Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-15

mander In chief Of the army and navy
could suspend hostilities and recall our
forces. Indeed be stands pledged to do
that very thing. This is giving aid
and comfort to the enemy.
In 1903 Jefferson paid Napoleon the
Great S15.000.000 for Louisiana, and
the sale conveyed sovereign rights over
all the population, both savage and
civilized, of that great territory, and
they were not asked to consent to the
transfer. Had they rebelled they
would have been forced to recognize
the sovereignty Of the United States.
THE consent Of the governed was not
taken into the account, and yet our
title to that vast territory is considered
valid.
Sixteen years later the United States
purchased Florida from Spain. With
the sale went the right to control or
govern the people who lived therein.
Five million dollars was paid, and Gen
eral Jackson was sent to govern the
territory. Had the people rebelled it
is not difficult to imagine what "Old
Hickory" would have done, and had
Atkinson and Bryan gone about preach
ing resistance they would have been
obliged to have kept a good distance
from Jackson's long arm and sharp
tongue. His rule was autocratic, IL not
imperial.
Twenty-Five years later Uncle Sam
made another investment in western
land and paid Mexico $18,250000 and
acquired title to both land and people
of New Mexico and California. The
people of those then distant regions,
Mexicans, Zunis, Indians and all the
rest, were not consulted, but were
governed and we'll governed, and the
region has become the pride of the ma
ton and the garden spot of the world.
Five years later southern Arizona
and its people were acquired in the
same manner without saying anything
about the consent of the governed.
Fourteen years after $720O,0O0 was
invested in Alaska, securing title to
mountain, glacier, seals, fish, Indians,
Russians and all else the land contain
ed without their consent'being asked or
required. Five times has the United
States acquired title to land and SOW
ereignty over people by purchase.
When the government paid Spain $780,
100000 for the Philippines, it did what
was done in 1903, in 1919, in 1913, in
1853 and in 1867. Yet Bryan says it is
impossible to secure title to a people by
force or purchase.
There is a marked difference between
the Republican and Democratic candi-
dates for the presidency in their ability
to remain faithful to important issues
through evil report and good report.
Mckinley is recognized as the apostle
of protection. He believes in it. work
ed for it, voted for it and secured the
passage of the protective tariff measure
known as the Mckinley bill. When the
free trade party triumphed and house
and senate were elected pledged to re-
peal the Mckinley bill. its author never
wavered. He continued to teach pro-
lection and warned the people that the
experiment on which they were about
to enter would prove disastrous Re
suits proved the wisdom of his posi-
ton The people came to think as he
thought, and his record in both victory
and defeat has been consistent. While
Mckinley advocated protection Bryan
defended free trade, but when free
trade was repudiated Bryan dropped it.
He consulted with eXpediency and
bound himself to the silver worshipers.
allowing free trade to shift for itself.
Then in turn silver was dropped, and
after this year imperialism will sleep
beside free trade and free silver and
some other popular cry will be adopted
by the Nebraska colonel-unless he is
dropped.