The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-10
capital Chat.
Washington Gossip, Political end
Otherwise, for the Readers
Of the Globe.

months for the president and the senate
and house imperialists to patch together
measure for the government Of Puerto
Rico according to their homogeneous
ideas. From the first week in December
they have been at it, and had but just
now as they fondly thought, concluded
VAN nope! The ink has scarcely dried
on the presidents signature to the bill
and already 1t has been discovered sur
Elementary legislation will be required.
rms will be the way of it until the
president and his supporters in congress
get back to the constitution. Otherwise
1hey VIII have to be leg-slating for Puer-
10 Rlco at every session of congress
After months of incubation they hatch
ed bill for the Philippines 1t has been
on the calendar of the senate for some
time, but the courage is lacking to brin=,
II Forward for any serious consideration.
All know 1t Is based upon principles fun
damentally wrong and inconsistent with
republican institutions. For the sake of
ouncombe 1t may be thought advisable
10 nave some debate on this measure I'm
the senate, but the house will do Moth
ing with 1t. 1t is an understood thing
no" that military rule in the Philippines
IS TO continue indefinitely. The path OF
legislation is too dangerous to enter noon
at this period of the game
The whole trend Of administration in
tent and purposes is to tide over all mat
ters connected with those far-off posses
Slohs until after the election. Then much
Oh the professions with which it Is now
sought to beguile the people Will. if Nc
ktnley secures a new lease of mower H.,
thrown TO the winds. The president will
In MS own time and In his own way deal
with the subject in all its entirety and
all its branches
1t is not improbable there NAV. howev-
er' De more or less Of a hitch In carrying
out this programme. 1t looks as if the
courts are destined to prove a stumbling -
block IN the march Of Imperialism The
opinion of Judge LOChreu. OF the United
States district court in Minnesota. is the
beginning. 1t is said here by the imperi-
aIlsts that Judge Lochren's opinion does
not apply TO any question likely To cause
embarrassment to the government This
probably may be. 1t will not prevent
questions coming up for Judicial scru-
tiny which will be embarra ssing and
perhaps, most materially interfere with
the imperialist policy
There are many active and able men
In this country who will never rest until
II is judicially determined and settled
what policy is constitutional and legal
to be pursued toward the territory we
have invested by conquest and forced
purchase from a helpless foe. Questions
Will be raised wherever the opportunity
offers. As this may occur I'm many diff
ferent sections 1t is to be expected the
opinions of the United States district aui~
circuit judges may not always be upon
the same lines
Ultimately the questions will come be-
fore the supreme court of the United
States In such shape as will force a de-
ctsion covering broadly the relations OF
the government and its obligations 20 the
YgTT
polite without any vOlition Of their own.
The whole history Of the United States
supreme court shows that with the few
est of exceptions, 1t scrupuously avoids
in its renderings every question except
the purely technical one which may bs
directly before it. Undoubtedly i'm deal
ing with the Republican party policy as
applied to Puerto Rico and the Philip
pines, the court will manage to escape
as far as in its power, review Of what
may be termed political hearings and eff
fects. But sooner or later it will have
to face the vital point. When it Is
brought to this it will be amazing indeed
should it not tear to flinders the super
struction which Mr.. Mckinley has built
around his extraordinary and indefeaslblo
policy.
The Baltimore Sun prints the following
editorial:
Next month Oregon will elect justice
of the states supreme court, two repre-
sentatives in congress and seventy-Gve
members of the legislature. Ordinarily
the election would not attract attention.
except so far as the political complexion
of the legislature will affect the choice OF
a successor to Senator Mcbride who is
a Republican. As this is the year Of the
presidential election, however and the
platforms Of both the Republican and
Democratic "a I'm TO
tional as well as local issues. the result ?
of next months election may indicate To
some extent the sentiment of the Far
West toward McKinleylsm and imperial
ism. The platform OF the Oregon Repub-
leans indorses President McKinley's a3-
ministration and the action Of the party
in congress-, and favOrs the denomination
of Mr.. Mckinley.
THE Democratic platform opposes wars
OF conquest and colonial possessions
and advocates the ultimate Independence
of the Filipinos, with protection from
outside interference The platform also
opposes militarlsm and denounces the
doctrine that AN executive or Il congress
created and limited by the constitution
can exercise lawful authority beyond that
constitution and I'm violation of It T no
platform further condemns the Puerto
Rican tariff and the Dingley tariff act,
and expresses sympathy with the Beers.
II VIII therefore De seen That the state
election In Oregon Will be conducted
largely on these national issues upon
which the presidential contest will be-
fought
In 1896 Mckinley carried Oregon by "A
plurality of 2,117. Two years later tho
Republican candidate for governor was
elected by a plurality Of 10, sol. This year
the Democrats and Populists have COM
bined on a state ticket, and if the fun
strength Of the combination IS poIled for
the fusion ticket the Republicans Will
have all they can do to avert defeat Tho
chicago platform was indOrsed and reafo
hrmed by the Democrats Of Oregon al
their state convention, in whole and ira
part in letter and in spirit Whether
this declaration will have any effect upoa
the result remains to be seen.
Next September Maine and Vermont,
In the East, will have state elections.
Both are Republican states-Vermont
hopelessly so-but the election in Maine
may throw some light on the presidential
election IN November so far as Repub-
lcan sentiment in the East IS concerned.
Republican member Of the house OF
representatives from that state was one
OF the strongest opponents of the Puerto
Rican tariff bill. In 1896 Mckinley plu-
rality In Maine was 45,777 wniie the Re
publican candidate for governor was
elected In 1898 by a plurality of nearly
&,0OO II there should be any marked
falling Off in the normal Republican vote
In Maine the result might be Interpreted
as indicating Republican dfsaffection i'm
the East. There is unquestiona bly, some
anti-imperialist sentiment among the Re-
publlcans Of the New England states
Possibly the September election in Maine