Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-01-12

the discussion OF remedies In detail II
may be suggested. however. that a prac-
teal step might be taken in the desired
direction II a national law were enacted
which would confnc corporations to lines
OF business which might DO regarded as
strictly within their proper sphere. why
should any corporations be organized for
the conduct OF mere mercantile or manu-
featuring business? Such enterprises
should be left TO individuals. Legislation
which sought 10 directly compass this re-
suit, would doubtless meet with the con-
demnation OF the courts. But there may
be avenues by which the purpose could be
attained without that danger. The FED
eral congress found no legal obstacle in
the way when IL wished TO prevent the
issue OF circulating notes by state banks;
Under its revenlie-raising power IL levied
a tax OF 10 per cent upon on all such cir
culation, and the notes disappeared at
once and have not since been seen. A tax,
equally prohibitive, might be levied upon
all corporations In the United States or
ganized for other purposes than the con-
duct OF railroads, steamboat lines, tele-
graphs, telephones, canals, and possibly
heavy for the hands OF individuals or or
binary partnerships. Such measure
would do away once for all, with the syn
are sapp o the life-bIood of this people
In former days the legislatures OF great
states regarded II as their privilege ana
duty to memorabilia congress on matters
OF concern to the nation. They request
ed the representatives and instructed
and directed" the senators to take action
in conformity with their wishes. This an
cient and valuable privilege should be re-
vived. 1t is true that the senator's at
Washington no longer regard themselves
as amenable to the direction or their ere
ators. Indeed, 1t Is often said, ana with
too much truth, that the senators sent 10
Washington own the legislatures whlch
send them there. But this should be cor
rected. and might be If legislatures We're
honest and courageous. Every federal
take oath in the presence of the legisla-
ture which chooses him. to follow It's IN
structions in his congressional action
when those instructions are embodled IN
formal resolutions and conveyed TO MN
by the governor. or transmit his resigha-
ton. Some might perjure themselves In
spite of this. but all would not.
Gov. Pingree seizes the opportunity here
to score the national administration. lie
says there is much solicitude at Wasnlhgs
ton for the sufferings of the subjects OF
the Spanish monarchy and heather across
the seas, and the administration has much
TO say of humanity and its rights, par
ticularly the humanity farthest away,
when il Is the humanity which occupies
these states and territories-Americanh hui
manity-which should most interest the
administration and the congress or the
United States. our own native humanity
has much more to complain OF than that
of the Philippines or Cuba. He says the
men who are most notorious as the heads
Of great monopolies seem to be tho most
tration and to be the most eager TO re-
dress the wrongs of all people who live
outside the United States, 1t being their
well-defined purpose to divert attention
from the outrages committed against
them. SO far as the American people are
concerned, this administration seems 10
look upon them as having no rights except
to lay down their lives and, incidentally,
their freedom for the conquest OF foreign
lands and the fattening Of domestic
monopolies.
Imperialism, Expansion, Etc.
The governor says ii was no secret to
the people of the state that he was OPP
posed TO the war with Spain, and he has
not yet altered his opinions on the matter.
He is now opposed TO the policy OF the
administration in retaining the philippine
Islands as ''vassal colony" he says:
ment in defense of this ambitious ana
dangerous policy as 1t is now presented
for congressional approval we might
legitimately extend our territory on our
own continent, whenever and wherever
fair opportunity presents itself, and the
islands of the seas near us may properly
be regarded as & part of the continent.
But the conquest and retention OF an
archipelago six thousand miles from our
shores, too tropical ever TO permit the
settlement there of our own people, al
ready densely populated by eight or ten
millions of a barbarous and alien race
who we can neither mix with assimilate,
nor civilize, is in my Judgment, little less
pansion per Sc. Most of the territory OF
the republic has been acquired by con-
quest or purchase. But ii was on our own
IL not contiguous to our own
borders, and practically uninhabited. IT
was secured with wise provision for the
future safety of the republic and as the
future home Of millions of our increasing
population. The Philippines are in no
way necessary for our safety, or even
useful therefor, as are the Hawaiian ISL
ands and the Antilles. They can never be
IL. 81.
look forward to a perpetual guardianship
over an inferior and servile race, who Will
always be alien to us, whose masters we
must be forever, whom we must govern
as interiors, whom We can never welcome
as fellow-citiZens and equals. There can
not be even a sufficient mixture of resi-
dent Ameri cans there permanently to gov
ern the islands. The supply must be sus-
tanned, as in the case of the British in
India, by periodical drafts from our armies
and our polite. rs to govern those
islands and to keep them in continuous
subsection. Permanently governed by
such aliens and foreigners who will have
no interest at stake in the islands and lit
tie sympathy for the people. the restless
Will grow disconnected with
tho slavery we will be compelled to en-
force, and the fierce Malay nature will
break out in periodical Instructions
which we shall be compelled to crush with
bloodshed.
II is claimed that there is nothing in the
TO forbid the acquisition of
any foreign lanuS whatsoever. InlS may
be so, but / can never believe that the
spirit of the constitution, the spirit OF our
the genius of our people, ever
or would deliberately toll
crate the prospect of acquiring control OF
territory densely inhabited by people
whom we must hold in perpetual subjec-
ton by force OF arms
Heretofore our country has enjoyed n
splendid isolation from those evils which
have been the lot of land-grabbing Euro
pean nations. and from the complications
and embarrassments which have appar-
emily produced them. Our territorial
growth has hitherto only intensified that
happy isolation, for II has given us only
contiguous territory which would other
wise have been the seat of rival powers
as neighbors. Every European power
which we can, as opportunity offers, ex-
clude from this cont'lsnt and its adjacent
should be excluded, thus remov-
Ing danger which might sometimes threat
en- our unparalleled and splendid isolation.
When we shall have driven tho last OF
them from American SOIL then. indeed.
shall we be independents as no other peo-
pie ever wero on earth. and safe from all
dangers Of foreign war or costly compli-
ca tons
Michigan is proud member OF the sis
terhood Of states! Her patriotic citizens
have evidenced at all times a tender solic-
tudo for the welfare of the union, wheth-
err in war or peace. / commend this sub
ject, therefore. to your earnest conside-a-
ton and the consideration Of the people
Of the state. and hope that after mature
and careful consideration,
the subject by means of memorial to
congress.
Ownership of Rail-