The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-31

uistofy IMAM Inc oSdfD8 VI AnuECW
Jackson, patron saint of the De-
rnocracy. with Florida
The defeated Creek Indians had
sought asylum in Florida. and runaway
negroes frequently found refuge there.
Some OF these negroes took possession
Of an abandoned British fort on the
Appalachicola river. In July. 1916.
United States troops, with the consent
Of Spain entered Florida. then a Span
ish possession. and attacked and blew
UP this fort. killing three hundred
negroes. Jackson was subsequently
ordered to the frontier to repress
Seminole outbreak. and wrote at once
to President Monroe: Let 1t be signi-
fed to me through any channel (say
Mr. John Rhea) that the possession OF
the Floridas would be desirable to the
United States. and in sixty days It win
be accomplished"
IT. is disputed whether or not this
permission was granted, but whether 1t
was or not. Jackson proceeded to take
possession Of the country. He invaded
Florida in 1878. without the consent OF
Spain. and captured ST. Marks He
tried by courtmartial and hanged Alex
ander Arbuthnot. an aged Scotch
trader, on the charge Of melting the
Florida Indians to war with the United
States: and shot Robert Ambister.
young English lieutenant OF marines.
ON the same charge. He captured PEN
sacola, and turned out the Spanish gar
rison and governor. and left portion
Of HIS own troops there. A prompt dis
avowai Of Jackson's acts by the adj
ministration saved the country from
war with England; and Spain. then
having the Instructions in South Amer
lea to deal with, was in no position to
resent the invasion of territory and
finally agreed to sell the Floridas to
the United States
A clause Of the treaty OF cession. made
in 1873. provided that "The inhabitants
OF the territories which His Catholic
Majesty cedes to the United States
shall be incorporated into the Union OF
the United States as soon as may be
consistent with the principles OF the
Federal constitution, and admitted to
the privileges. rights and immunities Of
the citizens OF the United states"
Andrew jackson was forthwith APP
pointed governor OF Florida. with all Of
the powers Of the original Spanish gov
ernor. no legislative body being pro-
vided at all; and he governed that ter
ritory with absolutely despotic powers.
He resigned because some question was
raised az to the limitations OF his au-
thority. ne having arbitrarily imprison-
ed some persons without pretense OF
trial.
When . territorial government was
finally established for Florida, in 1922,
II provided FOR governor, secretary,
courts and q legislative council. all to
be appointed by the president No pro-
vision whatever was made for the in
habitants Of the territory to have any
vote or voice In the administration OF
their local affairs; the federal revenue
laws were in terms extended over the
territory. and the inhabitants thus COM
PEELED to contribute to the support OF
the federal government. as well az 10
pay the taxes for the support Of the
local government imposed on them
withou: their consent
Here. strictly under Democratic
auspices was an act Of criminal agrees
sion against country with which the
United States was theoretically al
peace, for the express purpose Of con-
quering territory; here the institution of
a colonial policy. which certainly never
had counterpart under the British
crown, but which was based entire
ly on the spanish model: and here
the establishment OF government
without the consent OF the governed.
and taxation without representation in
Its most onerous and oppressive form.
In view of these Democratic prece-
dents the present Democratic attacks
upon the enlightened. progressive and
liberal government given TO the people
OF Puerto Rico become ridiculous by
their mock heroics. and offensive In
their ignorance or disregard Of historic
truth In st Jaekson's" day.
The command most needed In China
among the allied forces seems 10 be 20