The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-19
Prof. Burgess Theories.

Horace Greeley once exclaimed in his
wrath, "Ot all created horned cattle
protect me from college man in
newspaper office" There are many
noteworthy exceptions to the force OF
this observation but the great editor
very likely had experiences which just
fed us use. The right kind of college
man in newspaper flee today may
be valuable acquisition, but college
professor in pohlic.-let alone in a
newspaper office-is, as rule, spec
t. Gle for the gods. Certainly no mere
man can view their antics uumoved.
OF ell the wild and unpractcable Chi
meras which have been projected into
politics in late years, nothing has prov
en- more utterly irreconciable to condi-
tons and hard facts than the doctrines
expounded by college professors.
We observe in Mondays issue of the
Springfield Republican lengthy edi
torial analysis and endorsement of the
opinions of Professor John w. Bur-
CESS, professor of political science and
constitutional law in Columbia Univer-
sity, as to the governments relations
to its new possessions. Prof. Burgess
is not entirely unknown in Montpelier,
where his talents and profound learning
have the respect due them.
The trouble with Prof. Burgess is
that his opinions are so unfortunate as
to conflict with those of the Supreme
Court of the United States and the de-
cisions of various other courts at diff
ferent times. Prof. Burgess holds that
Porto Rico, the Philippines and Alas
ka are in exactly the same condition
with respect to their relation with this
government as are the territories with
in the geographical bounds of the
United States proper, with their duly
organized territorial governments. He
holds-and the Republican of course
endorses the position-that the status
of colony is exactly the same as that
of an organized territory. This is all
very beautiful in theory, but the high
est courts in interpreting the Constitu-
ton, take an entirely different view of
the matter. The Constitution does not
follow the flag, &c proprio vigore, until
Congress takes cOgnizance and organ
ICES the colony as territory. A COL
ony is parcel of property at the dis
posal of the government TO which it be-
longs, and may be governed in any
way deemed fit and proper. An organ
lied territory is self.governing in
large measure, and possesses rights
which cannot be invaded by the gen.
eral government. England has self
governing colonies like Canada and
Australia, and crown colonies like
Bermuda and her possessions in the
lesser Antilles. The cases are largely
parallel. In legal sense, colony has
no rights which Its owner is bound to
respect. 1t is simply property to be
| BONCluCu 40 COhultloho iiOui bllhO W
time may render desirable. This may
be news to some good people and dis
tasteful to a few others, but it is the
established law, Prof. Burgess and the
revered Republican to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
1t is weary and tiresome task to ex-
plain this matter over and over again.
Senator Ross, and following him some
of the most eminent constitutional law
yers in the country, went over the mat
ter thoroughly last winter, and with
the precedents cited by them the facts
are as we'll established as are any of
record. 1t is very much to be regretted
that Prof. Burgess is intoxicating such
doctrine in the minds of those young
men over whom he has supervision,
but there seems to be no help for it.
1t will be a sad day for them, however,
when they get out in the world of &C
Qualities and run up against the facts
in the case.
Let Ii Come.