Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
DEMOCRACY AND EXPANSION.
1mperialfstic Assaults on the COnsti-
tuition and Dill of Rights.


We have said, and we believe that the
republic will survive even the shock and
damage Of expansion, because democracy is
too vital to be destroyed; and we believe,
too, that the principles of the Declaration
of Independence will also survive, although
our conduct may discredit them for time,
even, 1t may be, for generations, for as
Senator Hoar says "the eternal providence
of God is on the side of freedom" Bat, on
the other hand, We do not believe that the
constitution Will escape unharmed, for al
ready, II he is reported correctly, we are told
by an officer of the army, who has sworn 10
uphold and defend it. that we have outgrown
the constitution and in a large measure,
he was justified in saying this, by the spirit
which has been manifested by the advoca :es
OF expansion in their attitude toward the
constitution 1t would be going too far, per-
haps, to assert that the constitution Is
despised by some OF the eXpansionist leaders,
but 1t Is nevertheless true that their atti-
tude is at least unconsciously contemptuous,
the proof being their desire to defeat its
wholesome restraints by Interpretation.
More than once in the history of the coun-
try we have seen the supreme court bend to
public sentiment, or to that part Of it which
makes the most noise and, therefore we are
justified in saying that If the treaty is rati-
ned as 1t stands, the constitution will
no longer be the safeguard Of
personal liberty which it has
been. The exigencies of colonial govern
ment in the far east, due 10 our possession
OF subjects, class not recognized or pro-
vided for in the constitution, will prob
ably compel the first assault upon the bill
OF rights, and We shall have at least part
OF the republic subject to the legislation OF
an unrestrained congress. How long 1t will
then be before congress throws off all re-
straint' Will depend upon the spirit of the
people. At present 1--WE are forced regret
FULLY to the conviction) the constitution Is
less respected than 1t has ever been be-
fore We have forgotten the evils from
which 1t has saved us. The south forgets
that 1t has stood between it and partisan
treaty. The west forgets that it has saved
II from grangerism. The whole country for
gets that within twenty-five years ii has
saved II from fiat money and imitation, and
that 1t is the constitution alone which may
conhne socialistic experiments to the states
1t is in the air that the constitution must
not be permitted to stand in the way OF
expansion, and that even the Declaration
or independence must be considered anti
quated. The declaration is vital and will
live, but the breaking down Of the consti-
tuition, which is law. must bring material
injury to the country, whose bulwark 1t
has been against the assaults OF intrigue
and OF monetary popular passion. This will
be one OF the charges which the country
must bear II the expansonists prevail. The
republic will survive but generations OF its
citizens wilr be deprived OF some OF the
great blessings which democracy has be-
slowed on us and our fathers, and will suffer
the burdens of militarism and OF heavy tax
alton, which, thus far. We have been spared.