The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-01
REYOLuTION.

The number of American Republi-
cans who do not care to have this ma
ton wrecked upon the rocks of impe-
rialism, by comforting upon the presi-
dent, or upon congress, unlimited, I'M
restained power and authority, is in
creasing at rapid rate.
- Prominentleadersin the Republican
party are constantly voicing the sent1-
meuts of true American citizens, those
who love their country better than
the glitter Of gold, or the rustic of the
watered stock of the monopolies.
Representative Mccall of Massachu-
sets, though staid Republican, is
one of those fearless Americans who
do not hesitate to express the danger
to which the pernicious policy CT Will
liam Mckinley is exposing the nation.
In his speech in the house against the
Porto Ricen tariff bill, he enunciated
principles which have made this ma
ton unassailable.
Have we under our system OF gov
ernment an unfettered, irresponsible,
absolute power, unrestrained by our
organic law2 The question doesn' t now
concern Porto Rico or the Philippines.
We have gone beyond that to the
solemn fact of whether the constitu-
ton governs us. Can the creatures of
the constitution, congress and the
president. rise to greatness superior
TO their creator? Mr.. Mccall, with the
great body of the American people,
thinks not.
Says Mr. Mccall:
"A great deal Of learning, much OF
it irrelevant, has been expended IN
discussing the meaning of the term
United States 1t is patent that the
term could have been employed in the
constitution in one of three different
senses, according to the contest. But
there is another and q broader sense
which has become justly fashionable
since the war of the rebellion, and
that is that this government is rot
merely close corporation of states,
but that it rests in the people as a
whole, body polite created 10y the
constitution.
But the question involved is far
beyond the dignity of any controversy
about syntax. Our revolution was
based on the idea that one community
had NO right permanently to levy
taxes upon another community. and
the prime motive whish led to the
establishment of the constitution was
desire to do away with the barriers
upon trade which were set up on the
| frontiers of each state. AS our gov.
| ernment is not a simple elementary
government but one of limited powers
| under a written constitution, the
| power to tax and create barriers with
in our dominion against trade should
| in view of our history before the adop
ton of the constitution, be most strict
ly construed. The power of taxation
and the method of its exercise are con
1 III lLiC SlaOSS anu eiS
methods extend wherever the power
extends. Ii congress has the power
to levy duties over an area compris
ing territories then the rule of unifor
nifty applies to that same area. Thi
is in accordance with the primar.
rules of construction.
| SsIf &c hnr,nI Inv fhas
limitations against taxing unequal.
it is not bound by any limitation upol
it's power in the constitution. TIL
case is conclusive so far as judicia
authority is concerned, and when W.
regard the circumstances out of whicl
our government and the constitution
sprang,the words of the taxing power
the direct adjudication of their mean
ing, the long line of authorities whicI
deny the existence of absolute powe
in congress, it is clear that the theor.
of despotic power is absolutely repue
nant to our institutions.
Since Mr.. McCall's speech, ileetfoot
ed tina has overtaken the essential
of our downfall as a republic. Port
Rico is taxed without representation
helpless nation now, but even undo
the cruelties OF the Spanish race, sh
hal twelve representatives and fou
senators in the Spanish cortes an
helped make laws for the whole Span
ish empire. She had almost complet
autonomy for her own local affair
and a million and q half in the treas
ury. Now what? Nothing. Witnes
the Havana postoflice thieving for a
illustration of the methods employed
But why shed tears over the feebl
Porto Ricans? Let us reserve on
lachrymal fluid for our own extremit
when the full meaning of Mckinleyisr
shall have dawned upon us and find
us as helpless as the Porto Ricans
We have it in our power now to crusl
this Anglican imperialistic spiri
which is leaving the whole mass of tn
Republican party, and we owe it t
curse Ives, but more particular t
future American citizens, that they b
preserved from the calamitou
methods of arbitrary power.
| Enough has been accomplished al
ready in three short years Of McKin
ley to require years of sweating toll t,
cure, and the longer he sits at tn
head OF government as puppet TO
the monopolies and the money power
to buffet with, the worse will becom
the condition of the people, and thu
more difficult the removal of the yol
| of slavery