Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-03-30
WOULD IGNORE THE coNsTIrU-
TIOS.

iuk TIC puol cuulLlSt thah III iSSSos
acquisitions were a part OF the United
States, he spoke ~ IN e1pansionist,
and as there are many Democrats
who are expansionisis by reason OF
tha history and traditions OF their
party, it was thought by some that
the President had merely made avail
able old Democratic policies.
When he wrote to General Otis in
regard to the treaty or agreement
with the Sultan OF Sulu. he insisted
that the Sultan should be told with
duo emphasis that nothing in the
treaty or agreement was to be inter.
preted rs recognizing or tolerating
slavery, since the constitution OF the
United States expressly prohibited 1t
He seemed to admit TINT u organic
law was operative wherever tho flag
had been planted.
But at that time the administration
had not been stung by the tsetse fly OF
imperialism. The various trusts had
not whispered into the Presidents
ear that the inhabitants OF the islands
that we had acquired were entitled to
no consideration at our hands but
were placed where they are to be
pIucked and taxed and starved where
they ARE Tor the benefit Of the great
AnglO-Saxon aggregation OF CONNER
cinl philanthropists and business
Christians. When the trusts began
their whisperings, the President was
easily convinced, especially rs MIR.
Hanna was close at hand to empha-
size the arguments.
In the way OF benevolence the
President is now an imperialist, He
is convinced that Congress (which is
the creation Of the constitution is nj
together superior to that instrument
especially when it happens to be "a
Republican Congress. IL it were a
Democratic Congress the case would
be different. But as the President
and his advisers are convinced that
the oath OF Il Republican Congress
man to uphold and maintain the Con-
stitution is not valid on the other side
OF the three mile limit.
When a President or Il party or any
public man without regard to party.
contends that Congress has any iuris-
dictiSn outside OF the constitution
which created it, the contention is in
the nature Of Il claim in behalf OF
power and authority that can have
no existence i'll a republic winch is
governed by the people for the peo-
pie. In short, while Mr.. Mckinley,
rs a philnnthropist, is in favor OF
free trade with Porto Rico, no has
been compelled by the demands OF
the trusts to o that the con.
stitution does not apply to territories
which are separated from this coun
try by salt water, but that Congress,
superior to the constitution, has pie
nary powers there.
There is Il very wide difference as
we have already intimated, between
expansion and imperialism. This is
the mistake that the anti .%eTpaDsion.
lists OF New England have been max.
ing. They have been denouncing ms
i'm perialistic Il policy that bears not
the remOtest relation to imperialism.
The constitution has claimed thert I.
could be no such thing rs imperi.
alism in any policy carried out under
organic law, but the President and
his party announce that a Republican
Congress is superior to the ipstru.
ment which created it and can IKE
else II jurisdiction wholly lndepen.
dent thereof. This is imperialism OF
the most violent and revolutionary
type, and il it is carried out il must
result III Il complete change in the
character Of our government. In.
stead OF Il national development 1t is
in the nature OF a reversion.
We now see the administration rid
ing behind Mr.. Hanna on King
Georges horses, illustrating in some
measure an old folk song, the words
OF which need not be quoted here.
Congress is mounted too, and the
motclcy procession il trying to gallon
away FROM tho constitution Of the
country and get outside OF it's juris.
diction. This, then, is imperialism,
and the most enthusiastic expansion.
ist must oppose and resent it II no
believes IN Republican institutions,
IL he has uny regard for justice, libcr.
ty and popular rights. 1t is Il vicious
and revolutionary doctrine which
comes in conflict with every political
principle that has hitherto found
lodgment or support in the minds OF
American people. II is n doctrine
which il carried out to it's logical con.
clusion would destroy all coDstitu-
tional guarantees whatsoever, for il
Congress can go outside OF the juris.
diction Of the constit ution in Porto
Rico, IL ear go outside that iurisdic.
ton IN Massachusetts or III Georgia.
Nero Statehood docs not give nDy
additional privileges to the individu.
nj. 1t simply adds TO tho dignity and
importance Of the body polite. Tho
only way we u prevent tho people
oiPortoRic0 from enjoying the rights
guaranteed the inhabitants OF Arizo.
mn, Now Mexico aud Alnska is to go
outside OF the constitution and VIC.
lato the fundamental principles OF