St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-09-12

should declare what some future Con.
crosses should do if the inhabitants ar
rive at certain stage of civilization,
and that the failure to do this different
ates the action of President Mckinley
and the late Congress from that OF Jeffer-
son and Monroe and the Congresses OF
their day? 1t cannot be that they rely
upon this for declaring this issue. They
must know that the present Congress
cannot forecast nor blind the action OF
future Congresses. Every Congress will
and must act with view to the best in
terests of the inhabitants Of the islands
unless in conflict with the welfare OF the
inhabitants OF the nationals those in
terests exist when action is demanded.
These Democratic leaders must know
that such pretended declared policy
would and could have no binding force,
especially when the character of each
succeeding Congress is to be determined
by voters of the country.
They complain because after the treaty
with Spain was ratified the Bacon reso,
luton, declaring future policy in regard
to the disposal of the islands, was not
adopted. They cannot put forth this
claim with any sincerity. They must
| know that after the treaty was ratified
the Bacon resolution could bind only the
Congress which passed it, and that that
Congress was then drawing its expiring
breath.
Nor can they honestly claim that Pres
ident Mckinley and the republican party
have done any imperialistic act IN the
Philippine Islands. When the treaty was
ratified, at the urgent solicitation Of the
nominee of the Democratic party for
president, the Aguinaldo instruction
was in progress. 1t involved about one
sixth OF the inhabitants of the islands.
Congress, without opposition, approprl-
a.ed the twenty millions required by the
treaty. Soon after the ratification OF
the treaty the Hull bill for the reorgan'
ization and increase of the regular army
to 100, 900 passed the House OF Repre-
sentatives and came before the Senate
for consideration. The leaders OF the
Democratic members of the Senate OPP
posed the measure, and offered a substi
tute making the regular army 65,oO(
and giving the president authority t(
raise about $4,000 volunteers, II IN hi
Judgment the exigencies OF the service re
ouired. In advancing this measure the,
said they did not oppose giving Presiden
, Mckinley all the troops which the ex
gencies in the islands acquired might l
any event require, but they could no
: consent to the establishment OF req
lar army of 1907 900 men; that the 80
900 volunteers might be enlisted, ii IN h
Judgment required, until June, 1901. b
r ;yond the expiration of his term OF otilG
: This measure was substituted for II
Hull bill and passed, At that time tt
: Republicans did not have control OF II
a Senate. President Mckinley has dot
- no act that can be characterized imp
f rialism" in the Philippine Islands u
4 authorized by this act, proposed
n these leading Democrats OF the Senate.
~ In whatever light considered, til
. plank of the Democratic platform CT
h hardly be considered as put forth Sc
n ouslv for any purpose unless to terri
=, the voters by the use of the word INF
- rialism 1t constitutes when consider
20 seriously, luost emphatic impeachme
d of the ability of the citizen voters OF t
~ nation to maintain Republican torn
t. government. ,.pooa