The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-06

| NePchuSnCs d CfoWu. Milne IS SELF
governing. Yours is ruled in keeping
with the argument Of kings. Mine was
carved into states. Yours is held in
vassalage. l promised mine self-gov-
ernment and equal participation in the
affairs of the Republic. You withhold
such a promise from yours and treat
its people as subjects"
1t is true that few men could turn
corner quicker than jefferson or talk
more giibly about liberty while acting
the dictator. but we seriously doubt
if the despot Of Louisiana would so
far forget his record as to indulge
in any such comparison. There were
men in 1903 whose mighty shales
might with self-respect talk to us
about the consent of the governed"
and about dependencies of a crown"
Thomas Jefferson. however, was not one
Of them. and anybody who studies
history and is not merely sending
forth voice from the depth of his
own ignorance knows perfectly well
that Jefferson ruled louisiana as a de-
tendency without self-government and
without regard not merely to the po-
litical but even the personal guaran-
tees Of the constitution. Against the
will Of its inhabitants he bought SOW
ereignty from a foreign nation. Its
people were not strong enough to re-
sist his power. but when the American
flag was raised over New Orleans. his
tory says, the residents wept, and their
tears were told Of in congress and
made much Of by the opposition, Just
as the resistance Of Aguinaldo is being
made much OF by the Democrats today.
Having established his rule over
Louisiana without the consent Of the
governed" by an exetcise Of power
which he himself frankly declared he
believed was usurpation Of exeeu-
tive authority and unconstitutional.
Jefferson proceeded to obtain from
congress authorization to govern it as
a dependency outside the constitution.
A territorial government was estab-
lished, which was denounced by many
Of even the presidents own partisans
in congress as being royal" in It's
character. Its supporters were frankly
told that it did mot evince a single
trait Of liberty" but was a violation
Of the whole spirit Of Democracy and
the establishment Of an empire. And
no wonder! The law gave to the pres
ident the appointment Of a governor
and legislative council without confr-
nation by the senate, regardless Of the
rule of the constitution on that sub
ject. 1t put all powers of government
in the hands Of creatures Of the pres
ident, thus making him an absolute
despot. 1t set up courts which had no
warrant in the constitution. and even
deprived the people Of the trial by jury
so sacredly guarded in the constitution.
Yet Thomas Jefferson signed that law
and under 1t proceeded to exercise his
royal powers.
In time this dependency became self
governing. So, too, after suitable tute-
lage. may the Philippines. So is Porto
Rico now on the way to become self
governing under laws more liberal to
the inhabitants than Jefferson gave to
the L0uisianians. True, he promised |
the territory equal participation in the |
affairs Of the Republic. and was told |
by congressman that he had no au-
thority to make any binding promise |
On the subject, and that such partici-
ration would come only when congress
saw fit to grant it, and the people Of one
Iart of that territory, namely, Oklaho-
ma. are still asking that Jererson's
promise of nearly hundred years ago