The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-12-19
GENUINE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE

GENUINE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE
There are two very substantial rea-
sons why the decisions of the supreme
court in the Philippine ease should give
the dem ocratic party an issue thorough
ly in keeping with its original principles
and in harmony with its best traditions.
One Of these is found in the fact that,
having decided that the constitution
and laws apply to all annexed territory,
which is. true democratic doctrine, the
court has left the question in such shape
that it is now Incumbent upon congress-
to legislate for the new possessions.
The autocrstic rule of the president is at
an end, unless, through democratic
failure to grasp the situation, congress-
in the hands of seryile republican
majority, shall become = mere instru-
ment for the registration Of the e1ecu'
tive will.
The other reason shows itself in the
fact that the centralizing and imperialix-
ing influences of the time, sgainst which
democracy should persistently contend !,
are 80 pronounced that even in the
i supreme court the judgment in favor
of constitutional rule and in harmony
with all of the prscsdsnts Of the past
was carried by q majority Of only one.
With the prssident and his cabinet, four
Judges out of nine in the supreme court
and majority of both houses of con.
gress arrayed on the side Of expansion
|, on the lines OF the British colonial
j system, thereby overturning every
! American principle for the extension o.
!, republican institutions, there Is al
opportunity for the assertion of genuine
| democracy which ought not to pass un,
> improved.
How shall the islands now under the
> sovereignty of the United States be gov.
3 erned? That is the natural and the
. logical party question, As it has beer
from the frst. 1t is properly a party
question. 1t is the only party question
as to e1pansion that can be raised
with profit or dignity. The court by 9
narrow margin has presented the oppor.
sanity. The very slsnderasss of that
margin smphasizss tho necessity fol-
correct action and the danger Cha,
is to be appr shonded from nonaction OF
wrong action.
Every so.ea]lod democratic influence
which is now o1erted in support of the
absurd Interpretation Of the Kansas
City platform, which is adhered to chief
ly in populistic circles, that the islands
should tie abandoned, is political imbe-
cility; it is betrayal Of country and of
party and an outrage upon common
sense. The question whether the is
lands we're to be American territory or
not was settled for all time when, by
the votes of democrats as we'll as of re-
publicans, the treaty OF Paris was rati-
fed. There is only one party question
now and that may be expressed very
clearly in the interrogatory: Shall we
adopt the British system of crown colo
MES in defiance Of the constitution or
shall we preserve and strengthen the
American systsm of constitutional ex-
paneion under which the republic has
beceme great and prosperous?
We are face to face in this country
with danger often predicted and in
some matters Of minor Importance act
ually presented, perhaps, that the con-
stitution will be amended by the judg.
ment of court instead Of by the order.
ly processes provided by law. A change
of opinion by one member of the
supreme court would have engrafted up
on the constitution an Amendments
more far-reacbing in its consequences
than any that resulted from the civil
war.
With one recruit on that bench for
absolutism it is probable that no man
now living would have seen the day
when the Philippines were anything
mole than royal demesne, field for
the selfish exploitation Of favored in.
terests, safe retreat for political favor.
ties, a graveyard for American soldiers
AID dumping place for American
treasure. With one recruit for absolut-
i'm on that Lench powers would have
b.en conferred upon the president Of
the United States which have no paral.
lei outside of Russia and China.
The question of government for the
Philippines concerns Americans quite AZ