The sun., 1900-08-20
THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.


tor Benjamin r. Tillman. of Soutl
Carolina, in offering resolution tc
denounce the Administration of Pres
ident Cleveland, made an attempt tc
convert the convention to his view
that the campaign about to begin was
a sectional one. in which the South
al | the West We're to be combined
by common sentiment against
the North and the East, to overthrow
those sections and make their finan-
cial opinions odious, and to destroy
their domination in future national
Tillman has learned something
since that day, when he was deserv-
edly hissed and hooted in conven-
tion otherwise none too sane or SEN
sible, and the merited rebuke admin
istered by Senator J. X. Jones pos
sibly convinced him that sectionalism
is as hopeless an issue as secession TO
divide the country. But he was still
a man of impulse at Kansas City.
Restored to favor after a civilizing or
deal of four years of service in the
Senate, he helped TO prepare plat
form exposing his party to the charge
of gross inconsistency or insincerity.
To Tillman was assigned the task
of reading the platform. He does not
lack dramatic sense, and has a large
voice. With prodigious volume and
vehemence he rolled forth the refer
ences, in the opening phrases to "the
inalienable rights of man guaranteed
by the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution. AS sweet NOR
sci he mouthed the language of the
declaration that Governments must
derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed" ANY
other government" he shouted with
sonorous intensity. lis tyranny, and
to impose upon any people govern
ment of force is to sustain the meth
DDS of Imperialism The case of the
Porto Ricans was described as ap-
pealing with peculiar force to our
justice and magnanimity."
These sentiments were prepared and
emitted by Mr.. Tillman for appilca-
tion solely to the question of i'm
perialism and the conduct of the Ad-
ministration in endeavoring to deal
with the new problems that yex the
country. But they seem to have d
more interesting meaning, as applied
to certain Southern States, than they
would as interpreted only to de-
nounce and embarrass the Admins
tration in its effort to establish Tree
governments in the Philippines, Cuba
and Porto Rico.
Alabamas population in 1890 was
1,513,01T. There were. upon the com
mon calculation of one voter in five.
302,203 voters in that State in 1896.
Alabama gave all candidates for Pres
ident 1868 votes, Bryan receiving
130,307. Louisiana's population in
1890 was 1,11S,5S7. The State was en-.
titled in 1896 TO at least 223,O0o votes.
1t cast 102,046, and Bryan had TT.O0O
of these. Mississippi had 1,2S9,6O0
population in 1890, and presumably
2oI,920 males of voting age. In 1896
there We're cast for President in Mis-
sissippi T0,545 votes. Bryan getting
G3,S59 North Carolina was reported
in 1890, in the census of that year
as having 1,617,9+7 population. The
State cast 331, ,210 votes in the Presi-
Dental contest of 1896, or a little more
than the reasonable ratio for 1890.
South Carolina, with reported popu-
lation in 1880 of 1,151, ,1i9, and with
not less than 100000 voters, cast for
all candidates i'll 1896, 6S,90T votes.
and oS,T9S of them went to Mr.. Till
mans man, Bryan.
What became of the 100000 votes
that appear TO have been missing from
the election returns of Alabama, Lou.
islana. Mississippi. and South Caro-
lima! Were these 100000 voters TO be
governed, in case Mr.. BRYAN was
chosen or defeated, without their CON
sent, thus subiecting them to the "ty
ranny" referred to by the Democratic
platform? Have those missing voters
been since found and required to give
their consent to the election of Rem
resentatives in Congress. in order that
they should not he taxed without ma.
tlonal representation fairly secured:
or has their consent been obtained to
new restrictions of the suffrage? Has
there been shown any tendency in
any of those States to exchange "the
methods of Imperialism for those of
republicy'
How have Alabama Louisiana. Mis-.
slssippi, North Carolina and South
Carolina qualified themselves to re-
proach the Administration for impe-
rlalism? Have not three of those
States formally and completely and
the two others by progressive steps
undertaken to deprive some 100000
OF the governed" of the opportunity
to give or withhold that consent guar.
anteed as a right according to the
Democratic application of the Declar.
alton of Independence, and secured bv
the Constitution?
why waste hypocritical platform
sentiment on the people of Porto Rico
because they have "a government
without their consent and taxation
without representation" when 6OoOoo
voters in four States, all Democratic
States, are deprived of the right ~
consent, and about 100000 altoaeth.