The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-12-29
Our Newly Annexed Territory.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Ex-President Harrison, in lecture
delivered to the students OF the Mi
chigan University, expressed the opin-
ion that THE civilized inhabitants OF
the newly acquired territory OF the
United Stateswere citizens, and that
the revenue provisions of the Con-
stitution relative to taxation for FED
eral purposes applied to them" lie
argued that the limitations in the
Constitution upon the powers of Con-
gress, whether expressed in the affirm
alive or negative form. applied to the
exercise of that power in all places:
that the very object Of the section
requiring duties to be uniform
throughout the United States, which
was to prevent Congress from estab-
fishing anywhere under the jurisdic-
ton OF the United States favored
ports. would be thwarted if foreign
goods might be admitted to Porto
Rico free and thence to the United
States
This illustration points out only one
of the many troubles that would arise
should it be held that the annexed
territory is not part of the United
States. When the Supreme Court
considers the question it will per-
ceive that any departure from the
plain requirement OF the Constitution
will plunge the country in a sea IL
inconsistencies which will be sure TO
breed mischief. It has been said that
the Supreme Court can always find
good reasons to support any interpre-
a.
vision of the ederal Constitution,
and no doubt can do so. But it is
quite certain that it will not deliber
ately resort to a strained interpreted
ton Wien good public policy demands
that the plan meaning should ne
adhered to as closely as possible.
II NAV be permissible and even desir-
able to construe literally when it is
clear that liberal construction
would promote the general welfare.
but il would be a crime to depart
from the letter and intent of the fun
damental law for the purpose of boil
steering q policy which could only he
carried out by suoverting the princi-
plcs upon which our Government was
founded.
We have no fear that the Supreme
Court will be guilty Of the unneces-
sary folly Of stultifving the American
people. We do not believe that anv
this Union share the narrow idea that
the United States would benefit by ex-
plotting the islands over which we
have imposed our sovereignty. Our
Democratic contemporary has indus
triously attempte- to create the i'm
preston that the Republican partv is
in favor Of such policy. and as re-
Gently as SATURDAY. it headed up its
account OF the ex-President's lecture
with these words: BENJAMIN Ha.-
rison Smashes Theory of Mckinley"
But this is positive mis-representa-
ton. for President McKinlev's posi-
ton on the subject was plainly an
nounced in his letter OF acceptance.
in which he said: THE Republican
party will not be guided bv one
set OF principles at home and another
set IN the new territory belonging to
the United States" It would be i'm
possible to state the matter more
plainly. When President Mckinley
maze this assertion he meant what he
sat-. and he voiced the opinion and
desire OF an overwhelming majority
of his party. There may be some
shortsighted members in the organiza-
ton who think they think differently.
but they will learn that they really
had not thought at all when they
awake to full realization of the
fact that. To again use the words Of
the President. The Republican party
does not have to assert its devotion to
the Declaration OF Independence be-
cause il has always lived up to its
principles and will continue to do so.