The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-20

A Historic Parallel.

The provisions Tor the government OF
Puerto Rico are far more liberal than
were ever before proposed for the peo-
pie OF any newly acquired territory. II
II interesting in this connection to note
how the Democrats treated the people
Of new possessions which were acquired
when the founders OF the Democratic
party were In power. and to contrast
the governments established then with
that Instituted for Puerto Rico today.
The absence Of historical knowledge, or
rather the calm ignoring OF the record.
ION the part OF the Democrats shown
by such a comparison Is astounding.
The Brooklyn cage. a Democratic
newspaper. recently recalled the history
OF the acquisition OF Florida. and the
establishment OF the first territorial
government there. during the admins
tration Of Monroe When the territory
Spain, the first temporary government
established by congress conferred on
exercised by the spanish governor. An
attempt was made to amend the bill so
AS to provide that he should exercise
only those powers which were not in
compatible with the constitution. but
this was voted down by congress with
out division. and the original bill passed
also without division
Andrew Jackson was appointed by the
president as governor. and he proceed
ed to govern the territory with pre-
cisely the same powers as the Spaniard
whom he succeeded. There was no leg
islature. and the people OF Florida had
not a single word to say In any depart
ment OF the government Jackson i'm
prisoned a Spanish official and an at
tempt was made to release him on a
writ Of haheas corpus, issued from the
newly established court Jackson re-
fused to recognize the writ. holding that
neither the constitution nor any OF the
federal laws, save those which had been
expressly extended by congress. applied
90 the new territory GOV jackson was
sustained In his position by President
Monroe, and when the matter was
brought ny in congress Il was promptly
tabled. John Quincy Adams. the sec
rotary of state. informed Judge Fro
mentin that only the federal laws and
slave trade laws had been extended over
Florida and these were all that he. as
federal Judge, was called upon TO en-
force.
This was during the flrst temporary
government When permanent terri
torial government was established for
Florida In isss. the difference was in
fern only. but not IN principle. Not
the nrst faint vestigs Of power was en-
trusted to the people % Florida A leg
islailve body was established to make
laws for the new possessions. bat Il
consisted salely 81 . council OF thirteen
members. every enc OF whom was an
pointed by the president, as was also
the governor the judges marshals. and
IN fact every ETHICAL IN the territory.
The laws passed by this legislative eoun-
cn did not become effective uutn sub
United to and approve ed by congress
There WAS 40 provision for any vlcc.
ton. OF any exercise OF any power what
ever by the people " the news territory
who were treated by the las AS sub
Jects. not as citizens. Aud all This. q
must be remembered. was in territory
acquired BY treaty BY which the Uai,-
I'd states was pledged TO grant Ia The
people of Florida fun statehood when
the population became sufficiently iasge
10 support a state government
This form Of government for ths PEG
pie of Florida was framed by the men
who are recognized as the fathers OF the
Democratic party. and Il was admins
tered In its most oppressive form hy
the man who is recognized as the patron
saint Of Democracy, Andrew jackson.
II ever imperialism. In the Roman form,
was presented in this country. it was
"a 1893, when the territorial government
fas Florida was framed as the Demo-