Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-18

the south? There can be but one an
swer to that question, and that Is they
substantially admit, in the light of
third of q century's experience, that
universal suffrage is monumental
failure, and that the time has come
for the correction of this stupendous
error.
"Universal suffrage in the south long
since Gegenerated into race question:"
continued Mr.. McLaurin, "and as such
led to the practical elimination of the
Negro from politics. policy that is
today wisely advocated by the great
leaders of the race like Professor Miller
and Booker Washington, and which, in
time, without outside interference,
under the guidance of the best thought
of both races, will lead to just and
naturally satisfactory settlement of the
gravest problems that have ever con-
fronted any people in modern times.
Conscious of rectitude of purpose and
feeling that the Negro was not respoh-
sible for the position into which he was
thrust, the south, not defantly, but by
protestation, has patiently appealed
to the nation to judge her right
eously.
"It is indeed comforting to hear
some of those who in the past criti-
cised US, now that the question is
brought home, completely justify our
methods in providing q scheme of
colonial government.
"The senator from Connecticut has
most amply vindicated-the south, per.
haps unintentionally, but we thank
him the more heartily for his complete
announcement of the divine right of
the Caucasian to govern inferior
races"
Mr.. McLaurin then entered upon
constitutional discussion of the ques-
tion presented by the resolution, main
tanning that all of the rights and powers
of the Federal government are enumer-
ated specifically in the constitution,
and such as were not thus specifically
defined did not exist.
"The nation, as a nation," he con-
tended, "has no sovereign rights except
those conferred by the constitution"
He further contended that if the sover-
eighty of the nation is vested. in the
constitution as admitted by Mr.. Platt,
of Connecticut, it could be exercised
only in the manner pointed out by the
constitution. He maintained that there
was essential difference between the
sovereignty exercised by the United
States and that exercised by Great
Britain; for instance, as there is wide
difference between the forms of gov
ernment of the two nations. ~ deny"
therefore, said he, "that the United
States as a nation has sovereign, In
herent right and control outside Of the
grant of such power in the constitution.
This is not an essential element of. ma
tionality as far as our nation is con-
cerned, although it may be 10 England
or Russia where the nationality and
sovereignty incident to it are not crea-
ted and limited by written constitu-
ton.
"I do not, however, controvert the
proposition that the United States has
the power to acquire territory by con-
quests, purchase or otherwise, and to
govern the same under the grant of
power contained in the constitution. I
do, however, deny the proposition that
territory can be acquired and perma-
nently held as such by the United
States, of course, subject to the excep-
ton of small tracts acquired for specific
governments purposes, like coaling
stations and the guano islands under
act of 1856. think Hawaii comes the
under the exception of military and
commercial necessity"
After further discussing the constitu-
tional points of the question, Mr.. Nc.
Laurin said it was idle to speak Of
Americanizing tropical country 5000
miles away. Our people would never
consent that the people of that far Oft
land should have voice in the affairs
of this country. However" said he,
~ believe the time is not far of when
our flag will float over every foot of
North American soil; but it must
come naturally and peacefully, by con-
sent of the governed, not by the rude
hand of war.
Government by force was despotism,
he maintained, and if this country was
to establish a despotism it must be pre-
pared to maintain a great and enor-
mously expensive army and navy. 1t
meant never ending strife with the
nations of the world
Mr.. McLaurin claimed that the COM
merce of the Philippines was insignif-
cant, and he, therefore, doubted the
advantage of the islands to this country
from financial view point.
"To become a colonizing power" he
said, "we must abandon our republican
institutions, or be paralyzed by them.
The creation of Offices, the extrava-
CANT expenditure of money by Office
holders and the actual corruption
creeping into any colonial system will
sooner or later sap the foundation OF
any government"
Discussing the lnhabltants OF tne
Philippines, Mr.. McLaurin said: "Of
one thing I am sure. The American
people will never consent for these in
ferior races to food our land and add
another complication to the labor
problem. To permit cheap Asiatic
labor to come into competition with
our intelligent, well paid labor will
be to degrade and lower our civiliza-
ton.
Ole ,,a nnha rk in q colonial sustam