Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-10-19
.JEFFERSONIAN IMPERIALISM.

JEFFERSONIAN IMPERIALISM.
Mr.. Bryan's efforts to bolster
up his opposition to retention Of
the Philippines by citing Jeffer-
son as an opponent to this sys-
tenn of annexation, convict him
of ignorance of our political his
tory or expose him as a dema-
gogue who. believes the people
are unfamiliar with the acts of
Mr.. Jeferson's administration.
Mr.. Bryan asks, "By what
authority does the national ad-
ministration govern the Filipinos
without their consedt?" By
authority of American history
made under the administration
of Jefferson, and law passed by
the democratic party. Mr.. Bry-
an has not the saving grace to
imply that the people acquired
by the Louisiana purchase gave
their consent to be governed by
the United States, but he makes
the direct assertion that they
manifested assent. Now, Mr..
Bryan knows better than this,
for with all his infirinities he is
no fool. Not only were the in
habitants of this territory ac-
quired without their consent, but
they protested against the man
ner in which they were ac-
quired without permitting them
any agency in the events which
annexed their country to the
United States"
Soon after Jefferson took pos
session of the territory of Louis
lana, duly appointed and author
lied representatives of its in
habitants presented to the SEN
ate of the United States an able
and formal remonstrance against
the political system adopted by
congress for their government.
Protesting against the form of
government which had been pro-
vided for them, the remonstrance|
said, GA single magistrate, vest
ed with civil and military, with
executive and judiciary powers,
Upon whose laws we have had no
Pheck, over whose acts we had
he control, and from whose de-
crees there is no appeal, the sud
den suspension of all those forms
to which we had been accus-
toned; the total want of any
permanent system to replace
them; the introduction of a new
language into the adrninistra-
Fion of justice; the perplexing
necessity of using an interpreter
or every communication with
bfcers placed over us; the in
voluntary errors, of necessity
,ommitted by judges uncertain
by what code they are to decide,
vavering between the civil and
he common law, between the
orms Of the French, Spanish,
md American jurisprudence,
Ind with the best intentionsl
laable to expound laws of which !,
hey are ignorant, or to acquire
hem in a language they do not
Understand. These were not !
light inconvenience, nor was
his state of things calculated to
live favorable impression or
Eealize the hopes we entertained;
put we submitted with resigna-
ion, because we lhought it the
fleet of necessity; we submitted
nth patience, though its dura-
on was longer than we had
zen taught to expect; we sub
tilted even with cheerfulness,
bile we supposed your honor
lie body was employed in re-
icing this chaos to order, and
ling system of harmony from
E depth of this confused, dis
rdant mass.
"Uninforrned as we are sup :
sed to be of our acquired rights;
IS necessary for us to demon
ate that this act does not Sin
rporate us into Union,' that :,
vests us with none of the .,
ghts', gives us no advantages, a