Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-06-07
PRESIDENTS POLICY.
MR.. MKIELEY CHARGED WITH
GROSSLY IGNORING THE
CONSTITUTION.
TIE PRESIDENT HELD RESPONSIBLE
Massachusetts, Republican Declares
That the Chief Executive Was
the First Imperialist En-
pire Imminent.


Hall was packed the other night with
members Of the ADti-Imperialistic
League, their friends aud sympa-
thizers.
The audience was with the speakers,
as was attested by the bursts of wild
applause that followed the many se-
we're arraignments Of the present ad-
policy.
Carl Schurz spoke briefly, giving
way to former Secretary Boutwell,, Of
Massachusetts,, a lifelong Republic
can. The New England statesman's
severe criticism Of the President of
his party created 8 deep impression.
At the conclusion of the speaking
resolutions on the line Of the speeches
were adopted by q rising vote.
JUGGLING THE CONSTITUTION.
MIR. Boutwell, said In part:
s'I have set before myself the task
OF specifying some of the errors In
which President Mckinley and his ad-
ministration have INDUCED in regard
to the Constitution Of the United
States, and.I shall then mention some
OF the pretexts that have been re-
sorted to as apologies or excuses or
shields for what has been done. There
are Indications that attempts are
making to so oonstrue the Oonstitu-
tion as to justify the policy of seizing,
through war, foreign lands and alien
peoples, and governing them as they
might be governed II the Constitution
OF the United States did not exist.
ssIt is the manifest purpose of the
administration to seize and to hold
countries and to govern races and
communities outside of the jurisdic-
tion Of the Constitution. Thus Is the
administration creating q power in
the President and Congress indepen-
dent of the Constitution, and over
which the people can have no con-
troll. II is with that usurpation that l
am now to deal. The question before
the country is this: Republic or EN-
pire2
CONGRESS- POWER LIMITED.
"The claim that Congress may ex-
tend the Constitution to the new ter
risorfsg ks soslv . ->astatoHaanA. .of ~tha
claim that the Constitution does not
apply OF it's own force TO our newly
acquired possessions, and that the
power OF Congress over such possess
ions In an unlimited power.
"Oongress Is to obey the Oonstitu-
tion. 1t has no power to increase or
to diminish the scope Of that instru.
ment.
"Whenever a territory Is acquired,
either by purchase or conquest, the
Constitution becomes Immediately
and by its own force the fundamental
law Of such acquired territory, or 1t
must remain forever outside of the
Consultation, and, consequently, OUT
side Of the jurisdiction Of Congress,
inasmuch rs Congress cannot legis-
late beyond the jurisdiction of the
Constitution, the source, and the
sole source Of its legislative author
ity. The inquiry thus made leads to
these conclusions, viz;
al. Whenever territory Is acquir-
ed, whether by conquest or purchase,
such territory becomes subject to the
Constitution, and that without the aid
or agency Of any branch or depart
ment OF the Government of the United
States,
"2. The power Of legislation by
Congress over such territory is fixed
and limited by the Constitution.
"3. That power is so limited that
the duties, imposts and excises must
be the same In the newly acquired
possessions as they may then be in
the pre-existing states and territories
ct the same periods OF time.
"a. The claim that Congress may
govern territories and provinces that
are not within the jurisdiction of the
Constitution, or that Congress may
extend the Constitution over Porte
Rico, or the Philippines, or Japan, is
an assumption of arbitrary power
that must prove fatal to our Republic
can system. These conclusions are In
harmony with the decisions Of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
with the opinion Of Chancellor Kent,
with the decision, after argument of
an international tribunal, in which
the United States was party, and in
harmony with the opinion given re-
Gently by Judge Lochren. A dissent
ing opinion has been given by Mr..
Whitelaw Reid. It may be inferred,
however, from the accompanying re-
marks, which he has submitted to the
public, that, II he were to be convinc-
ed OF the error of his opinion, he
would become an anti-imperialist, as
he cannot accept Porto Rico, Cuba
and the Philippines as equal states in
the American Union.
M'KNLEY CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE.
"0ne conclusion is deducible from
the facts Of history. Our occupation
of the Philippine Islands, and the
war and blood incident to that oceu-
patton, are due, and due solely, to
the policy and doings of President
Mckinley, and for which be, first and
chiefly, is responsible, That policy
he will pursue until II is reversed BY
the people, irrespective of party al
liances.
SIT is vain hope that the Republi-
can party, as an organization, can re-
verse the policy of the President. The
hope is as vain as was the hope in
1861. 1885, that the Democratic party,
as an organization, would aid In the
abolition of slavery.
"Again, 1t is claimed that trade fol.
lowsl the flag. This true when the
flag is the herald of pesce, but the
saying is false, false utterly, when the
flag is transformed into a menace ol
war.
t.f. In 1893. We had acked In good