The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-01-20
U. S. Senator Perkins Was Surprised, bn
will Obey Instructions OF Cali
fOrnia Legislature.

W aSAAhbAVh NVis Ah1- N'httHNs
Senator Perkins was asked what
he thought of the action of the
of the legislature of California in in
structing its senators to vote for the
paris peace treaty." and against
all amendments? He replied that
he was greatly surprised at the
chonge of public sentiment as ex-
pressed by the members OF the leg
islature in the resolution referred to.
at was only a few years since" he
said, 'tnat the question Of restrict
ing Chinese immigration into the
United States was submitted to the
popular vote OF California, and out
of about 100000 votes cast only
936 votes were in favor Of the ad-
mission of Chinese and the employ
ment Of pson lat orers. Yet this
treaty at one fell swoop makes 10,-
600, 900 Asiatics of a much lower
type morally and intellectually than
the Chinese, wards, if not citizens,
of the United States, and as free to
go ID and from one state or terri
tory, and become American citizens
as were the French and Spanish
creoles of Louisiana, the Mexicans
of New Mexico and California, the
Indians of Alaska or the Kanakas
of Hawaii, when they became terri
tories Of our country by purchase
or cession.
"The action of our legislature is
also surprising in view of the fact
that the annexation of the Philip
pine islands will greatly injure, if
not ruin, the large and growing
beet-sugar industry OF California, as
it will be impossible for our farm
ers to successfully compete against
the cheap labor engaged in raising
sugar in the islands. California
has always been opposed to a large
standing army.
eyes, | am aware that many sem
ators do not recognize the right Of a
legislature to instruct them as to
their duty in congress. | do not,
however, share in this opinion.
Ours is a representative form of gov
eminent and the people are the
source Of all power, and senator
should carry out the expressed wish
of his constituents il he can ascer-
tain what that is. / have been
twice elected to the senate by the
people, so far as that is practicable;
that is, the conventions which nom
mated members OF the Legislature
endorsed me, and, in many instan-
ces, instructed the candidates in
their respective districts to vote ac-
cordingly. II seems to me, there
fore, that it is my duty and | am in
honor bound to obey the will of the
people of my state, as expressed
through their representatives in our
legislature.
| propose to stand bv and do the
best / can for the good old ship Of
our republic, and, by my work and
vote and influence, do all can
to avoid the rocks and shoals that
surround ms. / have unbounded
faith and confidence in the thinking
people. | believe that public SEN
timent will clear the political hori-
zon, and in due time we will safely
come out Of the dangers that now,
to my mind, seem to menace the
principles of republican form Of
government"
Perkins is an unique character.
He was native Of Maine, and
was reared on farm near Kenne-
bunkport, and received only limi-
ted education. His father bound
him out to work for his uncle.
Young Perkins did not like the job,
so at the age Of twelve he and an
other boy ran away and went to sea.
They did not know exactly where
they were bound for, but fetched
mn nj Christiana. Norway. From