New-York tribune., 1899-01-16
"TBE CONSENT or THE GOTERNED."

Jeffersons famous dictum is the shibboleth
of the day. commonly applied with as little dis
erection and consistency as is usual In Such
cases II is urged that we have no right 10
assume control over the Philippines, because
we have not secured the consent Of their inhab-
itants. and because a few of the inhabitants. in
fat rcpudiation of their words Of six months
aco refuse to give their consent. There Is no
fault 10 be found with the principle as prn-
chile II may be well TO remember, by way or
elucidation Of its meaning, how ii was applied
nv lis enunciator and his colleagues who signed
the Declaration of Independence, in which 1t
appeared. We have not learned that they ever
hestated to extend the sovereignty or the Ma
ton over new territory Just because the con-
sent OF the inhabitants could not be secured
On the contrary. they were somewhat noted
and jefferson himself most Of all for establish
ing control Just where they pleased. with the
most serene disregard Of the wishes OF the peo-
pie controlled. Read the stories OF the subju-
cation of the Northwest Territory and OF the
annexation of Louisiana. and see If II was not
so When there was a responsible government
they dealt with II as jefferson did with France
and as This nresent Administration has done
with Spain. When there was none they went
IN and took possession by force. We are not
arguing over the right and wrong of that. we
simply cite the historic facts as exemplifying
what the founders of the consent or the gov
erned" principle thought OF their own doctrine
But It's presentday Interpretation IS more
10 the point We are not TO take the Phihp-
pines because the people have not given their
consent That Is the cry. Is 1t sincere: lhat
is doubtful There are some of us whose mem
ory goes as far back as 1870 Al that ulhe
II was proposed 10 annex certain nearby ISL
ands The responsible government Of them
wished it, A plcbscitum of the inhabitants
was taken and revealed the fact that they were
all but unanimously in favor of It, And YET
movement was started against such anneXa-
ton. and was successful in defeating 1t. mat
movement was promoted in part by the very
mon and Influences that are now conspicuous In
opposltion TO the annexation Of the Philippines
rhav onnosed the annexation of ST. Thomas and
81 John and Santa Cruz when the people OF
.hose islands wanted 20 be annexed. They 0p-
nose the annexation of the Philippines because
"a tbev say. without convincing warrant
.ho r.onla of those islands do not want 10 Dc
ANNEXED Why not be frank about II ana al
mi. that the consent Of the governed IL
moro pretence and that they are opposed 10 an
nexation anyway, no matter "n"' '"o P''P'
IN question say or want! :,
As matter OF fact, the best tes'li'oh! ~
N the effect that the mass OF the people OF '''o
Philippines would gladly be annexed 10 '"'
United States. That Is the testimony Vi '"'
best-informed observers. Some men "ho ha'0
never been in the islands tnlnk o'heI"ise'
They are entitled 20 their opinions but 80 iir
as the record goes. ard the testimony OF 'nose
who are or who have been on the spot 'le
sentiment OF leaders and people Few months
ago was practically unit In favor OF ahheHa'
ton A few leaders for selfish ends nave since
..tted ana now oppose annexation. But there