The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-17
ASSAILSM' KINLEY
Ex-President Harrison Attacks
Governments Policy
Regarding the Philippines and
Porto Rico
AT ANN ARBOR, MICH.
He Says We Have No Right to
Levy a Tariff
And Withhold Citizenship From
the Island People.
AT ANN ARBOR, MICH.

Washington. Dec. 17.-Former Presi-
dent Benjamin Harrison's sensational
attack upon President McKinley's Phil
ippine and Porto Rican policies in his
address at Ann ArbOr, Mich, brought
forth many bitter comments here today.
Supporters of the administration COM
ment upon the peculiar circumstances
under which Mr.. Harrison delivered his
address. He wrote it primarily as an
article to be published. 1t would not
have appeared until after the argu-
ments had been made in the pending
cases in the supreme court. By deliver
ing il in Ann Arbor he has gotten it out
so that his arguments will be available
for the use of the attorneys in the pend
ing cases, and he, rather than the at
torneys before the court, will get the
credit for them.
The chief points IN ex-President Har-
Eison's speech are:
l. The government possesses thepower
treaty.
2. Neither a statute nor a treaty can
abrogate the constitution.
3. The theory of the constitution is
that it embraces both the territory and
people.
4. Whatever congress does, it is sub
ject to and is governed by the restric-
tons of the constitution
5. The bill of rights of the constitution
is assured to the people of the terri
tories
s. These principles apply in Porto
Rico and the PHILIPPINES in such a sense
that there is no denial.
Z. Is it not in the nature of an insult
TO raise the flag in Porto Rico and have
the hopeless people standing at the foot
of the Flagstaff to hear the reading of a
proclamation saying they are not citi-
zens of the United States.
s. God forbid that the day should ever
come when, IN the American minds, the
thought of man as a consumer shall
submerge the old American thought of
man as creature of God and endowed
with inalienable rights.
In the address referred to Mr.. HarTi-
son said in part:
THE islands of Hawaii, Porto Rico
and the Philippines have been taken
TO nave and to hold forever. 1t is said
that the Porto Ricans are not citizens
of the United States proper Are they
improper citizens Of the United States?
Clearly there is something improper
about it. Neither a statute nor a treaty
can abrogate the constitution. Every
general constitutional limitation applies
TO territories There are only three views
that may be offered
i. Congress. the executive and the
judiciary are all created by the consti-
tuition as the governing agencies of the
nation Every guarantee, including
equal taxation, applies to every civilized
man.
%. The United States defined as an
inner circle comprised of the states.
3. The constitution relates only to
the states and their people, and that all
things prohibited in the states may be
done in the territories.
rs 1t too much to say that this view
OF the American constitution is shock
1ng2 An outside line of a possible law
might include the suspension of the ha-
beas corpus, creation of a dukedom one
special religion, a censorship, trial with
out an indictment, etc. All these could
be done If the constitution has no rela-
ton to the people in the territory And
If in Porto Rico, why not in Oklahoma
Indian territory and Alaska?
"A government of unlimited powers is
an un-American government, and don't
believe that the trainers Of the national
constitution were careful only of their
own liberty. 1t is one thing to tolerate
q condition that already exists. and it is
another thing TO create condition that