The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-28


the United States by treaty she had as
her title, the sovereignty of three hun
dred years and had removed the cloud
upon her title by buying the claims Of
Aguinaldo's government The transaction
stands unique in the history of govern
mentS, if Aguinaldo's authority CONSTITUTE
ed a government It is the first time in
ancient or modern days when "a power
claiming sovereignty, asking for reeogni-
ton from foreign states, for a valuable
consideration, which was agreed to, gave
a quitclaim of all it's rights, its proper
ties and its powers.
1.-The F1lipinos, released from fear of
punishment and starting under wrongs
present and hereditary, would have focked
to the standard of General Merritt as
readily as they did to that of Aguinaldo,
had such & course seemed best. The VIC
torious fleet and conquering army of the
United States created AguinMdo's forces.
Dewey and Merritt refused to permit the
troops of Aguinaldo to enter and loot the
city, and forced them TO withdraw to a
safe distance. The peace treaty, guaran-
teeing the rights OF property in the ISL
and by the United States, dissipated the
hopes and dreams of the Filipino leaders
of division and enjoyment of the confis-
Gated property of the religious societies,
the wealth of the church and the riches
of the Spanish residents.
''Territorially, constitutionally and by
the decisions of the supreme court the
United States have been expanding for
nearly a century. Constitutional objec-
ton and indiscriminate abuse preceded,
attended and followed each acquisition.
The grim specter of the ruined republic
was each time dragged out from the stage
properties of the spectacular drama of
despair only to be laughed back into its
crypt by prosperity, population, thriving
industries, mutualbe nefits to the old and
new states, and the blessings of Ameri-
can law and liberty impressing the people
with the wisdom OF the expansion. There
have been tyrants and usurpers, if Presi-
dent Mckinley is one, doing these same
things in the past as heb as done, and
they are Thomas Jefferson, james Mon
roe, James K. Polk, and Franklin Pierce.
Many honest minds have been con-
fused by the supposed application Of the
consent of the GOVERNED to the govern
territories or colonies, and that it is i'm
possible to rule them except by the usual
territorial process until by right they are
admitted into the union as states. The
act of October 81, 1903 passed by congress
and signed by Jefferson, vested all mill
tary, civil and judicial powers in such per-
sons and to be exercised in such manner
as the president of the United States
should direct
I'm the same terms, did congress.
March g. 1919, pass and President Monroe
approve an act for the government Of
Florida, vesting all civil, military and
judicial powers in such person or persons
and to be exercised in such manner as
the president of the United States shall
direct
From 1898 down to 1S49 the statesmen
and jurists whose names and fame are
our most precious heritage framed gov
ernments for Mississippi, Indiana, Louisi-
ana, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Ala
bama, Arkansas, Florida, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Oregon and Minnesota. Some of
these territories were within the limits
of the original thirteen colonies and states
and some in our after-acquired possess
sions and to all of them were extended
certain specific laws of the United States
but, as if to emphasize the power of con-
gress in their government, the 'Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States were
not extended over any of them In still
further emphasizing the power to gov
ern, to grant and to withhold, the acts
of 1850 and afterwards, establishing ter
r
and Utah departed from this unbroken
line of legislation and specifically made
the Constitution and laws of the United
States Of the same force and effect as in
the United States, the language of the
laws indicating that without their legis-
lation they did not operate.
Our friends in South Carolina, Missis-
sippi and Louisiana who stand shivering
with fear lest the Filipinos, by becoming
citizens, will have the constitutional right
TO vote, or by being deprived of that vote
will become the victims of a despotism
more autocratic than Russia, have found
no difficulty in excluding from the ballot
a large number of their citizens. South
by the new constitution Of the
state, makes the requisite for voting the
ability TO read Understandings the con-
stitution of the United States. and er-
possession of $500 worth of property. II
this test were imposed on the Philippines
it would efectually deprive the whole ma
tive population of the suffrage They
make for their denial Of the consent of
the governed the ingenious plea that
neither by the Declaration OF 1 ndepen-
ience nor the Constitution did the /
negroes acquire Cights or recognition: /
that the fathers never meant to include /
them. Certainly, if this be true, it ap- /
races who inhabit the Philippine Islands. /
America and Europe are the bene- /
fciaries and the victims of the marvel !
Gus development Of the nine teenth cen
tury Electricity, steam and invention 1
have stimulated production beyond living
limits. unless new markets can be dis /
covered. The great migrauons Of ancient /
and modern times appear insignificant |
when compared with the exodus from
Europe in the last seventy-flve years. /
The figures reach the enormous volume /
IF 100000 OF human beings whose exile .
from home and country has been mainly
enforced by congestion from overproduc- /
ion and revolution IN enployments BIZ
inventions and devIopement In the arts
md industries. Our fertile lands have
attracted most Of them. but they are
practically exhausted anw now the
worlds problem Of markets for the sur
9lus OF farms and factories. or low wages.
want Of employment. fdleness. and want
: near our own doors"