The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10


| Abandon mcnt of the Constitution
Representative Miers OF Indiana. while
! the Consular and Diplomatic Appropria-
| ton bill was under discussion by the
| House of Representatives in Committee of
! the Whole yesterday, denounced the Re
publican party for having set aside the
Declaration of independence and the Con-
stitution as things which the United
States has outgrown. He assailed the
party in power for its extravaganza and
for its sympathy for and protection of
trusts. He declared that it was left to
the Democratic party to save this Repub-
lie. Mr.. Miers said il part:
MIR. Chairman. we have been making
| history very rapidly during the last three
years. Old Spain had put her hand on the
people of Cuba. When the people of the
| United States realized their suffering
| there came from every section Of the
| country petitions to Congress to aid those
who asked for liberty. Congress passed
the resolution declaring for Cuban indie
pendence without a dissenting voice, and
gave the President of the United States
| the ri sht to use the army and navy to en-
force the decree Congress also voted
$50, eco coo and placed it at the disposal OF
the President, to be used as he saw fit
These great galleries around us were
packed to oyerfiowing. and they, like the
people of the country, cheered this pa
triotic and humane act. We were making
history then that was American and OF
which we were all proud. We were proud
rfraa hoe
lives and expanding its money without re-
ward or the hope thereof, that another
people might be freed from tyranny. Vic
tory complete and glorious, came. Thus
far the people had been a unit. We had
stricken down the power of Spain and the
President of the United States extended
our authority over the Philippine Islands
THE question arose, What shall be the
attitude of the Republic to the new pos
| sessions? We had destroyed their gov
! eminent. The minority on the floor OF
| this House. backed by the sentiment OF
Democrats everywhere, insisted that the
Republic should be frank and open. and
declare to the people of the islands and
to the world what its policy would be. The
majority said it was not time TO declare
policy that We should wait until the peo-
pie of the islands were Conquered, until
they were subdued until they had sur
rendered all TO our army with which they
could defend their rights. The United
States was put in the attitude OF saying,
We are large enough and strong enough
to remain. and we will not tell you what
We will d. but demanding a surrender of
everything fer which Filipinos had been
fighting. / submit that the position of the
Administration was neither Just to the
people of the islands nor true to the spirit
OF our institutions. We should have stated
a policy that was American, based upon a
| hundred years experience as q Republic,
and said to them. We came here by force
of circumstances while fighting to free
an oppressed people; our responsibility is
TO protect the people and the property of
| the Islands until you can establish a stable
government of your own, one that Will
protect the people and the property. We
will not be the Judge Of what the form OF
| your government shall be, but only de-
mand that it shall be stable. We advise
you, however. to fashion and mold II af-
ter the American Republic. When you have
established a stable government that will
relieve us of our responsibility we will
withdraw our army and navy and bring
them and the American flag home and
say TO cruel Spain, You must keep your
hands off of this little Republic, and to
the nations of the world, You shall not
| Cypress these people and divide their pos
sessions among yourselves. We intend to
see it nurtured, cultivated, and developed
| into a Republic"
Il believe the people of the islands
would have seen the justice of this policy
and would have hailed us as their friends
and deliverers and we would have had no
war at all with them. Our Republican
friends said TO them; No, We will not
even tell you what we are going to do,
We demand of you unconditional sur
render ] submit to the candor of this
House which appeals to your spirit OF
Americanism? Do you yet say that you
are not ready to state a policy? Are not
the taxpayers. who are already carrying
a great load, the fathers and mothers who
furnished the brave American boys to
follow the flag; aye, the boys themselves,
entitled to know for what this war is be-
| ing waged? Would II not be will now to
state a policy and see il We could not
bring to an end this war? AS Americans
would we not stand higher in our own es-
| timation and in the estimation of the
world? II we could thus bring the war to
close, save the millions OF dollars, the
/ thousands of lives and the innumerable
| heart-aches, and do It along the lines
! laid by the fathers hundred years ago
should we not do it? Many loyal Ameri-
| cans believe that If the Democratic policy
should be adopted now the war would be
| brought to close within ninety days.
But the Administration and the Republi-
party nave uStllUeu TO state any
policy The last Republican national plat
| form only said, in substance, We will give
| the people of the islands such a gov
eminent as they are capable of enjoy
| ing. Who is to be judge of their capabil-
| ity? The Administration, of course. 1hs
| Administration is driven to the position
that the Constitution does not follow the
| flag that it is only extended TO the ISL
| ands by an act of Congress II an act OF
| Congress could carry the Constitution to
| the islands, another act could withdraw it
| so that it would simply be an act and
| not the Constitution at all. Have we in
| deed outgrown our much boosted and
| often praised Constitution, which defines
| the right of every citizen?
| rs IL true, from a Republican stand
| point, that We have outgrown the Decla-
ration of Independence that the founders
| subscribed their names to, pledging their
| future, and their all for the principles
| therein contained? Is it no longer true
| that all Government derives its just pow
| er from the consent of the governed? But
| yesterday during the discussion of this
| bill. the gentleman from Pennsylvania
| (Mr Adams) quoted from the Scripture:
| When was child spake child.
| when / became man. put away childish
| things Is 1t his position and that of the
| Republican party that when the fathers
| of nur Renuhlic were fighting for liberty