Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-08

IT was with surprise, not unmixed
with amazement, that many people
read in the report of the brief speech
of Judge Gray at the recent reception
rendered him by the Sons of Delaware
in Philadelphia, when he touched upon
the war in the PHILIPPINES, this express
sion ~ think l am generally con-
sentative, and hope that ] generally
respect the opinions OF all men, yet, |
confess, grow impatient when hear
American citizens mounting fine
phrases about the consent of the gov
erned when discussing what they term
our oppression of the Filipinos. 2
The literal text of the fine phrase"
to which Judge Gray particularly al
ludes is con tanned in a document
known as the "Declnration Of indie.
pendence, and is as follows: That
all men are created free and 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. !"
Is it possible that any man can con-
slider this material declaration as
merely fine phrase and grow
impatient at hearing it mouthed"
by American citizensY Is it not rather
great truth, vital principle in the
constitution of free government?
| A phrase is defined as "a short, pithy
expression, and is generally employed
to express sentiment. But the
declaration of Thomas Jefferson that
governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed, is
far more than phrase. 1t is the con
crete statement of living fact, and
its most frequent iteration should never
serve to arouse the impatience of any
American citizen.
Such declarations in support of the
imperialistic policy of the McKinle,
administration, evince, ia the opinion
of the San Francisco Call, a Republi
can paper, spirit of "active revol
/ against the restraints and Limitation
, of the Federal Constitution and o
, most contemptuous Reputation of tn
/ principles of the Declaration of indie
) pendence. One is justly amazed at tn
/ large number of men who take thi
. position. They ask the country to en-
. dorse them, to affirm their views, an,
Q they denounce opposition as unpatrioti
and reasonable And the same pape
4 adds this forcible remonstrance
n All this brings in sight very dis
! quieting situation. If the patriot
. declarations of the three politica
parties in 1896 are patriotic no Longer
$ and if government by consent O
II the governed is devilish lie, whe
h the men who hold these views achiev
power the republic will have reverse
: itself. Government will then be hel
> to derive its powers from the will ,
L those who govern, and self-governmei
g will have persisted from the earth.
d Though we stood alone we propose
A deny now and for all time the thesis
= imperialism. We deny that the Coz
u stitution is obsolete and the Decarl
NJ ton of Independence lie. We der
Of that what was patriotic three yea
TX ago is unpatriotic now, and We wal
10 those who manage parties to avo
h Identification with these imperial
- denunciations of American principles.
20 The advocate of these sentiments W
4, not have to ''stand alone.'' There
= good reason to believe that the gre
~ mass Of the people of the country W
~ continue to endorse the Declaration
" Independence and support the Cons
u ~ tuition OF the United States. The poll
- of Imperialism will not be permitted
overwhelm the most sacred traditio
: of our national birth.