Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-05

" french. spanish, negroes, Indians and
HaiL-preeds whom Jefferson at once pro-
ceeoed to govern without ever asking
tnelr consent or consulting them in any
way. ""'
IN 1873, as a direct result of the daring
acts OF Andrew Jackson, Spain ceded
fiorlda to the United States, together
with It's population. They were not con-
suited and their consent was not asked.
In 1S4S. after having conquered Mex
leo, we took from her the territory out
OF which the states of Colorado, Utah,
nevada and California and the territories
OF Arizona and New Mexico nave been
carved. Here again we took a large pop
ulation and governed them without ask
ing their consent.
SO 1t appears that in many times we
nave governed people without asking
tne1r consent, but in every case we have
given them a better government than
tney nad ever known, Inc there are none
whose condition has not been vastly i'm
proved by coming under the protection Of
our laws and our flag.
The truth is that his clause of the
Declaration of Independence must be
construed in the light of reason and COM
mon sense, and with due regard for the
conditions existing and the circumstances
each case. Two years ago
SIX and a half millions of American citi-
zens cast their ballots for hat distin-
~A w ia ~ 1 u e
dent of the United States, but more than
seven millions other American citizens
voted for that other distinguished man.
William Mckinley, who was elected. So
that nearly one-half of this country are,
IN a sense, being governed by an admin
lstratlon and by policies to which. thew
dld not give their consent. So, also, with
the question of territorial expansion. JEFF
ferson was reviled and condemned for the
Louisiana purchase. He was charged
with having violated the constitution and
with endangering the existence of the re-
| public.
In 1911, when it was proposed to admit
LOUISIANA as a state, Josiah Quincy OF
Massachusetts arose in the senate and
threatened that if Louisiana was admit
ted Massachusetts might go out OF the
union. This was one of the first secession
speeches made in congress-. Louisiana
was admitted. but Massachusetts did not
secede.
In 1918 the anti-expansionists opposed
the acquisition of Florida.
In lS45 they bitterly fought the annex
alton of Texas.
In 1S4s they fought tooth and nail
against our taking Mexican territory as
indemnity for the war.
In 1863 they fought the purchase of
Alaska. which is today worth a hundred
times more than we paid for it, and is
constantly increasing in value.
only last year the same minority.
armed with the same old arguments, op-
posed the annexation of the Sandwich
Islands. For three months all the old
constitutional objections of three-uuar-
ters or a century ago We're We're dug from !
their moldy resting places and rehashed
IN congress. But the islands were an
nexed by a large majority, and already
the subject has passed into history. In
deed. L am afraid we have forgotten the
10 wonderful reasons given by a distin-
guished citizen of Montana, standing
right here a year age, in which he proved
concluslvely, to his own satisfaction at
least, that this government would go to
pieces on the rocks of and
Imperialism if the Sandwich islands were
annexed.
So, my friends, we see that from the
foundation of this government down to
this moment there has always been an
element opposed to territorial expansion.
And whenever our limits have been ex-
tende they have Invariably predicted the
most dire results to our institutions and
to our government. And it must be a
source of infinite satisfaction to the peo-
pie of our country when they reflect that
with all it's unparalleled magnificent de-
velopment, none of these predictions have
ever yet come true.
The American flag is floating over the
Philippine islands. 1t is there Justly.
rightfully and in accordance with the
usages, laws and practice of civilized ma
lions. There has never been a moment
since the thunder of Dewey's guns broke
upon Manila bay and electrified the
world. when the protection of the Amer
lean flag could honorably or safely be
withdrawn. When Dewey destroyed the
Spanish fleet and broke Spain's power,
we assumed a moral and International
obligation which every consideration of
national honor and prestige demands that
we keep. We could not give the islands
back to the tyranny of Spain, because
the sentiment of the Christian people Of
our country and of the world was against
that. and the overwhelming testimony
before the peace commission at Paris
was. and 1T is true at this moment that
the Filipinos We're incapable of organic
ing and maintaining a free and independ-
ent government. Their action in firing
upon the American troops, DESPITE our
efforts to conciliate them, their barbar-
Gus and inhuman conduct of the war
now pending, and the savage, infamous
order and conspiracy of Aguinaldo to
murder all the citizens of Manila who
We're not natives, ought to convince every
unprecedented, rejecting man of their ut
ter lack of the true spirit and purpose
and knowledge necessary for the success
fui maintenance of their independence at
THIS time. But be these things as they
may, granting that differences of opin-
ion exist as to the proper policy to bel
pursued IN the Philippines, admitting that
it will become the duty of congress when
1t meets to say what our future policy is
to be, the chief fact now to be considered
is that our rightful authority is being
disputed by armed force, and that loyal
American soldiers. our own friends and
neighbors and fellow citizens-our own
sons and brothers and fathers are giving
their lives in defense of our flag. At such
a. time no nafrinfic citiyor nom n ee>,3 -