New Ulm review., 1900-10-31

tiOu WAS ED6lHS plCpdISu, @Ildl iiSul VI
navigation was more important ques-
ton before the people than the adop-
ton of the constitution itself It was
more extensively discussed. When the
constitution came before the convention
OF Virginia for ratification, one of the
objections that was made TO 1t was that
the new government could not be
trusted to enforce the right of naviga-
tion of the American people through
the Mississippi river to the Gulf of
Mexico, and James Monroe, in his
speech, which is still extant, justified
and vlndicated the late confederation
congress from the imputation of indif
terence which had been levelled against
1t. He showed all the negotiations that
had been undertaken, and explained
that the reason why those negotiations
tell through was because the Spanish
king could not be induced to consent
that the people of the United States
should have full right of navigation, and
the United States would not accept any
thing less. And finally. in 1895. treaty
was entered into between the United
States and Spain by which that right of
navigation through the Mississippi
river to the gulf was conferred forever
upon the American people, and in addi-
ton to that, by the twenty-second ar
tlcle OF the treaty, the right of deposit
IN the Island of Orleans was granted to
the merchants of the United States,
which meant that merchants of the
United States would have the right to
land their goods and merchandise on
the Island of Orleans without the pay
ment OF any customs duties or any
charge except such rates as might be
charged tor ordinary warehouse stor-
age. That right was to continue under
the treaty, by the twenty-second article,
TOR three years. and it was further pro-
vlded that if the Spanish king revoked
the right at any time, that then he
agreed to grant the right of deposit at
some other place equally convenient.
They tell us that imperialism is bug
aboo. creation of the disordered mind.
halluclnatlon, or else scarecrow erect
ed to delude the people, l begun by
saying how difficult it is for us to dis
cuss the issues of this campaign, be-
cause the Republicans will give us no
definition OF their purposes and they re-
sent every definition which we attempt
to supply tor them. But there is one
thing certain. They mean to govern
these islands outside of the constitu-
ton. If the constitution applies, no.
body wants them; if they are to be
governed by the constitution thew
agree that the quicker we let go the
better Democrats and Republicans
are at one upon that proposition.
Therefore, we have but to consider
their policy in the one light for they
themselves avow that the constitution
does not apply to them. Now, | sub
NIT. ladies and gentlemen, that the
scheme OF government outlined in that
description embraces the most absolute
despotlsm ever known in this world. 1t
is the most absolute despotism conceiv-
able to the mind of man.
II these islands are to be governed
outside of the constitution, then plain
ly, the limits of the constitution do not
apply to it, and if the limits OF the con-
stitution do not apply. then there are
no limits whatever. If there are no
limits whatever upon it, then l chal-
lenge any person to show me a parallel
for it anywhere in the world (Ap-
plause.)
Let lis see. in practical operation,
whether the establishment of this form
OF government in the Philippine Islands
is possible without any injury to our
selves. Let us consider the effect of it
on our own republic, and,. let me re-
peat, have no doubt that Mckinley is
honest anuas1aaeere when he tells US that
he intends HIS sirTperialistic establish
ments to be transmaEine, and for do
mestic purposes the republic shall be
kept intact. l doubt the capacity of
any man to foreclose the future The
day that empire is established in the
Philippine Islands, that dav the founda-
tions of the republic in the United
States are impaired endangered and the
ruin of the republic is accomplished.
(Applause.) If there be any justifca-
ton for the taking of the Philippine Is
lands, it is difficult to say where is any
territory that we ought not to take.
(Applause.)
They tell lis we are justified in taking
the Philippine Islands because there is
profit in their conquest. | will discuss
that little later, but assume that state
ment to be true, if the fact that con-
quest is profitable makes conquest JUS
tifable, then where shall the limitations
of our conquest be fixed Plainly, it is
our duty, under this dispensation, to
conquer every territory we are able to
subdue
The limits of our empire will, there
loIe, Dt the H1I1tS OF our power. De-
lieve that every patriot now confidently
hopes that the day will come when Can
ada will be incorporated into the Union
(Applause.) That we are all agreed
upon, but we are not agreed upon the
right or the wisdom of extending Our
authority over the Philippine Islands,
but if this principle of conquest be cor
rect that we must carry it where we
can, where it is profitable, then we are
bound to acquire every territory over
which we can extend our armies.
The conquest of the South American
countries would not be impossible.
Nay, more, the conquest of China
would be less ianciful suggestion now
than the conquest of the Philippine Is
lands three years ago. They say we are
justified in taking the Philippines be-
cause they are near China. They are
not half SO near China as China is it
self. Moreover, the Chinese have, at
least, insulted our dignity.
The Filipinos have never done any,
thing except render us service on the