The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-02

privilege OF territorial organization and
s ssmn = territory not yet admitted 70
such government as the congress may
prescribe
To have promised the Philippines self
government In any form, OF even the
status Of an organized territory. would
have been on the part OF the president an
act of usurpation which might well be
termed imperialism and would perhaps
nave justified his impeachment by hos
the form OF government in all unorgnr-
lied territory Of the United States II
purely a question for the congress 10 de-
ternine and any attempt to FIX or declare
the same by the executive IL most dan
serosis act Of usurpation. constituting an
unmfsfakahle step In the direction OF i'm
perialism" or dictatorship.
For myself I am profoundly grateful
that Persistent Mckinley Instead OF trying
TO establish hard-and-fast form OF gov
eminent IN the Philippines. or seeking to
Iorsgtall the action OF congress by unaiI-
thorized pledges az 10 future conditions,
with that exquisite self-controi which has
characterized all his acts as president
20 oniy 70 OBTAIN fun information as
70 existing conditions, so as 70 enable
the legislative branch OF the government
TO act intellieently. deliberately and In
accord with the VIII Of the citizen kings
y no doubt that fate has thrown upon us
the task OF lifting up these peoples II will
be q difficult task. but the longer the
IS delayed and the more gradual the grant
% power TO those whose present idea OF
liberty IL merely license 10 debauch and
opprees, the greater will be the chances
OF ultimate success. In all socio-political
movements haste and ignorance are the
most certain elements OF failure. Assimi-
lation must ever be the result of evolu-
ton.
But there fl another constitutional aues-
fion, much more grave and dubious than
the bosy OF imperialism" which has
trff lis @rr nal frr
unexpected quarter Mr.. Bryan has de-
clared himself in favor OF the withdrawal
Of all troops from the Philippines. re-
linaulshing all control or direction in In
ternal Affairs and confirming ourselves TO
an external protectorate 10 prevent other
nations from disturbing the shambles
| which would thereby be created. Aside
from the barbarity and inhumnnity Of
such a proposal. II may be well TO inquire
ms to the constitufionality Of X. Does the
constitution confer on president or con-
navy the mere watehdoEs OF territory
! In which we have no interest Does the
constitution authorize any one 70 commit
ana support Of the ambitions or preten-
tions Of any foreign ruler or nsurper? A
protectornfe + the most specious and
DANGEROUS form Of power. In the case OF
Cuba. we were, by treaty. charged with
the preservation OF peace and order In the
island u is not protectorate. and II Is
most unlikely that II will ever be. II
Cuba becomes mn independent power She
win undoubtedly have 70 take care Of
herself pay her own debts and fivht her
own battles. The only modification Of
her sovereignty IN such case viii probably
be a preferred creditor with notice served
on all European countries that any at
tempt TO secure control 81 the Island
their part will be regarded as a decara-
ton OF war against the United States.
There is no exercise OF national power
SO obnoxious as the unholy force OF a
constitution only under the grant OF pow
er to make treaties. But treaties can only
be made between governments. and there
IL no government in the Philippines with
which 70 treat Would Mr. Bryan esfab-
ifsh an anti-American government In the
Philippines. In order to have a chance to
set up protectorate. or would be recog-
nixe tho treacherous freebooter Aguinsido
as a sovereign The protectorate II the
most fraudulent and specions form OF
those ''entangling alliances which the
followers OF Mr.. Bryan are so Hereby de-
nouncing. II II the most reprehensihs
OF tho means by which Great Britain has
pies and uncivillzed lands Nv so-cailed
treaties" with rebelfious or hard pressed
savage chiefs. she has recognized them
all other nations from enjoyment Of trade
or settlement In such territory. II Is In
! this manner that the nations Of Europe
have "eonquered" Africa The. "protec.
Cumberland" are only polite names for
robbery without the cost and peril OF con.
quest. y was BY such pretended ''protee-
torate.' based on IA treaty with spurious
chief ~ the Mesnnito Indians. that
England based and still bases her claim
to veto the desire o. the American people
To build and control the Scaraguan ca
nal She has. somesrnes. even acted upon
Mr.. Rrynn's plan OF setting IN a sham
| government to form foundation for a
fraudulent protectprate The American
people are not likely In the future any
more than IN the past. 10 take kindly 10
| this most obnoxious form FOR the extern
territory claimed hv . foreign usurper
/ Oar title 10 the Philippines II clear. and
we have no need 10 set np man sf straw
like the fictitious cotnmon-iaw trespasser
lin order 10 knock him down.
There r. stlil another Constitutional
question" involved In this issue which no
YOUNG man should lose sight q There
| needs no ghost come from the dead
90 assure any thoughtful person that the
| people 81 the United states will hereafto-
maintain much closer and more important
relations with other peoples than ever he-
| f,tre. Commercial and Industrial rompeti-
tipn win grow sharper wtth each wear 81
I the coming century Having put our hands
I Ia the pillow, II u impossible to turn back
( The firre has passed when the btsver
sought tho seller In the worlds markets,
( The man who has anything 20 soil must
Seak the hnyvr wherever he may he Dur.
I ing tho ne~t few years, thousands. per
hap@ hundreds 10 thousands ~ American
/ merchants and irummefs vii 60 70 other
I countries 90 develop aad expiol, new mar
fhfnga most essential for cur trade that
Z they shenh always and everywhere b. ar
AeF ths, rrofertion % the great republic
The constitution must fellow the rittEen.
Wherever he NAV 80 he should know
that che whole pVwfr az his country. Il
/ need b., would h. usea q secure hlm IN
the fun eniayuvnf 81 rights granted "a
others or hv treaty. secuted 80 our cfft-
1 aen- Hitheftei With few ana unimpoFtsnt
/ exceptions. M fereisn reiisv 81 our gov
eminent has been ansliNSaftc rather than
e&segttee ~ IRE rishts % hrf citizens.
like the Jelly Feegsr Ne have taken
cakes ara cure with eQ0sl cNuaplAcaBey
TIE fncrv indifference ard nrgiert % ear
I government M. forced the eNnaiffatt8n
4 - thousands 0f WORTHY Nrs emterprtzfnx
| citizens We have treated thbya engA gesi
81 tAe extension ~ American trade ns Il
tAew WIRE criminals conr~llinr their Is
I sufTer Decentralization without fFi-i ard
I denyinx protection a renRfiy fcr N
efesslmx AmeTitan exnorts We save hsen