The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-23
in lTss, was placed by congress under
precisely the same form Of government

precisely the same form OF government
President Adams. one Of the signers OF
the declaration Of independence. signed
the bill. Tennessee and Kentucky. in
1890. and Indiana. in 1850. were organ
lied as territories. the provision for gov
eminent In each esse being in identieaIiy
the same language: There shall be es-
tabiished within such territory gov
eminent in all respects similar 20 that
provided by the ordinance of congress
passed July 10. 1887. for the territory
northwest Of the river Ohio" Michigan.
organized In 1906. under Jefferson; ILL.,
nois. 1909. and Missouri, 1912. both dur
ing the administration OF Madison, had
precisely the same form of government,
In identicaliy the same language.
All OF these territories save Missouri!
we're acquired by cessions from the orig
inai states. When II came to dealing
with territory acquired by treaty and
Inhabited by people OF alien blood. not
vestige OF self-government was grant
ed them by the Democratic presidents
and congress, which then controlled the
entire machinery OF the national gov
eminent
In the act passed for the government
Of Louisiana. during Jefferson's admin
istration. in 1865. the power Of appoint
ment OF all officers was vested In the
president. or In the governor appointed
by him. The provisions for legislation
were as follows:
The legislative power shall be vested
In the governor and In three Judges. or
q majority OF them. who shall have pow
er to establish inferior courts In said ter
ritory and prescribe their jurisdiction, and
20 make all laws which they may deem
conductive to the good government of the
Inhabitants thereof.
1t may be noted In passing that the
inhabitants OF Louisiana were bitterly
opposed to the cession OF the territory
to the United States: and that, fore
seeing a possible revolt against Amer
lean rule. congress. in 1903. passed an
act authorizing the president, "in order
to maintain in said territories the au-
thority Of the United States" to "em-
ploy any part Of the army and navy OF
the United States" and also the militia.
This Louisiana bill. passed by Dem
ocratic congress n the behest OF a
Democratic president. al a later date
was characterized by Benton as fol-
lows.
Il was = startling bill continuing the ex-
istfns Spanish government: putting the
president In the place OF the king Of
Spain; putting all the territorial officers
IN the place OF the kings officers and
placing the appointment Of all these Of
hcsrs In the president alone without refer
ence to the senate. Nothing could be
more incompatible with our constitution
than such governments mere emana-
ton Of Spanish despotism. I'm which all
powers, civil and military. legislative. ex-
ecutfve and judicial. were In the intend
ant general. representing the king; and
where the people, far from possessing
political rights. were punishable arbitrar-
lily for presuming to NEEDLE with political
subjects.
In view Of all Of these precedents. Il
ID simply ignoring history to claim that
the United States. under the present
Republican administration. is adopting
any novel method OF dealing with or
governing newly acquired territory. In
30 far as It has departed from historic
presidents. the departures have been in
the direction OF tightening tax burdens
and giving to the people OF the new ac-
QUESTIONS . greater share in the ad-
ministratien OF their local affairs than
former Democratic presidents thought
II wise to entrust to an alien race I'm
familiar with self government. II this Is
Imperialism, the government Of the
United States has always been imperial
Astic.