Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-05-10

nemocrats papers r filled with
lartions that a policy unknown IN
hictory of the country has been
..ad in legislating for Puerto Rico.
sbarge is that the administration
|s,,oa with im~perialistic designs, and
Nc president has signed an auto
~ law in relation to the island.
s@ut history be examined on that
The Northwest Territory was
.u~izad in 1887 by a Congress large
composed of the men VINO frame1
! narlaration of independence and
: constitution. They were the first
,eoI practically with the question OF
.u.,oriaI government. All the exec
80 officers of that immense reg on,
Northwest Territory, were ap-
Pirted by the federal government as
.he case of Puerto Rico. The Off
wore a governor, secretary, judges
pS militia generals. When n white
pnuIation passed the 5000 limit two
n;SIstiye houses were authorized, but
unper house remained subject TO
kderal approval.
President Washington selected high
Hcars for the Northwest Territory
Lst as President Mckinley is choosing
ksm for Puerto Rico. History has
~ arraigned Washington for imper-
SIism in that act, which he performed
kith Characteristic care and RepuDn-
kn simplicity.
President jefferson made similar ap-
ointments in the Louisiana purchase.
songress first empowered him to APP
[olnt all civil, military and judicial Of
Ears of the vast new possession. A
Eeor later he was authorized to APP
[oInt the governor of Louisiana, the
6@eretary and a legislative council OF
.lrteen. over this body of fifteen Of
[eials Jefferson held the veto. Puerto
leo AZ the outset, elects a lower
Iouse by the ballots of it's inhabitants,
nd FIVE Of the Presidents appointees
4 the upper house must be native
Puerto Ricans.
Jefferson's exercise OF power in the
louisiana purchase was decidedly more
Weeping than McKinley's in Puerto
Rico. He did not abuse his trust,
hough there were some quick TO
[harge that he would. His selections
n men were wise, and the new posses
hon was well governed. The North
lest Territory under Washington and
he Louisiana purchase under Jefferson
Inferred no harm from them as i'm
kerialists' or "~agIocrats." They were
rue representatives OF American free
|om, and SO is Mckinley by the tes-
Hmony of every aes CT his life.
Another precedent is found here in
Missouri, which, as a territory, was
kyen a legislative council and house
h representatives, the former depend
be- upon the Presidents selection OF
line men from the eighteen nominated
~ the House.
In the Ease of Florida the precedent
|hows an increase. not decrease, on the
bderal direction of new territory. The
President appointed the governor or
florida. A motion in Congress that
his governor should exercise only the
bowers not incompatible with the con-
|titution was voted down. The first
Governor of Florida as a United States
possession, and Congress refused to
pace HSllLullOl iliullS upoh hA@
bower, was Andrew Jackson. In a GER
|ain case that came before the courts,
Jackson notified the judge that the
PROSTITUTION and federal laws did not
lpply to Florida, and that the only
laws Congress had passed for the terri
|ory related to the collection OF reve-
pue and prevented the Importation OF
|iayes. The documents attempting a
protest in the case were tabled by con-
press. Jackson was sustained In his
Flew that only those two laws were
operative in Florida, and that 1t was
pot under the constitution until Con-
Bress acted.
The cant about imperialism in the
Puerto Rican law is either rank decep-
pom or the grossest ignorance. In the
Dght of many presidents. as well as in
mat of common sense, the law Is as
ruly American as any ever signed by
Washington, Jefferson, Monroe or
|ackson.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.