The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
Upsetting the Government.

Referring to the Porto Rico case now
pending in the supreme court, Senator
opooner OF Wisconsin recently predicted
that the courts decision would sup
port the Administrations policy of i'm
perialisin. He based his prediction on
the belief that 'sthe supreme court will
not dare to upset the government"
What Senator Spooner meant was that
the supreme court would not dare to
upset the administration. Since we
nave assumed imperialistic habits we
have unconsciously employed imperial
lstlc phraseology. For instance, in
the good old days when our republican
form of government was jealousy
ruarded, none thought of referring to
Ae L administration as the govern
nent.
The fathers taught their children
that the people and their constitution
constituted the government, and that
the men in immediate authority were
but the servants of the people. A su-
preme court decision antagonistic to
policy of imperialism might upset the
administration but would not upset
the government. A decision support
ing the administrators policy of in
perialism would in truth and in fact
upset the government. Not that there
would be any disbanding of authority
or crumbling of the national structure,
but such Il decision would upset the
government as it was founded by the
Washingtons and preserved by the Lin
coins. 1t would upset the government
as the American people have under
stood the government.
We have been taught that every man
OF whom this government requires al
legiance. obtains in return the same
privileges and immunities guaranteed
to every other citizen.
We have been taught that there cam
not be under our system of government
any such thing as a subject.
We have been taught that the con-
stitution is the fundamental law OF
the land; that in it the men in au-
tholity find their powers, and that
where no powers are granted, no pow
ers can exist.
We have been taught that there are
three distinct branches of government:
executive, legislative and judicial, and
that one should not encroa CHI upon the
ther
We have been taught that tariff du-
ties must be uniform throughout the
United States and all places subject to
their jurisdiction.
We have been taught that it is inn
possible for congress to lay an export
tax
A decision unfolding the administra-
tion's policy would mean that the
| American people must learn their les
sons over again.
1t would mean that the government
as we have learned it, and as the faith
ers founded it, would be completely
upset and that a new government fash
toned on imperialistic lines would take
its place; it would be a government in
which the executive possesses whatever
arbitrary powers he may choose to as
sumo; a government in which the con-
gress is not controlled by the constitu-
ton; government in which the
judiciary is not bound by the funda-
mental law of the land; a government
which may mean liberty to one man
and despotism to another; a govern
ment which may give to one territory
free trade with the stat es, and erect
between the states and another terri
tory high protective wall; govern
ment wherein citizens may be burdened
with a tax upon the goods they export;
government which assumes authority
over the people of Porto Rico while de
Ginning to recognize them as citizens OF
the United States and designating them
as "citizens of Porto Rico; a govern
ment in which slavery may, at the
pleasure of the executive, thrive and
flourish beneath a flag that has been
dedicated and re-de dictated to the abso-
Lutte freedom of men; government,
part of whose people are subjects; a
government that is part slave and part
free; government comprising not a
union of indestructible states and ter
rltories, each territory enjoying the
hope OF ultimately becoming state,
but government comprising some
states and some territories enjoying
the privilege of ultimately becoming
states, and some colonies specifically
denied the right of entertaining such a
hope, or realizing such an ambition.
This is the government as it would
exist if the supreme court upheld the
administrations policy of imperialism.
The old government would in fact be
upset; the old constitution, the old
notions. the traditions of a century,
the sentiments of an age, the lessons of
generations, would all be upset" and
in their place the notions of kings, the
sentiment Of monarchs and a govern
ment of imperialism would be en-
throned. Are not the American people
justified in believing that Senator
Spooner unwittingly told the truth
when he said, "The supreme court will
not dare to upset the government"
Perhaps Mr.. Morgan seeks to secure
control of the ocean so as to have plen-
ty of water for the proper dilution of
his railroad and industrial stocks.
Possibly the supren, court is hold
ing back on that Porto Rican decision
in the hope that the crippled consti-
tuition will be able to oyertake the
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