to
these people, nothing is offered them
this side of unconditional surrender,
and beyond surrender nothing is prom
ised but that which the conqueror may
consider suitable to the capacities and
condition of the conquered"
The Schurman-Danby commission,
scattering proclamations Of "beneficent
assimilation" as so many decoy ducks,
to bring the game under the quick-fir
ing guns of Otis, when asked to formu-
late in words that benevolent govern
ment of which American journals have
so often spoken to their deluded read
ers, offered them a governor nominal
ed by the President and confirmed by
the Senate, a legislative council 20 be
appointed by the Governor, and an cleo
tive House of Representatives over
whose acts the Governor should eXer-
else IAN absolute and unlimi.-d veto"
Therefore THE GOVERNMENT so
FAR OFFERED TO THESE PEOPLE
IS NOT AKIN TO THAT CONSTITU-
TIONAL RULE WHICH GIVES DIG
NIFTY AND CHARACTER TO AMER
ICAN CITIZENSHIP. IT is NOT THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE,
BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE
PEOPLE. IT DENIES THE THEORY
OF CO-EQUAL STATES. IT AS
SERTS THE INEQUALITY OF MEN.
AND DENIES THAT GOVERN
MENTS DERIVE THEIR JUST POW
ERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE
GOVERNED
IT IS PURE AND UNADULTER-
ATED IMPERIALISM. 1T IS NOT
EXPANSION. EXPANSION MEANS
EQUALITY OF RIGHTS. Like the
marriage relation it implies consent.
Imperialism means forcible subjuga-
ton to anothers will In the domestic
relations of life imperialism is slavery.
In the domain of politics it is tyranny,
resistance to which, in the vocabulary
of freemen, is obedience TO God.
~.