The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-23
SEATTLE, MONDAY, JULY ~.
Platform Studies, ilI.-Imperialism
and American History.

Platform Studies, iII.-Imperialism
and American History.
The Democratic platform undertakes
10 define imperialism. as It IL understood
by the Democracy. and does SO In the
following language:
THAT any government not based on the
consent OF the governed II tyranny that
to impose upon any people government
by force liz 10 substitute the methods OF
imperialism for those OF the republic.
n to govern the people Of the terri
tories Of the United States without
their express consent and. IL necessary.
to maintain that government by force.
constitutes Imperialism, then, indeed.
this government has been imperialistic
since Its foundation ana from q date
before the constitution was adopted: for
there has been no time In which the
people inhabiting portions Of the terri
tory under tho United States nag have
not been governed under laws In the
making OF which they had no voice. The
government given tho people OF Puerto
Rico Is iiberaiity itself as compared with
that given the other territories of thu
United States at the present time, not
TO contrast II with the earlier Territorial
governments
A. a commentary on the present Dem
ocratic use Of the words consent OF the
governed. II may b. well to see what
the fathers OF the country. to whom
the Democratic party IL always appeal
ing. considered . suitable and proper
government for the people In the terri
tory owned by the United States. out
side Of the boundaries OF the states
which were parties 10 the constitution.
In 1857 the old continental congress
passed an ordinance 'for the govern
meat OF tho territory Of the United
states northwest Of the river Ohio"
The government provided for that ter
ritory consisted OF a governor. q sec
r~taTy and three Judges. appointed by
congress II was required that the gov
srnor should have a freehold Of not less
than one thousand acres OF land In the
district. and that the secretary and the
Judges should each hold not less than
Ave hundred acres OF land The pro-
vision for the legislature was as fol-
Iowa:
ssc. The governor and Judges or a
majority OF them .haii adopt and publish
IN the district such lsw. OF the original
states. erinteai ana etvil. "a may b beat
suited to shs circumstances. OF the dis
trset.
The governor was empowered 60 APP
point magistrates and all ether eIvn Of
fioess Provision was made that when
'n the district there were 5000 free male
Inhabitants OF full age = legislature
should he organized. the members of
the general assembly TO be elected by
the people. and the members Of the
council or upper house, to be appointed
by congress. As 20 taxation without
representation. IL may be said that no
provision whatever was made for the
representation ct the territory In ccn.
srcss. and the following provision was
IN The ordinance;
Tn. Inhabitants sna settlers In SAID
territory shall Sa Agbiegs 20 paw a psrt
% the federal debt cansraot@d or "a be
contracted, ard = proportional rare Of the
expense 90 government ta b. apportsonei
10 them BY eaakFezs
The lahseltAnta % Puerto Rico nav
no part 81 the federal debt and no part
Of the expenses Of federal government,
Net dollar In taxation ts collected
FROM them save for the expenses Of
their local government ana portion O.
taoss expenses are uet by the federal
government
The arst congress, Ia Its frst Sassioa,
l5Sa, amended this set hy rlaclus the
spsaiH;ng power e all territorial OH
GERS. including the legislative council.
IN the president Instead q Ia congress.
leaving all other provisions as they
we're. President Washington. presuu-
ably familiar VITA the language o. the
declaration OF independence, signed the
bill
The territory Of Mississippi. organized