The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-15
CALIFORNIA AS AN IMPERIAL
COLONY. r =.

T is startling for American citizens, in thirty-two
States OF this Union, to be informed that they are
: only living under the constitution through the
grace and favor OF Congress- But that in substance
is exactly what they have been told by Professor judi
son of the Chicago University in elaborate argu-
1nent stolen by some of the expansion papers, to
which The Call has already alluded He distinctly
argues that the term United States of America"
from the establishment of the Government, has meant
only the States that admitted and united, and
that except as to certain personal rights it does not
include and never has included territorial acquisitions
In plain words he asserts that the Interpretation of
the constitution is Progressive and flexible and
that the uniform development into States of territory
heretofore acquired resulted merely from policy
and not from Constitutional necessity 1t follows
and indeed is admitted by Professor Judson that the
thirteen original States formed the Union and that
every foot OF territory beyond their limits without
any violation of the constitution might have been
governed by Congress as imperial colonies in any
form it might have chosen to adopt
The niceties of constitutional Interpretation are be-
You'd the range OF discussion in the daily press But
there are few broad views OF the constitution that
are ineligible to the average reader as to the
ablest lawyer. We have repeatedly said that there
has been literally argument in favor of the reten
ton OF the Philippines that merits serious considera
ton. Whenever such argument is attempted it
carries its face the evidence that it is the ebu1
ltion of crank the sophistry OF paid advocate
very striking Illustration of this fact is supplied by
the paper of Professor Judson, above mentioned In
respect all territory he holds that while allegiance
from its inhabitants may be exacted and enforced
citizenship is privilege that may or may rot be con-
ferred. This is startling doctrine to be proclaimed
in the teeth OF the leading constitutional writers and
statesmen OF the country of the terms Of the ces-
sion of the Northwestern Territory, of treaties with
Spain, with France and with Mexico and of the uni
form practice of the Government To the average
American citizen, educated in the common schools
and accustomed to Washngton's Farewell Address
to the Declaration of independence to the celebra-
ton OF national anniversary and to centennial
revivihcations of the spirits OF our revolutionary
ancestors, it is profoundly dangerous 10 be informed
that allegiance and citizenship correative and
that the right OF representation practically linn
tied TO the original thirteen States For we repeat
that if the assertions of Professor Judson and the
entire group of expansionsts and imperialists are
true thirtytwo out of the forty five States without
any violation of the constitution but in strict accord
ance with its terms might have been enjoying
the inestmabe advantages Of Imperialism under the
supervision of Congress. If the views of the expan-
sionsts in relation to the Philippines are now cor
rect, they equally correct when the North
western Territory when Florida and Louisiana when
the entire body of territory from the Eastern border
70 the Pacific Ocean, acquired and if California
las become a member of an indissouble Union it
obtained that position not under the constitution but
through the difference and courtesy of Congress in
1880
II the thirteen colonies when they declared free
dom, equality before the law and the right of self
taxation to be inalienabe, were. self-deluded and
Great Britain then only exercising the identical
authority that Congress has since uniformly pos
sessed the signers of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence perpetraed fraud upon mankind, our Revolu-
tionary War was bloody and protracted sham, our
constitution was temporary political device, and
Union and is rope of sand On these as
sumptions, and on them only, Professor Judson and
the ha-hedged brood of expansionsts are right. We
think, however, that the American people still be-