Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-06-28
NO. T..

representing the English people, than the car
accOrds to the inhabitants of Crimea. The
government of England is imperial, because,
while arrogating to themselves the right to do
what they please, the English people control
the industrial and political existence of hum
dreds of millions of people, and settle these in
such manner as they see fit. The government
of the czar is imperialistic because, while arro-
eating to himself the right to do as he pleases,
the czar dictates the political land industrial
development of scores of millions of people.
But in each instance, there is denial of the
democratic theory of government, that the
people of country have right to regulate
their own affairs"
The decision of the supreme court in the
Downes case places the inhabitants of Porto
Rico at the mercy of congress and the execu.
tive. There is not vital right that they can
claim as theirs. They must low before the
American flag; they must swear allegiance to
1t; they must follow where 1t leads; their prop
erty and their lives may be demanded for its
maintenance and defense, and yet, what is there
in that flag which represents right or hope for
them? Heretofore, territory has looked for
ward to the time and condition Of statehood;
its embarrassments have been considered tempo
rary, and during its period of waiting, its peo.
pie have been protected in the enjoyment Of all
the rights guaranteed to citizens by the consti-
tuition. If its delegate in congress has had no
vote, its people have been reasonably safe from
harm, because the general laws made for the
territories were also operative in the states.
Now comes new order of things. The nation
has caught the spirit of conquest. 1t has stained
its hands with the blood of subject races. The
people OF Porto Rico are notified that they are
to be with US, but not of US. They are to have
neither our government nor their own govern
ment, but such government as we think good
for them. We shall buy of them what we
please, upon our own terms; we shall make
their laws for them; we shall tax them; we
shall govern them, and if they dare to quote
our Declaration of Independence against US, we
shall shoot them. "Perhaps'' we shall allow
them freedom of religion-6ve judges in q
court of nine, speaking fcr us, say that we are
net sure about this. Perhaps we may allow
them freedom of speech-the question is not
settled. "Perhaps" their newspapers may be
allowed to criticise calpet-bag of6cia1s-but
it is not yet determined whether this is gen
era right to be enjoved by the Porto Ricans or
local one to be enjoyed only by the people of
the United States. "Perhaps" they may be
allowed to peaceably assemble-this is matter
for future consideration. "Perhaps" they may
be permitted to petition for redress of griev-
ances-we shall see about this later.
The Porto Ricans had heard of our Revolu-
tionary war; they had read our state papers;
they had been inspired by our patriotic songs,
and so, when General Miles landed upon the
island, the people of Porto Rico met him with
music and spread flowers in his path. Theirs
was rude awakening! While they dreamed
of American liberty, the Republican leaders
were calculating the trade value of eight hun
dred thousand Porto Ricans.
"Perhaps'' Justice Browns opinion will cou-
vince the rank and file of the Republican party
that our institutions are in danger, and that
the Republican party should be repudiated. If
liberty becomes ''perhaps" iu Porto Rico,
how long will it be certainty in the United
States?