The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-11-02

the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and to
our pOsterity, do ordain and establish
this constitution for the United States OF
Did he suppose that the country had
outgrown single one of the great pur-
poses above set forth? Did he suppose
Of rights. that great charter of liberty
fastened upon 1t by the American democ-
racy during the Jeffersonian erac Has
dispense with the right of religious free
dom: the right of freedom of speech and
of the press. the right of peaceable as
and bear arms for their defense, the
right OF the people to be secure in their
persons persons; houses, papers and effects
seizures; the right of immunity from the
probable cause; supported by oath or
animation? The right of exemption from
accusation OF felony. or other infamous
crime, except by grand jury: the right
witness face to face. to be heard 'I in
person. and by counsel, and to have COM
puisory process for witnesses in behalf
OF the accused?
NATION HAS NOT OUTGRoWN THE
RIGHTS OF MANKIND
Has the nation grown so great that it
mas outgrown the provision that no per-
son shall be deprived of life, liberty or
property without due process Of law? Has
II outgrown the reservation of undele-
gated powers to the people or to the
states respectively? Has it outgrown the
reservation to the people Of rights not
enumerated in the constitution? Has 1t
outgrown the admirable distribution of
the powers of the government to three
great departments. each being check
upon and a balance against the others?
Has 1t outgrown the provision of the
constitution that all revenue laws must
originate In the house of representatives?
Has it outgrown the provision that con-
gress shall declare war, and that con-
gress shall maze all needful regulations
with respect, to the territory and prop
erty of the United States?
Can 1t be possible, that this general.
when making this disloyal utterance. had
in view our present war and our con-
duct as a nation in the Philippine is
lands?
The war in which we are now engaged
clared by congress. but the republicans
tell us that there is no war in the Philip
pine islands, that the hostilities there
it is not war is difficult to understand
what 1t Is, for certainly i. is not peace.
We have there now nearly 10000 soldiers.
er than that which has often decided the
deSt1nleS OF great nations, twice many
as we had at any time in Mexico during
our war with that country. We have ex-
pended $lS5,0OOOOO. and if hOstilities should
cease now the expense of the government
of the United States in that Undertaking
would be as great as the expense of the
Mexican war. Two thousand five hun
dred of our men have been slain in battle
or have died from wounds or disease.
nently injured. We have killed 10000
Filipinos and wounded most certainly
twice as many more. 1t seems to me
able to give 1t a name.
But they tell us it is insurrection. At
stituson Of the United states has n no c ap
plication to the Philippine islands and is
not in force there. AS no law of the
United States can have no existence ex-
and as congress has not even pretended
to legislate for the Philippine islands it
right, that neither the constitution nor
the laws of the United States proceeds
from the constitution: and If the eonsti-
lands, then the authority of the United
States is certainly not there. and if the
authority of the United States is not in
Filipinos be in rebellion against?
Again. we are told, while the constitu-
ton has not extended to the Philippine
eminent of the United States has ac-
quired the right to rule them by pur-
chase: They say we bought the islands
right to rule them. Let us see about this.
and first of all let us inquire what did we
buy?
SOVEREIGNTY CANNOT BE PUR-
CHASED OR BATTERED.
We bought whatever Spain had the
power a sovereign to sell us. and
whatever we had the power as a sovereign
to buv from Spain. What could Spain sell
to us? she could sell any property which
sell her dismantled fleets. her broken
ships, her fortresses and towers, her
forts. arsenals, public buildings and pub
lie grounds. and any other form of prop
erty to which she as nation held the IT,
tie. She could not sell the private prop
erty of the people of the Philippine is
She could not sell their lands. their
houses. their goods and chattels. She
could not sell their bodies. she could not
has thus far been so bold as to assert that
Spain as q, sovereign could do any. Of
these things. 80
On the other hand. the United States as
these things which Spain could not sell.
nor could the government of Spain con
fer upon the government of the United
eresn is Of eyerv ea6er
ereign, and cannot. in the nature of
things. take any powers from any other
sovereign. If Spain as sovereign could
confer powers upon the United States
as a sovereign, then she could confer her
kingly prerogatives, and these It will be
conceded We would be incapable Of eX-
powers upon another. then the govern
ments of the world could exchange their
powers, and we could by treaty trans
fer the constitution of the United States
to Spain, and she could. by treaty, trans
fer her royal government to US. What
ever power, therefore, we have to rule
must have quite Independently of the ac
ton of Spain, because she could confer
no power upon US. She could neither
sell nor give nor surrender to us any
do anything toward the Philippine is
lands which we would have not been nu-
thorized to do without the action of
SPAIN Sovereignty is inalienable: 1T can