The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-06
LOYAL TO TIE REPUBLIC.
Chicago Chronicle.)

The passage of the currency bill leaves
the question of free silver out of the
approaching campaign and makes room,
therefore, for more important matter.
What of the colonial policy, so-called? :?
1t ought to be settled by the constitution
which, though, it does not provide spe-
officially for meeting the situation as it
now exists. does so in effect. The con-
stitution has provided for a suprme
court as a tribunal on disputed ques
tions. That tribunal has declared un-
| equivocally that over all the posses
sions of the United States Immediately
upon their requirement the fundament-
al law of the United States is opera
tive.
President Mckinley has sworn to up
hold and defend the constitution of the
| United States, but he now chooses to be-
lieve, and attempts to act upon his be-
lief, that the supreme court decision is
wrong. The constitution of the United
| States, in his opinion, does not affect
such territory as Porto Rico and the
Philippines. Purely as matter of
grace he is in favor of free trade be-
tween the island of Porto Rico and our
own country. He sees no particular
principle involved. While insisting that
congress has full authority over the pos
| sessions of the United States, he de-
crees that Porto Rico, nonrepresented in
that congress, shall be at its mercy
His imperial will is that Porto Rico
shall enjoy such free trade as exists
between Indiana and Illinois. not as a
matter of right, but merely as a matter
rel with his own congress, wherein he
is likely to be worsted, while laboring
to correct end he proceeds upon an
indefensible principle. But it nowhere
appears that he is willing to extend to
the Philippines that grace which he
makes a merit of bestowing upon Porto
Ricans. In short, he appears to be an
.executive without settled policy re-
garding the new possessions except that
he is to deny them the benefit Of exist
ing law and substitute for the constitu-
ton the will of congress.
Does the country wish to follow him
in that idea?
| Mckinley seems to think that he is
entitled to discriminate He may defend
the constitution in those matters which
please him, but in other matters he may
cast it down. The citizens of this re-
public are faithful to it's constitution
and would not subserve it, They wish
to have a chief magistrate who will be
bound by that instrument, not one who
will use it according to his own whim-
sizes.
In the differences between the presi-
dent and the majority of his own party
in the house an issue will be presented
to the country affecting the very exis-
tence of the republic and of far greater
consequence, therefore. than the diff
ferences regarding the currency.
| IL NIL u1CINlllSy anu uSleHueu
the constitution as strongly as he up
holds and defends the trusts and combi-
nations in restraint of trade, while pro-
Tossing to the contrary, no such con-
tention need arise. But he elects to stand
by imperialism and the sense of the
country is to be taken in November up
on any candidate for the presidency
making such claim.
1t Is inevitable, therefore, that Demo-
Gratis, who are opposed to autocracy,
whether 1t be in congress or in the exc
cutive mansion, will oppose candidate
who makes the pretense that his own
will may be substituted for the demands
of the fundamental law.
Treason to the empire is, as some
body has put 1t, loyalty to the republic,
and the Democracy believes in main
tanning the republic in it's pristine
vigor.