Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-09


lands and their Inhabitants into the
United States as a part thereof, and
that we would not at any time create
them into states to be admitted into
the Union. In other words, in so long
as we governed those islands at all,
they were to be governed as territory
simply belonging to the United States,
and their people were to be treated,
not as citizens of the United States.
entitled to the privileges and guaran-
tees of our constitution and institu-
tions, but, as the treaty of peace itself
expressed 1t, their civil and political
status was to- be fixed by the congress
of the United States. Before action
could be taken in this regard an insur-
Tection broke out. 1t became neces-
sary for the United States government
to at once retire, or surrender, or sup
press that Instruction and establish
law, order and stable government.
The Republican party does not sur
render, it does not retire, except in or
der, and therefore it felt that 1t was
its duty, both to the people in the
world, to suppress the insurrection
and then legislate. We have been en-
gagged in that work. Our efforts, how
ever, have been attended with 'oppo-
sition-at least the opposition of crit
| icism-from the Democratic party.
| They now say: "The Constitution fol-
| lows the flag" and claim that we are
! In ni,,h
! empire because we haven't given trial
by jury, the right of suffrage, and the
! bill of rights generally, to a lot of men
with guns in their hands. They in
sisted when that country was 'ceded
to us, that it should be distinctly un-
derstood that the constitution did not
go there, and now they are insisting
that it does go there. What they will
next advocate depends entirely upon
the exigencies of their political situa-
ton; and while they are talking about
the Declaration of Independence and
the consent of the governed for the
Philippines, who they insist never
shall become citizens, they are rob-
bling the negro citizen OF the United
States of his right to vote, and deny
ing to him consent to anything. We
have just sent a negro regiment to
China to fig7t the Boxers and save ouI
missionaries and ministers. Every
body knows they will fight gallaltly
as colored men have fought gallantly
for our flag and country ever since tnt
blood of Crispus Attucks was shed IL
the streets OF Boston. But when the
war is over and those gallant blncl
men return to the United States, il Lh'
president should appoint ono OF then
to a fourth-class postoffice, he woul(
not be allowed to hold it in any south
ern state, and he would be murdered
If he should insist upon his right un
der the constitution and laws to do so
Manifestly, party that is respon
sible for the business prostration
stagnation and idleness of labor tina
obtained in this country under the las
I administration of Mr.. Cleveland, an
9 which thought the remedy for this re
: suit of free trade was to add free sill
$ yer, and which so backed and filed
Il with respect to the relation and dut
i of the United States toward our recen
: acquisitions, and which is even nov
openly and defiantly multiplying tn
5 Fifteenth amendment to the constitu
e tion, and insisting upon the folly @
: free silver, is not qualified to deal wit
: such great worldwide questions a
I those which this government mus
L deal with during the next four years
: Everybody knows this, and that is rea
J, son enough for keeping it out Q
i power.
But many other consideration
might be added. and all might be elab
o Grated The chapter of history noN
being written in China reflects tn
very highest credit ON the McKinle
: administration. When Peking wa
5 last visited by the civilized powers
y neither the United States nor Japa
was known as world power; but to
: day these two nations are at the hea
of the relief column, and the Unite
> States, with her diplomacy and wis
: dom in craftsmanship, has laid dow
= the rules that all the other .civiliZe
{ nations of the earth interested in wha
is now transpiring in China have ac
. cepted and followed. If. Mr. Brya
and his party had been in power an
had their way, and had acted as the
talk, this would not, and could nc
! have happened.
1T is we'll enough to have DemQ
p cratic party. 1t makes us vigilant an
. keeps us humble, and we are all tn
= better on that account, but it woul
be mistake to put it to any othe
service. J. B. FORAKER.