The Iola register., 1901-06-21
SUPREME COURT SOUND SENSE.

The entire text of the Supreme Cour
decision might we'll be circulated as
Republican campaign document, bu
here are few paragraphs that simpl.
repeat, with the emphasis of authority
the argument made in every intelligen
Republican speech last year:
Grave apprehensions OF danger are felt
by many eminent men-a fear lest an un-
restrained possession of power on the part
OF congress many lead to unjust and OPP
pressive legislation, in which the natural
rights OF territories, or their inhabitants,
may be engulfed in a centralized despot.
ism. These fears, however, ind no justin
cation in the action Of congress in the past
century, nor in the conduct OF the British
parliament toward IT'S outlying possessions
since the American Revolution"
Further along, Justice Brown re
marked:
Whatever may be finally decided by the
American people rs to the status Of these
islands and their inhabitants whether
they shall be introduced into the sister
hood Of states or be permitted to form in
dependent government it does not follow
that in the meantime, awaiting that de-
cision, the people are in the matter of per-
sonal rights unprotected by the provisions
of our constitution and subject to the
merely arbitrary controlof congress. Even
II regarded as aliens, they are entitled un-
der the principles OF the constitution to be
protected in life, liberty and property
Large powers must necessarily be en-
trusted to congress in dealing with these
problems and we are bound to assume that
they win be judiciously exercised. That
these powers may he abused is possible.
But the same may be said of its powers
under the constitutions as well as outside
fit. Human wisdom has never devised
form OF government so perfect that 1t may
not be perverted to bad purposes. It is
never conclusive to argue against the pos;
session OF certain powers from possible
abuses OF them. 1t is safe to say that II
congress should venture upon legislation
manifestly dictated by selfish interests, it
would receive quick rebuke at the hands
OF the people. Indeed, II is scarcely pos
sible that congress could do a greater in
justice to these islands than would be in
volyed in holding that II could not impose
upon the states taxes and excises without
extending the same taxes to them. Such
requirement would bring them at once
within our internal revenue system nclud-
ing stamps, licenses, excuses and all the
paraphernalia of that system, andapply-
Tns il to territories which have had no ex-
peni,nce Of this kind and where 1t would
tprove an intolerable burden"
patriotic and intelligent men may differ
widely as to the desirableness OF this or
that acquisition, but this Is solely politi-
cal question. We can only consider this
aspect OF the case so far as TO say that no
Construction OF the constitution should be
adopted which would prevent congress
from considering each case upon its merits
unless the language of the instrument inn
perativcly demand IT, A false step at this
time might be fatal TO the development of
what Chief Justice Marshall called the
American empire. Choice in some cases,
the natural gravitation of small bodies to-
ward large ones in others, the result of
successsul war in still others, may bring
about conditions which would render the
annexation OF distant possessions desira-
BILE. II those possessions are inhabited by
alien races. differing from us in religion,
customs, laws, methods of taxation and
modes OF thought the administration of
government ana justice according toiAn-
glo-Saxon principles may for Il time he im-
possible; and the question at once arises
whether large concessions ought not to be
made for u time that, ultimately, our own
theories may be carried out, and the bless
ings OF u free government under the con
stitution extended to them We decline to
hold that there is anything in the constitu-
tion to forbid such action"
That is the argument which justilie
the policy of the Administration ant
the position of the Republican part.
whether any express warrant is foun,
in the constitution or not