The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-08-16
Where the Real Imperialism Is.

We see that the Southern newspapers
consent Of the governed" or. at least,
pretend so to take II.
Here. for instance, IL an exclamation
which the Daily Register OF Mobile is moved
to make:
IN We do no, respec. the Declaration OF Indepen-
dsnce and the Constitution. In all Of It's force; II we show
by our actions that we can a, a pinch brush aside
those grand in or chArtersof human liberty.
We may be sure that In time we will fail TO defend our
liberties as we should do. and be ourselves enslaved
bT some daring and astute adventurer who has
learned to pront by our weakness"
That Is wholly true. 1t Is a warning
which must be Needed by the American
people II their liberties are to be preserved.
But the danger OF which our Alabama con-
temporary speaks 40 eloquently is not in the
government Of the territory we have acquired
in the Philippines; II is right here in our own
country, over which the protection OF the
Constitution unduestionably extends.
Every expression Of our Government
concerning the Philippines has proved,
and its conduct toward them has demon
strated throughout. that its single purpose
IL to extend to those islands a full measure OF
self-govenment whenever they shall exhibit
their desire and fitness for It. Every Amer
lean knows that the Aguinaldist insurrection
has not now and never has had any iustifca-
ton In any intention or policy Of our Govern
ment 10 deny or abridge the liberties OF
the Filipinos. but that the American pur-
pose is rather to give them freedom for the
Arut ttpna Co for from dapyIHo tkA-.
self -government, the Government il prof
fering 1t to them under the protecting
authority OF the United States, without
which they would speedily fall a prey to
foreign greed; and the Aguinaldist faction
IA fighting against the liberties OF the Fill
ipinos and not for them. as all the world
knows.
No precedent e~ndangering our own
liberties can come from that source. No
violation OF our Constitution has been
involved in the acquisition Of the Philip
pines. They have come under our author
ity by means like those by which other
additions have been made TO our domain.
From the earliest establishment Of this
Republic II has been increasing by treaties
Of acquisition. The part OF Alabama in
which is Mobile itself was acquired without
consulting its inhabitants any more than the
inhabitants of the Philippines were con-
suited when those islands were transferred
to US by spain by treaty OF peace.
The only real menace 10 our liberties
comes from Southern States which have
DISTINGUISHED many thousands OF their citi-
zens by multiplying the Constitution OF the
United States, II Ia they only which have
violated the principle Of tho consent Of
the governed in the Declaration Of indie
pendence. They have taken away the
tight TO self-government granted by specific
Constitutional provision, and thus brushed
aside those grand instruments or charters
Of human liberty" They have wrenched
1t from vast bodies OF their own citizens by
notification Of the Constitution and by vio-
lence 10 the Declaration Of Independence.
If such nm outrage on Constitutional
liberty Is tolerated and acquiesced in by
the American people, how long can any
part Of them feel secure in their right TO
self-government? II one body OF citizens
can be excluded from tho franchise in
defiance OF the Constitution because they
constitute a detested political opposition,