La Junta tribune., 1900-09-22
Tne REAL THING.
Republican Policy Really Jcfrersonian
Protests From Louisiana.

Republican Policy Really JcfYersonian
Protests From Louisiana.
''SiaII we be called on TO show that
this government Is consistent with
every principle OF civil liberty? Is It
necessary for us to demonstrate that
this act does not incorporate us In the
Union. that II vests us with none Of
the rights gives us no advantages.
and deprives us OF the 'Immnnities' OF
American citizens:"
Most readers will doubtless suppose
that the foregoing Is a protest from Fil-
ipinos against the rule of the United
States. or OF Porto Ricans against the
act for their government-that act
which Mr.. Bryan declares to be ''imper-
inlisln' in practice at It's worst Not SO.
This Is an extract from the protest OF
the dissatisfied minority OF Louisian-
ians against the rule OF Thomas Jeffer-
son.
These Louisianians did not like the
government imposed upon them by
Congress. ..rhis governor" they said,
''is vested with all executive and al
most unlimited Legislative power. The
council operates as a cloak to conceal
the extent of his authority. and to give
us the faint semblance OF representa-
tive assembly" These are exactly the
Democratic criticisms OF the present
temporary and transitional govern
ments OF Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. Against this sort of government
the impatient Louisianians appealed
to your Declaration OF Independence
etc. etc, just rs Mr.. Bryan does now.
What was the answer of Congress to
these complaining Louisianians! John
Randolph. from the committee to which
their protest was referred. on January
%, 1905. reported that the grievances
felt by the nenorialists are of n ma
ture inseparable from those sudden
transitions to which late political
events have subjected the Inhabitants
OF Louisiana" He then went on TO
deny the Interpretation given by the
complainants TO the treaty OF Paris,
and concluded: "rhe imputation of a
want of good faith is unsupported by
the treaty and repugnant to the Ameri-
can character"
On March .. 1905. Congress passed
an act for the government OF the ter
ritory OF Orleans. This act provided a
form OF government practically identi-
cal with that lately given Porto Rico.
The President appointed the governor.
who appointed the upper house Of the
Legislature. The people elected only
the lower house Thus was the pres
ent state OF Louisiana governed until
II became state. In 1912. The north
ern part OF old French Louisiana was
ruled by an appointed governor and
council. and not until 1912 were the
people of Missouri and Arkansas per-
mitted to elect Legislators. Such was
the Interpretation given by Thomas
Jefferson and his party to consent Of
the governed"
These historic facts show how alb
surd In the contention Of Mr.. Bryan
concerning the consent" Of the FIJI
pinos to their government. Thomas
Jefferson aud Congress disregaricti
and over-ruIed the protest OF the Louis
lana minority. Jefferson ruled Louis
lana Mt first just as we are now ruling
the Philippines. and later ns we are
now ruling Porto Rico. Thomas JET
fers0n knew that he was doing what
was best for all the people Of Louisi-
ana. william Mckinley Is now doing
what II best for all the FiIipinoa. The
Republican policy Is the JefKersonian1
policy.