Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-03-04


regions must be explored. Unvio-
lated valleys must be titled. Unmas-
tered forests must be ielled. Unriven
mountains must be torn asunder and
their riches of gold and iron and ores
of price must be delivered to the
world. We are to do in the Philip
pines what Holland does in Java, OF
England in New Zealand, or the Cape,
or else work out new methods and
new results of our own, nobler than
any the world has sent. All this is
not indefinite; it is the very specifica.
tion of duty.
The frail of faith declares that these
peoples are not fitted for citizenship.
1t is not proposed to make them citi-
zens. Those who see disaster IN every
forward step of the Republic prophesy
that Philippine labor will overrun our
country and starve our workingmeu.
But the japanese have not so overrun
Holland. New Zsaland's Malays,
Australia's bushman, Africa's Kafirs,
Zulu and Hottentots and midas mil
lions OF surplus labor have not so
overrun England. Whips of scor-
pi ions could not lash the Filipinos to
this land of fervid enterprise, sleepless
industry and rigid order.
Those who measure duty by dollars
cry out at the expense. When did
America ever count the cost Of right
eousness? And beside, this Republic
must have a mighty navy in any
event. And new markets secured,
new enterprises opened, new resources
in timber, mines and products Of the
tropics acquired and the v~italization
OF all industries which follow, will
pay back a thousand fold all the gov
eminent spends in discharging the
highest duty to which the Republic
can be called.
Those who mutter words, and call it
wisdom, deny the constitutional power
of the Republic to govern Porto Rico,
Cuba. and the Philippines; for if we
have the power in Porto Rico we have
the power in the Philippines. The
Constitution is not interpreted by
degrees OF latitude or longitude. 1t
is a hoary objection. There have
always been those who have pro-
claimed the unconstitutionality of
progress. The first to deny the power
of the Republics government were
those who opposed the adoption of the
Constitution itself, and they and their
successors have denied its vitality and
intelligence to this day. They denied
the Republics government the power
to create a National bank; to make
international improvements; to issue
greenbacks; to make gold the stand
ard of value; to preserve property and
life in states where reasonable gov
errors refused to call for aid. Let
them read Hamilton and understand
the meaning of implied powers. Let
them read Marshall and learn that
the Constitution is a peoples ordi-
nance of national life, capable OF
growth as great as the peoples
growth. Let them learn the golden
rule of constitutional Interpretation
the Constitution was made for the
American people; not the American
people for the Constitution.
Let them study the history. pur-
poses and instincts of our race and
then read again the Constitution
which is but an expression of the de-
velopment of that race. Power to
govern territory acquired. What else
does the Constitution mean when il
says: Congress shall have power to
dispose of and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the terri
tory or other property of the United
States?" But aside from these express
words of the American Constitution,
the Republic has power to govern in
the Pacific. the Caribbean or in any
other portion of the globe where Prov.
idence commands. Aside from the ex-
ample of Alaska, ourterritories andth
experience of a century, the Republic
has the power to administer civiliza'
ton wherever interest and duty call.
1t is the power which inheres in and
is a part of the government itself,
And the Constitution does not deny
the government this inherent power
residing in the very nature of all gov
eminent. Who then can deny Iii