The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-21
THE TRANSFER OF SOULS.

Shortly after the consummation of the
treaty by which the territory of Louisi-
ana was transferred from Spain to
France, Napoleon called his council to-
gether and said: 81 renounce Louisiana
[ do it with the greatest regret but 1
must have money to carry on this War.
See Mr. Livingston at once. There is
not a day to lose. L want fifty mil
lion" The necessity for disposing of this
vast territory did not appear clear to
all In the discussion which followed the
point was made that although territory
might be transferred, souls could not be-
come the object of sale. To this, Napo-
leon replied: 81 need money to fight the
greatest power on earth Take your
theory to London, it will be appreciated
there"
What follows the world knows by
heart. Louisiana was transferred to the
United States In the treaty of cession.
the status of the inhabitants of that vast
region was fully and clearly set forth in
the following language:
1.-THE inhabitants of the ceded territory
shall be Incorporated into the Union of
the United States and admitted as soon
as possible, according to the principles
of the federal constitution, to the en-
joyment of all the rights and advan-
tages of immediate citizenship of the
United States. and in the meantime, they
shall be protected in the free enjoyment
OF their liberty property and the religion
which they profess.
Here there was no arbitrary transfer Of
souls except to offer them full citizen
ship In the adopting nation. and full pro-
lection until such time as they chose to
decide upon their course. No such pro-
vision found lodgment in the treaty Of
Paris, by which we obtained the Philip
pines and all there is therein. Here, the
Napoleonic theory obtained to its far
thest limit. The inhabitants Of the
coded territory are disposed of in the
following terse but expressive sentence:
1.-THE civil rights and political status of
hereby ceded to the United States shall
be determined by congress-" No refer
ence is made to the status and political
rights of inhabitants other than the ma
tives. The thousands of Spaniards, Chi
nese, Japanese and lesser number of
other nations were transferred with the
soil, without a word to indicate the in
tention of the United States as to their
future relations with the conquering
power. In this respect the treaty of Pa
rIs is an anomaly among similar conven-
! tons. Never before had there been a
transfer of territory among civilized ma
tons without an adequate provision for
the protection of the inhabitants of the
cedcd territory.
| 1t is against this feature of the treaty
and the consequent clothing of congress
with a wholly unconstitutional power,
that men like Benjamin Harrison protest.
| The members of the peace commission In
their eagerness to show to the world the
vast strides the country was making in
| the direction Of a world-power, overstep-
ped themselves. and by treaty placed
! the nation in a position from Which 1t
| must TSCSOo VI V1OIdle tue must StCl SO
principle of the constitution.
During the recent national campaign,
these inconsistencies were pointed out.
but amid the turmoil and excitement of
the time, were lost sight of.
But now. when note Of warning
comes from the two greatest living
Americans, who represent in their per-
sonaHty, the intelligence, integrity and
honor of both great political parties,
| Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleve-
land, it is time that the politician ceases
to talk and begins to think.
The position taken by ex-President
Harrison at Ann Arbor meets with severe
criticism in the administration circles at
| Washington. Mr.. Harrison is accused of
lack Of modesty in thus giving pub
| 1icity to his views. prior to the decision
| of the supreme court It is not only Mr..
| Harrtson's privilege, but his duty in this
| crisis in our constitutional history to give
the supreme court as well as the public
| the benefit OF his maturcd and eonserya-
1 tive opinions
| 1t is to be presumed. that the members