Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-09-14
Growth or Contraction which?

Unless all signs fail the question OF
this nations duty toward her subjects
in Porto Rico and the PHILIPPINES will
occupy large place in the public
mind during the next fourteen
months. The problems presented are
in some respects new to this republic.
The suddenness and uneXpectedness
of the transfer of sovereignty from
Spain to the United States gave little
time to the people for consideration of
the underlying governmental princi-
pies involved. And until these prin-
ciples have full and free discussion
through the press and on the platform
the public mind will not be entirely
at rest. Unfortunately the discussion
promises to take the form of politi-
cal campaign. We say unfortunately
because, not infrequently, the unfair
arguments of politicians arc him
drance rather than help to the prop
er understanding OF aquestion.
With "anti-expansion" for watch
word the leaders of the democratic
party will seek to convince that
United States authority should be
Withdrawn from both East and West
Indies. contraction" instead of
"anti-expansion" would be better
word because The sovereignty Of this
nation Is an established fact in both
island groups
The argument has now reached the
stage of quoting the Declaration of
independence and these are the words
most often reeited:
That all men are created equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights: that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
That to secure these rights governments are
Instituted among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed;
etc
Interpreted literally and broadly,
giving due consideration to the time
and circumstances which called them
forth, these words Of Jefferson's con-
stitute probably the grandest declara-
ton of human rights ever penned by
man. But interpreted narrowly and
literally and in the spirit they are now
sought to be applied to the people of
our island possessions these words
are the yariest nonsense. II is not
true in literal sense that all men are
created equal. Some are larger than
others, some are stronger, some are
more agile. One man is an intellect
ual giant another is an imbecile.
IAN men are created equal" has a
much deeper and more profound
meaning.
Similarly the declaration that gov
ernments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed be-
comes most dangerous doctrine if
applied literally and without refer
ence to conditions which the signers
of that declaration had in mind when
they affixed their names.
II tconsent of the governed" in the
literal sense that our Democratic
friends arc urging then the South was
right in the civil war and the Lincoln
administration were ''imperialists" to
force the Confederate states back into
the union, for certainly ii was not by
the "consent OF the governed" in
those states that they returned.
When rebellions arise and mobs set
out to destroy property and endanger
must the executive Of the county or
state send polite note asking their
consent to be whippedinto orderP
Consent of the governed" carried to
the extreme is the doctrine Of the
nihilist and the anarchist and makes
organized government and the reign
Of law and order impossible.
No, the preamble of the United
States does not forbid this nation to
maintain its authority, suppress in
surrection or rebellion, and punish
.,,o aud violence over every foot of