The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-17
As TO Treaties.


ufacture the alleged facts upon which to
base their arguments is shown In the
Monday issue of the Evening Times Of this
city. in referring TO the various treaties
by which the United states acquired title
to the lana now owned by the United
States. and incorporated, in many in
stances, into the Union. The Times states:
% In every treaty which the United
States has made for the acquisition of
new territory-except one-ths express
provision has been made that such terri
tory was acquired 10 become an integral
part of the American nation" and TO be
ultimately erected Into independent
states" each having equal rights with all
other states.
GO Il was so in the treaty which JEFF
ferson made under which the louisiana
purchase was acquired.
go 1t was SO under the treaty which
Monroe made and which gave TO this
country a larger portion Of all the states
bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, east of
the Mississippi river.
a. II was so in the requirement OF the
Lone Star state-now the greatest in ter
ritory OF all the states.
90 1t was so In the acquisition OF the
territory acquired in the war with Mex
leo. and each and every treaty contained
-nat clause, except the "one"--and that
treaty was negotiated by the present adj
ministration with old Spain, for the
requirement of the Philippine islands.
AS a matter OF fact no such language
as quoted is contained in a single treaty
ever negotiated between the United States
and other countries. by which territory
was acquired. and no language limiting the
power Of this country 10 govern the new
territory. The nearest approach to II is
the Louisiana purchase treaty. the exact
language in that instrument being as fol-
lows:
The inhabitants Of the coded territory
shall be Incorporated In the union Of
states. and admitted as soon as possible.
according to the principles Of the federal
constitution. to the enjoyment Of all the
rights, advantages and immunities OF citi-
zens of the United States.
The Inhabitants OF a portion OF the ter
ritory then acquired now in Indian ter
into the union OF states, although nearly
one hundred years have elapsed since
that territory was acquired. and the status
OF the inhabitants OF that territory differs
today in nowise from the status Of the
Inhabitants OF the Philippine islands.
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. by
which territory was acquired from Mex
leo, or rather by which Mexico recog-
nized the conquest OF certain portions of
its territory by the army OF the United
States. contained the following provision:
The Mexicans, who in the territories
aforesaid, shall not preserve the charac-
ter of citizens of the Mexican republic.
conformably 10 what Is stipulated In the
preceding article. shall be Incorporated
into the union Of the United States. and
be admitted at the proper time Ito be
judged by congress) to the enjoyment OF
all the rights Of citizens of the United
States according to the principles Of the
constitution.
It will be observed that IN neither Of
these treaty provisions was any allusion
made to the future form of government
Of the territory acquired and no o5liga-
ton was assumed to ever admit that ter
ritory into the Union The reference was
solely to the status OF the Inhabitants.
and the evident intent OF the treaty was
simply TO assure to such Inhabitants an
equality OF rights with other American
citizens resident OF the annexed territory.
BY virtue OF those rights. thus assured.
each inhahitant OF the annexed territory
became a citizen and could exercise all
the rights granted TO any other citizen
in that territory.
The provisions In regard TO the status
OF the inhabitants OF Florida. on its ces-
sion by Spain. are In substantially iden-
tioal language.
In the purchase OF Alaska the following
treaty provision was made:
The inhabitants OF the coded territory
according TO their choice. reserving their
natural allegiance. may return 70 Russia
within three years, but II they should
prefer 10 remain In the coded territory
native tribes. shall he admitted 10 the en-
ioyment of all the rights. advantages and
immuntiles OF citizens Of the United
states, and shall be maintained
and protected in the free enjoyment OF
their liberty property and religion. The
uncivillsed tribes viii be subject TO such
laws and regulations as the United States
may from time 10 time adopt In regard 10
the aboriginal tribes OF that country.
1t was never IN contemplation at the
time Alaska was acquired that ~ could,
under any circumstances. have popula-
tion or resources TO entitls :, TO admission
into the Union as a state; ye, the rrovi-
sious in regard TO the status Of the civil
iaed inhabitants are substantially 'sen-
teal with those contained in former ,rea-
ties !, will W noted that, with the ex-
cepuon - the Alaska treaty. not single
one 81 these Instruments contains any
ailnsion 20 tire future status O, ;hs aso-
rlufnai Inhabitants