The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-21
MILITARY DESPOTIsM.
Ostsssibie Civil Goyernwest Ressing
uDon Half Conceaied Bayonets
for TIE Philippines.


Secretary Root. in an ia,er,iew,
sets forth clearly and distinctly the
fact that the presidents reliance for
authority in the Philippines is solely
upon the military power. Secretary
Roots interview, which may be
copied as the official Interpretation of
the presidents present policy in the
Philippines. says.
I'm the Philippines the president has an
rourced a distinct policy OF governing the
islaEds under his power as commander In
CHIEF OF the army. with a constn nj regard
for the rights OF the people and with the
determination. as rapidly as conditions
would allow. to diminish the use OF mill
tary agencies and Increase the employment
OF civil representatives OF his power. This
policy will be adhered 10. and will be ex-
tended as occasion requires. TO every
branch OF government In the islands
The matter no less than the man.
ner OF this announcement is startling.
The president relies upon his military
power-"his" power, not the power
Of constitutional popular govern
ment. nor even the power of congress
as enlarged by Justice Browns deci-
sion-but upon 'his" power as a mil
itary dictator. The poor makeshift
of the Spooner amendment, where
by congress attempted to abdicate its
powers, is CONTEMPORARY brushed
aside. The president will continue
to rule as the man on horseback.
with the bayonet as his symbol and
the Mauser rife as his prime min
lister.
OF course. all will be done "with
constant regard for the rights OF
the people" and with the determine
ton to diminish the use of military
agencies and increase the employ
ment of civil representatives of his
power" That goes without saying.
George III. never intended to rely
permanently upon the Hessians TO
carry out his plans for 1.-THE rights
OF the people" in the colonies: his
idea also was, as far as feasible. to
increase the employment of civil
representatives of his power" In
fact. he did employ the civil repre-
scntatives of his power until the peo-
pie unreasonably dema nded that their
power be recognized, when he was
obliged to resort 10 the military. II
was the custom of Julius Caesar and
Of the Roman emperors, as soon as
they had benevolently assimilated a
conquered nation, TO give il some
form of civil government. subject TO
the power and caprice of the Roman
ruler.
There is little 10 be chosen between
a military despotism. pure and sim
pie, and an ostensible civil govern
ment resting upon half-concealed bay
onets. such as the empire Of the third
Napoleon. for instance-and. of the
two, the military despotism. plain
and undisguised. is the honester and
in the end less destructive of liberty.
Could the secretary of war in any
cabinet prior to President McKin-
ley's have uttered such language as is
attributed to Secretary Root without
causing an instant investigation by
congress. and, in case the president
sanctioned these words. impeachment
proceedings against the president as
an intending usurper and subverter
of our form OF government? What is
the matter with congress? Has pat
ronage hopelessly corrupted the rep
resentatives Of the people? Whittier
are we drifting?-Albany Argus.