The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-06-20
IMPERIALISM REALIZED.

INIT ChtAk-- oWt nGeA1t&6Os
The Supreme Court does no halfway
work in sustaining the administration
foreign possessions policy. 1t goes
even beyond the administration. for the
latter had unintentionally weakened its
position somewhat by contending thai
Porto Rico was a foreign country until
the Foraker bill was passed. The Su
preme Court holds that ii was foreign
no more after the treaty of cession. and
therefore the Dinsley tariff law did mol
apply 10 II. for 1t levied duties only oil
imports from foreign countries" This
was the decision I'm the De Lima case
1t means only that Congress had not
acted In the Downes ease the court
comes to the question whether Con
gress may levy tax OH imports from
this Porto Rico. which is not a foreign
country-a tax different from what is
levied anywhere else In the United
States-and here the Supreme Court
istratiOn. 1t fairly revels in its new
doctrine. 1t indorses Judge Taney's
Dred Scot decision. II sustains Beve
ridge. 1t holds up Imperialism as the
destiny Of the country. At the outse,
1t announces the technical legal decis
ion, In it's effect, as follows:
We are Of opinion that the island OF
Porto Rico is territory appurtenan,
and belonging to the United States, but
not part Of the United States within
the revenue clause Of the Constitution;
that the Foraker act Is constitutional
so far as 1t imposes duties upon imports
from such island"
To reach this conclusion 1t has to
steer around the clause of the Consti-
tuition that ''The Congress shall have
power to lay and collect taxes. duties,
impOsts and excises to pay the debts,
and provide for the common defense
and general welfare Of the United
States: but all duties, imposts and ex.
cises shall be uniform throughout the
United States" 1t evades this by the
theory that the second ''the United
their individual capacities, and gravely
proceeds to argue that Porto Rico Is moi
a state. 1t puts no construction on the
first 1.-The United States" of this clause
in this connection, and very wisely. for
Il would call attention to the absurdity
of the decision. As a matter Of course
Porto Rico Is not state. Nobody ever
claimed that 1t was. But the Supreme
Court holds that 1t is neither a foreign
state nor part of 'the United States. y
And the court does not restrict itself to
the matter before It. 1t shows its com
plete subserviency to. the executive and
its adoption Of Imperialism in the full
est sense by Its concluding words. as
follows:
"A false step at this time might be
fatal to the development Of what CHIEF
Justice Marshall called THE AMERI
CAN EMPIRE. Choice in some cases
the natural sravitation of small bodie.
toward larger ones in others. the re
suit Of successful war in still others
may bring about CONDITIONS
WHICH WOULD RENDER THE AN
NEXATION OF DISTANT POSSES
SIONS DESIRABLE. II those posses
siOns are inhabited by alien races. diff
.fering from us In religion, customs
laws. methods Of taxation and mode.
Of thought. THE ADMINISTRATION
OF GOVERNMENT AND JUSTICE
ACCORDING TO ANGLO-SAXON
PRINCIPLES NAY FOR A TIME BF
IMPOSSIBLE; and the question Al
cnce arises whether LARGE CONCES
SIONS ought not to be made for 6
time. that ultimately our theories ma,
be carried out and the blessings of &
free GOVERNMENT UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION BE EXTENDED TC
THEM. WE DECLINE TO Holt
that there is anything in the constitu
ton to forbid such action"
Here Is the explanation Of TIE court.
action in q nutshell: I'VE decline I,
hold" anything that will interfere will
the imperial prOgraal. We make ICON
cessiOns." Concessions from what ant
to what? Obviously from the consti
tuition to the President. We will up
hold Congress not only In tax that I.
not uniform. but also In withholdin;
''the administration Of government ans
justice according to Anglo-Saxon prin
ciples." This was not before them
1t Is gratuitOus-it Is as completely
obiter as the Dred Scot decision. Ant
why this decision? Because 1.-The an
nexation Of distant possessions" maj
be desirable In the formation Of 9TH,
American empire" What worse cal
happen? The Supreme Court relin
quishes its guardianship Of the consti
tuition at the demand Of the executive
II this be not Imperialism realized Ii
all but form, what could be:-Indian
apOlis Sentinel.