La Junta tribune., 1900-11-03
IMPERIALISM IN 1904.

How the Constitution Followed the
Flag Under Jefferson.
We respectfully call the attention OF
Mr. Bryan. both as a statesman and as
lawyer. TO remarkable classification
contained in q statute of the United
States passed by the Eighth Congress
and approved ON March %. 1904.
The act in question specifically d.
vitled all territory nnder the flag and
sovereignty OF the Emitted States into
three classes. as follows:
I. States of the Union:
= Territories Of the United States:
=. Countries subject TO the jurisdic-
tion OF the United States.
The Congress which enacted this
imperialistic classification was previd-
ing at the time for the authorization
OF local acts or public records intro
duced as evidence in the federal courts
and In all other courts within the
United States. The second section Of
the act was as follows:
'.All the provisions OF this act. and
the act to which il Is supplement.
shall apply as well 10 the public acts
records. office books. judicial proceed
ings. courts and offices OF the rcspcc-
tive territories of the United States
and countries subject TO the jurisdic-
tion OF the United States. as to the pub
lie acts. records. office books. judicial
proceedings. courts and offices Of the
several stntes.'
Here.is distinct recognition OF i'm
periaIism:" designation of success
sive grades Of United States territory.
from the subject country up to the
state In full membership: a framework
for a system of outlying possessions.
colonies, provinces or whatever you
please.
1t is still the law OF the land. The
classification was preserved in the re-
vision OF the statutes in 1873 by the i'm
perinlists OF the Eorty-tlird Congress-.
Mr. Bryan viii find on page III OF his
copy OF the Revised statutes:
Section 905-The Acts OF the Legis-
lafure of any state or territory, or of
any country subject to the Jurisdiction
OF the United States. shall be .authen-
ticated by having the seals OF such
state, territory or country affixed there
to. The records and judicial proceed
ings Of the courts OF any state or ter
ritory, or Of any such country. shall be
proved or admitted in any other court
within the United States. by the attes-
tation of the clerk" etc.
And the next section:
| Section 9O6-All records and exem-
plifications OF books, which may he
kept In any public office OF any state or
territory, or of any country subject to
the Jurisdiction of the United States.
not appertaining to court. shall be
proved or admitted in any court or Of
fee In any other state Or territory. or
in any such country, by the attesta-
tion OF the keeper of said records or
books or OF the governor. or
secretary Of state. the chancellor or
keeper OF the great seal. OF the state.
or territory, or country" etc.
Once more let us catalogue the three
classes of United States territory REG
ognized by this statute:
]. A state;
9. A territory;
s. A country subject to the jurisdic-
tion OF the United States.
But who was the imperialistic Pres
ident SO reckless Of republican institu-
tions or so blind to the dangers
lurking In graded system of al
legiance permitting colonial enterprises
and the holding OF distant possessions
that are neither states nor organized
territories. that he signed the original
act establishing these distinctions
1t may interest Mr.. Bryan to learn
that his name was Thomas Jefferson
New York Sun.