The San Francisco call., 1899-05-30
IMPERIALISTIC TWINS.

Two publications in the press of Friday last,
though referring to different incidents that trans
pired in localities thousand miles apart,
are deeply significant OF the imperalstic tendencies OF
the dav and of the practical effect they have already
produced upon our republican system Of government,
At Wardner, Idaho, a large number of men claim
ing to belong to miners union destroyed property
and committed other acts of violence The OF all
the power necessary to restore law and order and
arrest persons who had been guilty OF criminal
acts was promptly supported by the people and by the
reputable press Of the United States When however,
martial law was unnecessarily declared by the Gov
ernor OF Idaho backed by military force under Gen
eral Merriam, when censorship local news
papers was established and when, without color of
constitutional or legislative authority the employ
ment of members of the miners union was prohibited
and in individual cases of applications for work a
military Endorsement exacted, it felt that even
Russia in its destruction OF Finnish autonomy had
erted no more despotic authority and force
Now appears that the publication OF the Muan
Mirror presumptvey an organ OF the miners. has
been suspended and its editor arrested on charge Of
sedition 1t is very likely that the paper has contained
ndiscreet or even nfammaory articles, OF the
and extent of which we have information But in
that locality the military power is dominant and sut
cient enforce tranquility and the supremacy of the
law without the adOpt1On OF l1nperldllSuC methods.
Interference therefore, with the liberty of the press
for the abuse OF which ample remedies exist through
the ordinary tribunals, is distinct evidence of the
growth OF mltarism and of its violent opposition to
constitutional safeguards for personal rights and for
individual liberty When the Civil War was raging
the people would not patiently endure the assertion of
military authority in districts not within the lines of
actual hostiltes and Mr.. Lincoln was most careful
to insist upon the conservation OF our fundamental
law as the vtalizng principle OF the Union
In letter signed by one of the California volun-
teers we'll known in San Francisco, and which is by
no means the first Of its kind referring to the capture
OF bolomen raiding parties of mountain robbers on
Negros Island the writer says that the troops turned
the prisoners over the native police, who after
lining them up, filled the men with lead making good
Filipnos OF them
1t is altogether likely that this mode of speedily
transferring the natives of the Philippines to those
blessed regions where terrestrial imperialism does not
exist is justified by Spanish and also by Filipino pre-
cedents Among American citizens, however, who re-
tain some faith in their Declaration OF independence
and in their national institutions and who have an
actual comprehension OF the meaning of the fraternity
OF men under divine sovereignty the enfranchisnp
and civilizing virtues OF assassination will be ques-
toned Negros island is and has been under an
American administration provisional in its nature
There is no doubt that the event described
in our quotation actually transpred But cannot be
believed that the execution by the ma
tive police, without the rapid proceeding of a
drumhead courtmartial sanctioned by the military
Governor of the island who exercises civil functions
or that it will fail to stern condemnation prob
ably on the spot where occurred but certainly in
American communities, satisfied with their own re-
public and ambitious to follow the imperiaistic
example of Great Britain.
! No phrase has been more frequently repeated than