Arizona daily citizen., 1901-07-03
ISSUES AND CONDITIONS.

The Louisville Courier-Journal declares that
The Arizona Citizen is in state of confusion as to
its position, and possibly the accusation is correct
but The Citizen is not in any confusion as to the s-
that are forced upon the country by Mckinley
ism, And yet they not new issues. They are
merely extensions of the old issues of aggression
constitutional government. Tomorrow Independ-
day will be celebrated wherever Americans live
but is the Independence we have now the kind of
Independence the ragged continontals in their old
regimentals' fought for? The Courier journal very
pertinenty describes the new issues thus:
We beg to remind The Arizona Citizen that
times change and men change with them. Measur-
es come and go Issues rise and fall. "Princilles.
which may be described as eternal" are few and
far between. To say this is rot to dscredt them
They do exist; they exist now ever; they may be
seen and traced in the whole course of Republican
legislation, in the warp and woof OF Republican ad
minisration, in every detail OF the syndicated gov
ernment at Washington from the Porto Rican busi-
ness to Mark Hannas campaign debt t-paying ship
subsidy BILL from the avoritism which shows itself
in every item OF reciprocity, and other tariff Jug
Cling to the rnged streaked and striped ruling Of
the Supreme Court in that variegated judgment
which, though neither revolutionary nor incisive
as Mr.. Bryan describes it, nevertheless is quite
enough to excite the wonder of gods and men,
There is one principle that has always been an
essential of Democratic faith which is now assailed
as before. 1t is that this is a constitutions
government in which written constitution is su
preme, and that inviolabity of the constitution is
the safeguard of liberties. If the principle il
once admitted that anywhere or for any purpose
federal officials have powers not derived from the
&C Institution. and which may be exercised in def
ance of the constitution the whole aspect of the gov
ernment is changed and the important question il
no longer whether measure or an act is constitu-
tiona, but whether it 10 permissible violation oi
the constitution For this reason we do not see how
the Democratic party accept the achievements oi
the Mckinley administration as accomplished facts.
That administration has admitted that the Philip
pines cannot be governed In accordance with the
constitution by hastily changing its plan from the
inauguration of civil government to the continue
ton of military government in the islands. Blu,
military government cannot constituonaily be pro
onged after peace exists What then is to be done
Shall we accept the proposition that the Philippines
must bo retained at the cost of open violation
OF tho constitution? Is not the constitution worth
more than the Philippines? II it is not there is
little occasion for further political ssaes of any
kind. And here again our Louisville contemporary
takes ground that is tenabe:
The ruling of the Supreme Court five to four is
demurrabie the ruling of the electoral tri
bunal, eight to 1t is demurrable as was its
own ruling in the matter OF the income tax Itrais
es distinct constitutional issue. involving govern
mental power. Ii it be- adhered to in tho coming
Philippine cases, and ii the country confirms 1t by
the election of Republican president in 1904, COM
mitted to the principle OF absolutism therein laid
down, shall have taken long stride in a wrong
direction and shall witness as consequences of this
stride greet eXcesses in the administration of the
public business not only of our insular possessions
but at home as weii and to the profit only OF
money syndicate operating the Republican party
through close corporation organized and managed
by the chairman of the national Republican com
mttee.
| But to make stand on such an issue involves
two necessities at least. One is that there must bt
no temporizing. When the sanctity of the constitu
tion is involved no party stand the proposition
that I'VE may somewhat restrain what we canno
wholly stop" The constitution is sacred or it il
nothing. On its barriers arc written, thus far sha
thou go and no farther" 1t does not admit of com
promise. The other necessity is that such an issue
is exclusive. No party can successfully go to the
country the issue of preserving constitutional lib
erty with halfadozen questions of policy and exped
iency tackled to it. If it is all issue it is an allah
sorbing issue. 1t is important than any other
possible issue. 1t carries with it the motive of the
violation OF the constitution on~the desire to accom-
modae certain trusts which are tariff benefciaries-
and matters directly connected with it, but nothing
more.
And unless the Democratic party is ready tc
make its stand for the preservation of the constitu
tion, and for its supremacy wherever the flag is per
manenty raised, it had better leave the issue out al
together.
|
WHERE will the Wedge be July 4, 1902
DON'T all speak at once.