The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-09

the lower house OF the State Legislature.
Now. ut that time. In almost every State,
there existed qualifications OF the suffrage,
the obvious purpose and intent OF which
was to lessen the dependence OF the Govern
ment upon the consent OF the governed.
60 much for the recognition Of the con
/ sent OF the governed theory at the time
> OF the Declaration Of Independence, and,
! also. at the time OF the formation OF a Fed
eral Constitution for the thirteen States and
! for the territories awarded to them by the
peace OF 1888. Has the theory ever been
acknowledged In practice since as new ter
ritories have been added excessively by
treaty to the national domain We're any
measures taken to secure the consent Of the
! governed before President JEFFERSON
made the Louisiana purchases On the
contrary, the French and Spanish inhabl-
tants OF the territory coded notoriously were
opposed to the compulsory transfer Of
their allegiance. Nevertheless, our Gov
eminent proceeded to enforce the cesslon.
We're any steps taken to secure the con-
sent OF the governed before We bought the
Floridas from Spain2 On the contrary.
| IL was known that the Spanish inhabi-
tants OF that region were opposed to the
purchase, and the Semlnoles. who. at
that time. were quite as civilized as most
OF the Tagals are now. resisted 80 vehe-
mently the assertion OF our authority that
| IL required the exertion OF all our military
resources for many years. and the talents
OF our best Generals to complete their sub
! juaation.
| When wo bought California and New
| Mexico In 1s4s. II never occurred to
us to ask whether the Spanish-speaklng
| Inhabitants OF those territories were con-
! tent with the change OF government;
neither did we institute any such inquiries
whom we purchased Alaska from Russia.
| Above all, In the war for the preservation
| OF the Union, we repudiated the theory
that the just powers Of government
are derived from the consent OF tho
| governed-that Is to say from tho
acquiescence OF a State or a community In
the control OF the central or external
authority that may be established over It.
| 1t Is upon this point that Mr.. FIsKE
lays particular stress. When the Slave
States. he asks. withdrew their consent to
the exercise OF the national jurisdiction
which the Federal Constitution had created,
was the Federal Government bound. pollti-
cally or morally, by the sacred principles
| OF the Declaration OF Independence to "let
the erring sisters go2" We know what 1t
cost In blood and treasure to bring them
back under the Federal authority. Was
| truth defed was Justice outraged, was the
foundation principle OF our Government
subverted In the performance Of that
dreadful task. or was a stern but sacred
duty discharged In saving the union Of
States from overthrowp
We come now directly to the case Of the
Philippine Islands. Here Is people which.
with the assistance OF another people. sue
ceeded In breaking away from power that
had previously ruled 1t. Are we justified In
| stepping in and establishing a government
over that people without their consent
We are sure already that large proper
ton Of them would gladly give their con-
sent, and. as we have said above, we know
not whether even a large majority OF the
Tagsls would not also give 1t. II an oppor-
tunlty OF expressing their wishes freely
were afforded. The question, however,
Is irrelevant to the present discussion.
The fundamental inquiry is concerned
with the materality OF the consent OF the
governed. Whether we are justified In
| establishing a government over the Philip
pines depends upon no fallacious theory
never accepted by US In practice. but upon
the circumstances and conditions OF the
parti cular case. What are the circum-
! stances and conditionsf
Those islands are inhabited by various
races additionally hostile to each other
| and representing various grades OF civiliza-
tion. 1t IL the consensus OF candid observ-
ere that the Tagals, or rather tho fraction
| OF them which hitherto has supported
| AoUNALpo. would DO incapable OF govern
| ing all tho islands in such a way "a to
secure to all Of the Inhabitants the right to
Life. liberty and the pursuit OF happiness
| within their own domain; and, also, so as
| to safeguard the interests OF other nations
| which cannot avoid holding relations with
them. Even though the Tagals weHe
| entitled. by tho laws Of nature and "
natures Gop TO take a separate and equal
station among the powers Of the earth.
It Is certain that II We left them to them
selves. their title would not be respected by
all the great maritime powers. and II GER
tainly would not be our business to fight
| such powers on their behalf As a matter
| OF duty, we have no right to leave them In
an isolation which would inevitably pro-
woke aggression.
Tho course Of events In tho last two
years has placed the United States
In q peculiar relation to the Philippine
| Islands, involving responsibilities TO our
| selves, to them and to the rest OF the
world. Let 1t once DO admitted that the
interests OF all concerned-the United
States the Philippine Islands. and the rest
OF the world-would DO subserved best by
the exercise OF the powers OF government
over the islands by the United States, who
| will invoke any alleged sacred theory.
any pretended principle Of abstract right
| or justice. to forbid such u contamination
unless the consent Of the people Of the
Stands shall DO first obtainedp Must the
| lack Of that consent" asks Mr.. FIsKB.
| "even though induced by ignorance or
| incapacity Of determination. stand against
a better judgment OF what Is for the we'll