The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-26
NO CONSTITUTIONAL BAR.
The United States May Govern Terri
tory as the Situation Demands


If the opposition say that our Constitution
forbids the American people to hold and
govern possessions as their situation may
require, 1 demand that they show me the
denial of the power i'm the Constitution
We are nation. We can acquire terri
tory. If we can acquire territory, we can
govern 1t. If We can govern il, we can
govern it as it's situation may demand. If
this is not true, we cannot acquire any
territory except such as may be governed
as part of the Nation with its inhabi-
tants as our fellow-citizens of the Re-
public But this would never prevent the
American people from acquiring places of
power and commercial advantage at the
worlds strategic points. So important
limitation upon our power, otherwise in
herent in nation, must be expressed
in undoubted terms of our Constitution.
l defy the opposition of the government to
find such a prohibition in that great in
strument. / defy the opposition TO the
government to find such Limitation on our
powers as nation in our history as
separate people. / defy the opposition to
the government to find evidence of such a
limitation upon national power in the whole
history of the administering, expanding
colonizing race of which the American peo-
pie are the most vital, progressive branch
And If such a limitation upon our power
to acquire possessions and govern them as
common sense shall demand is not ex-
pressed in our written Constitution. is not
implied from any provisions that are ex-
pressed, is not found in our history as
separate people or in the practices of the
race from which we spring, such linlita-
ton does not exist.
But not only is no such limitation on our
power as nation found in our Constitu-
ton, but on the contrary, the Constitution,
In express terms, gives the government of
the Republic power to govern possessions i'm
any way that may be ''needful'' within the
great fundamental limitations of human
rights expressly marked out in that instru-
ment. The Constitution says: THE Con-
gress shall have power to dispose of and
make all needful rules and regulations re-
specting territory or other property belong
ing to the United States" -
Porto Rico is territory belonging to the
United States. The Philippines are terri
tory belonging to the United States. The
Constitution says that, Congress may
make all needful rules and regulations re-
specting'' them and may even dispose of
them. If the opposition say that this
power is too broad, i answer first that
broad or narrow, that that power is there;
and, second, that IL Is not broader than the
future Of the Republic now within sight of
living eyes requires-Noi not broader than
even the situation of to-day demands
Prophecy has been COMPOUNDED by the prog
ress or the American people.
Ii the opposition to the government say
that power so broad is dangerous TO the
liberties Of the American people, | answer
that the American peoples liberties can
never be endangered at the hands of the
American people; and. therefore that their
liberties cannot be endangered by the exer-
else OF this power, because this power is
power exercised by the American people
themselves. Congress shall have power
says the Constitution. And what Is Com
sress? The agents of the American people
he tod
who created the Constitution? I've. the
people,. declares the Constitution itself
The American people created the Constitu-
ton; IL Is their method The American peo-
pie established Congress: IL is their insfru
ment- The American people elect the MEM
bers OF Congress; they are the people's
servants. Their laws are the peoples laws.
Their power Is the peoples power. And if
you fear this power, you fear the people
IL you want that power restricted Ii Is be-
cause you want the power OF the people
restricted. and a restriction OF their mower
is restriction OF their liberty So that the
end OF the logic OF the opposition to the
government is limitation upon the liberties
OF the American people. for fear that the
liberties of the American people will suffer
at the hands OF the American people
III the opposition assert that the powers
which the Constitution gives To the legis-
lative agents OF the American people will
not be exercised in righteousness. | answer
that that only be because the Ameri-
can people themselves are not righteous
IL is the American people. through their
agents. who exercise the power. and II
those agents do not act as the people would
have them. they will discharge those agents
and annul their acts. The heart of the
whole argument on the constitutional
power OF the government is faith in the
wisdom and virture OF the common people
OF the Republic: and in that virtue and wis
com believe, as every man must. who be-
lieyes In republic. In the end, the judg-
ment OF the masses Is absolutely right III
this were not so. progress would be i'm
possible, since only through the people is
progress achieved When cease to have
faith tn the heart and mind OF the Ameri-