New-York tribune., 1901-01-17

What have Congress and the President done 10
islands? On the day which the Senate
T2ted o me- ea1 The treaty i resolved By the ratification flea %
tended to incorporate the abitants Of the Philip
nor is it intended permanently annex said isl
ned paTt OF fh Terq To- the ef pr a1e
visonal act for Porto Rico Congress defined the
Porto Rico entitled to the protection of the United
States and imposed tariff and tax laws differing
levied duties on commerce % between the two coun-
tries.
1t thus appears by Affirmative action of Con-
gress that the islands are not permanently an
] Paf only g m ed aa fhy n fba them
inhabitants are not citizens.
No clearer definition and Interpretation OF the
seograp phical status of the islands and the poti;
cal status of their inhabitants could be given, and
the case binding on the Presiden the Secretary
of War and all other executive officers; and con-
se ssrs cze9s % and 3 subjects OF the npas to
naturalization and bankruptcy Hence none of
these clauses operates Droprio vigore in Porto
Rico or the philippines.
GENERAL HARRISON OFFERS NO SOLUTION.
What solution does General Harrison offer for
these momentous problems? None whatever He
criucises and denounces, but has no remedy II
will be ''un-American' government, state of
vassalage," tyranny will prevail. and it will be
altogether Shocking Porto RiCanS and FlhpinoS
viii be slaves; the principles of the Declaration
VIII viii be abandoned: and our ReyoIutionary fathers
stituton not letter of instructions" will be dis
But such fervid rhetoric adds nothing to a
stitutional argument Indian Territory for ninety
eight years and Alaska for thrty-four have been
unorganized Territories. The Constitution has not
been operative therein, they had no local govern
President Harrison's Administration ruled them di-
present Administration is ruling Porto Rico with
It's = LOCAL goTeFnment and the Philippines with the
and Indian Territory Slaves? Were they IN a
American? Did General Harrison hagranty vio-
late the Declaration and merit the maledctions of
our Revolutionary fathers?
HARRIsoN's HAWAIIAN RECORD.
Let us go a step further, Who it that in
policy? That policy reeeVed it's first praeteai
and definite expression in the transmission to Con-
Of treaty provding for the immediate annexation
attempt to deal in detail with the QUESTIONS that
GROW out or the annexation: The Comnlis
have to ee to the anre and o fh
Just and benevolent purposes of the United States
the adjustment OF all such questions. If 1t meets
will be secured in the Islands under exSfine otagr aw
untll such time as Congress provide by legis-
lation a permanent form of government for the
General Harrison is here confronted with a
distressing dilemma. Was he right in 1893 Is
mediatey. but only sub modo, we have an
nexed Porto Rico and the Philippines. and then the
operation Of the Constitution and Federal Statutes
was 10 De suspended until such time Congress
For ve9r after form ad OF
pending Congressional action, avail was also
nhatitants were forever excluded from m American
soil as If entering from foreign country" The
with that initiated by General Harrison.
MKINLEY FOLLOWS HARRISON.
Again. he urged that all questions arising out Of
anneXation should be left 10 the future and 10
states When President Mckinley ii issued @ s'iSp his m
S suuctions t Ior Ihe government Of the Philippines.
adopted General Harrison's language-he guar
anlesd the Filipinos Just and benevolent govern
Of the Uned States And yeP Gnera aa RarPso6
p ia Porto RSans attaG6s G6 hs
he saws: we offer them only this highly consola-
leans can be rused @ to dea Si tHi NTH
you" The man whose protection. from wrong
or Of SoRgress is slave Our fathers "ac-
tenure nor 96q sns tans h Was gPSa no
TO O. hold them I'm at all a A Rev PIP g. 10, 12)
bar Of the akss pop hs Pe r. has to '4 e
the Administration. its policy and practice. He
equity must do equity. He must show clean hands:
his oWn onf rFp eG1Tt & out OF
policy he invented its phraseoogy. and OF all men
it accursed
SUPREME COURT CANNOT DECIDE
But these questions will soon be decided by the
Supreme Court says General Harrison. That IS
decide them and even If it attempted to do So
action would be revolutionary and void Can
ongress? Can II prohibit this sovereign Ma
quered territory? Unless it overrnes the prece
fes dents Of century and repudiates practice
viii decide only problems Of strictly judicial
character, refuse TO pass on those of political
the political Departments Of the Government. 1t
will thus settle few. II any, Of the great problems
Undoubtedly the Court will follow the construc-
Justice Marshall, and uniformly adhered to since,
ritory absolutely or sub modo, and upon any terms
and conditions II pleases. Having decided this
from further Consideration the propriety OF the
particular terms OF annexation as matters within
the exclusive jurisdiction of the President and Con
gress.
A MATTER FOR THE PEOPLE
If annexation m be constitutional all appropriate
means means OF ERECTING 1t are constitutional, and to
would be, as Chief Justice Marshall said TO pass
ment and TO tread on legislative ground. This
court disclaims all pretensions 10 such power
explained the Court coud anna as M eSSsf Miller of
great es e aTbtr of pgtss and az
nes s9g }ate the n Of the laws of the
not presented to the Court on behalf of the Gov
ernent I'm IN ne pending cases submit with def
the only solution Of the situation. and the one I
belle believe the Court will ultimately adopt; solution
issues, and yet confines the judicial and political
aepartments within the functions assigned them
must be LEFT to the sovereign people and their duly
t5ere eyer sa no restraint IT. int on their action? Al
SQUARE miles of new territory. The power OF Con
has been just its a26orT ba een e ssof s exercise @
us use has been for the greatest good Of humanity
itants; though guaranteed by the Constitution,
have been amply protected by the fundamental
content to limit power where we cam" said that
cannot consistently with its use we must he cone we
. yen, 10 repose salutary confidence 1t is