The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-15

Wnal, Lnen, IS LIS ASai ASSeS
The title is not in dispute, therefore
the issue is not in the title At least
is not among those who are rational ana
logical in their criticism of the admins
tration. These are not wholly opposed 10
expansion, for they recognize the truth
that expansion, per Sc, is an American
tendency and has been from the days of
Thomas Jefferson.
But this is the United States Of Amert-
ca, possessing its own system Of govern
ment, its own constitutional obligations,
and it's own popular ethics respecting
the rights of the Individual or an aggre-
cation of individuals, under the flag.
Among those who hold fast to the high
ideals of human rights and equal justice
erected by our forefathers, which find
clear and emphatic expression in the
constitution, there did not appear politl-
cal issue in connection with this latest
expansion until the Porto Rico injustice
was committed. This departure from
True american principle was HdS1 ant
violation of one of the most cherished
and honored mandates of the constitution.
1t not only deeply offended the conscience
of the American people, but revealed to
them a purpose of government wholly
novel in the history of the nation, as
We'll as entirely inconsistent with the
established doctrines of our institutions.
Taxation without representation. be it
ever so small, strikes Extensively at a
principle as large as the nation itself,
for our country, our government, and all
We have to be proud Of were conceived
by the sword drawn in defense of that
government which imposed that wrong
upon the American colonies None hut
an imperialistic government, or one
headed toward imperialism, could favor
the arbitrary doctrine that was crushed
under foot by the ragged Continentals at
Yorktown Therefore, the Porto Rican
taxation, brought about as it was at the
dictation OF the trusts after the presi-
dSIIl ilcu dl1OW6O HIS COHSGISi1C6 anu
better Americanism to proclaim the
plain duty" in the premises, was note
of warning and alarm to every true citf-
zen who was not blinded by party preju-
dice. For the first time in history cur
government was headed wrong in deal
ing with people under the flag, and it was
time to cali a halt. From that moment
a valid and vital issue appeared and
III constitutional and just expans on,
know how hollow and insincere is the
retort concerning hauling down the
flag" ard ''dsgracing the nation in the
eyes of the world"
Our title is good" It is even so.
That is matter of territory. It can be
dismissed as something self evident and
barren of argument. But our government
can never acquire, with the consent of the
people in their right mind, title to
human chattels, even to a remote de-
gree or in the most indirect way. 1t was
Burke who said, in the course of his de-
Tense of the American coionists in the
British parliament, that taxation with
out representation is slavery The senti-
ment was repudiated by the imperialistic
government of King George, and that
consistently with the whole imperial s.
tic purpose. It was Endorsed on this side
as being the very foundation of the
best popular and Independent govern
ment. The people have watched that
foundation with tireless solicitude, ever
awake to the knowledge that if 1t is
not to be undermined there must be
equal taxation of all people dwelling
| peaceably under the flag, and taxation
with due representation and consent
The most dangerous tendency of our
government is rightly considered that
in the direction of exploitation at their
! expense and without their consent of
! such people as dwell in Porto Rico for the
benefit Of special and favored interests
in this country. Such course is no
more right from the standpoint of true
| Americanism than would be the arbi-
tary taxation of Minnesota products for
the benefit Of some other state or collec-
| ton of states.
Our government cannot be part i'm
perialistic and part republican without
an ever increasing danger Of tainting the
latter and decreasing little by little the
force of its obligations. Thousands of
| those who oppose this tendency are not
| necessarily against expansion itself, and
| so far as these are concerned there
would be no issue in politics in connection
with the subject as a whole If the ten
dency had not made its appearance so
plainly.