The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-09-12
Our Government and The Philippine Islands.
ILEoN CALHOUN

much importance to the people
of the United States, is the policy
of our government towards the
people of the Philippine Islands.
Whatever policy is permanently
adopted by the United States
government must be by the ex-
press wish and authority of the
people of this government, given
at the ballot box, which will be
open in November, 1900.
Every man and woman who
gives their consent to that policy
should first know the reason why
they give it, and the effect of that
policy on ourselves, as we'll as
on the rest of the world.
1t is needless to say that every
action of this government, every
new policy adopted, every new
phrase of our standing towards
other countries has its effect on
the world at large and the people
in it, and as everything is done,
or all authority rather comes di-
rectly from the people, the
people should, and it becomes
absolutely necessary for the
great fountain of power to know
what is required, and to act &C
cordingly.
1t is my intention, by series
OF articles to show by eminent
authorities, and common reason,
that the attitude of this govern
ment toward the people of the
Philippine Islands has been for
for over q year past and now is,
one which is not only against
Constitution of the United States,
but is also against the principles
of the "Bill of Rights" and our
Declaration of Independence
against our grandest monuments
OF freedom-against right and
justice. | say, and will prove
that every man that has lost his
life by this war since SPANS
authority ceased to exist in those
islands, was cold blooded, unlaw-
full murder, without a vestage of
lawful authority to shield the
perpetrators. | do not mean that
the soldiers sent there by the
government are guilty of MUIR
der, but the men who sent them
there to kill and subdue q people
not subject to our laws now, or
at any time in the past, are.
The politicians who advocate
this war call it''an insurrection. Z"
but before man is a rebel he
must be o subject, for it is i'm
possible to rebel against laws to {
which you are not subject, and
under our form of government /
we are subject to the laws by {
consent: For, if a man makes a |
contract he is liable for any /
breach OF the same, and if he has
q hand In making q law, he is 4
liable for a breach of it, and s
every citizen is supposed to con- t
sent to the laws the Legislature {
passes, as long as it conforms to a
the provisions of the Constitu- {
tion, for he helps to elect the t
legislature, and through and by q
his member is present at the s
of the law and gives his v
consent. But if it is against the b
Constitution or any of its pro- b
visions the citizen is not liable a
for the legislature has caused a G
breach of tho original contract. v
1t is presumed that the citizen o
has not consented to the law. and o
those people never elected any a
Of our Legislature. i,
Blackstone (Cooley's, 1871 on e
page AZ, Book |, says; 1.-The a
political writer's of antiquity will
aot allow but three forms of h
government : 1st-When the ii
sovereign power is lodged in an f,
aggregate assembly consisting Il
IL all the free members of a gov i,
which is called a Dem .