The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1900-02-23
Plenary Powers May Be Applied
to Their Government.
PRESIDENT MAKES STATEMENT
Information Given Out By Henry
LOOmis Nelson Is Published
In New York Papers.

acquired islands has been published
in the New York papers.
The article is vouched for as an au-
thoritative Interpretation Of the presi-
dents views.
According to Mr.. Nelson sit is Mr..
McKinley's belief, and it will be his
purpose to carry the belief into opera
ton, that the constitution does not APP
ply to any of.our new islands; that
those people are not fit for self
government beyond that proposed for
Hawaii; that our new possessions must
not be permitted to injure any of our
protected interests and that free trade
with Porto Rico is right because our
protected interests will not be injured
thereby.
1.-THE president believes-and this
is the most important statement that
can possibly be made touching his
present beliefs-that congress has
plenary power over Hawaii, Porto
Rico and the Philippines
"He holds that congress may pass
one tariff law for Porto Rico, another
for Hawaii, another for the Philippines
and that all may be different from that
of the United States.
cit does not appear likely to his
mind that any question can ever arise
as to the civil rights of the people of
these places.
''Mr. McKinley's attitude, then, to-
ward the natives is benevolent He
desires to elevate them, to educate
them, and he hopes that, in the end,
they will become worthy of being en-
trused with local self government.
He does not think any of these natives
are worthy now, except the few in
Hawaii, upon whom it is intended
to bestow the suffrage-a few more
than possessed the suffrage under the
Dole government.
"Mr. Mckinley holds that the con-
stitution only applies to a territory
when it sets up thereby treaty or
by legislation. Upon this point there
are authorities in his favor, but he
goes beyond the authorities and holds
that congress is not bound by the lin
itation when it enters upon the task of
legislatingit, l. O..
cit may refuse to the natives and
to the American citizens who may go
to our colonies, the right of jury trial,
the right of free speech, the right to
bear arms, the right of peaceable as
semblage and of petition, freedom
from unwarrantable arrest, freedom
from search, and those rights which
the constitution guards so jealously.
But the main purpose of the president
is to deal with the islands as markets
for America and as the subject OF
commercial exploitation generally.
'"The president is thorough be-
lever in the moral and intellectual
value of commerce, and he proceeds
on the theory that when q nation is
doing we'll as buyer and seller, it is
presumptiyely we'll governed and its
people are morally sound. He looks
forward to benefting the natives by
expanding the blessings of Protestant
Christianity and civilization by means
of commerce.
It is important to digress a moment,
says Mr.. Nelson, for the purpose Of
saying that the president is largely
under the influence of certain clergy.
men, one of whom considers he is the
chosen champion of Professionalism in
its imaginary war with Romanism,
and this accounts in large measure
for his conviction that in spreading
Christianity and civilization among
the heather he is gaining and
keeping the approval of good Ameri
cans. Mr.. Mckinley is loyal Meth
odist and is naturally stirred anC
moved by the enthusiasm and spiri
of that important denomination.
It does not follow, on the president
theory, that if free trade is established
between this country and Porto Rice
there should not be a protective
tariff against the products of the Phil
ippines and Cuba; for Cuba is talked
about naturally, in administra ton cir
cles and in congress as if it's annexa
tion to this country was a matter o
course.
One thing is settled definitely in re
spect to the Philippines. The opel
door is not to be applied to them
The Republican party will not consen
to give the Asiatic world an emporium
ity to land its goods in the Philip
pines free of duty, to enjoy whateve
i modified tariff there may be establish
ed between the Philippines and thi
| country