The Washington times., 1901-07-04
Circulation Statement.
The RennbItcnn Attitude.

ever witnessed in the worlds history
than that presented by the attitude OF
the Republican party on the question
of the Constitution in the Territories.
The Republican party came into eX-
istence as the peculiar and extreme
champion of the principle of universal
liberty and the doctrine Of the absolute
equality Of all men before the law. In
the early days of the party's history II
INDUCED in no hair-splitting quibbles;
it refused to accept geographical lines,
either natural or artificial, as separat-
ing zones of freedom from those of sla-
very or restricted political rights. With
the Republican party of Abraham Lin
coin. whatever may have been its
shortcomings from strictly legal
point of view. right was always right
and wrong was always wrong regard
less Of the race or color Of men, or
where they CHANGED TO live. Now we
find the leaders of the party sounding
their tomtOms and singing hOsannas
over a decision by the Supreme Court
that the Constitution does not follow
the flag
Recently the Detroit Tribune" TAX
ing the mishap to the yacht Constitu-
ti0n as a subject. published a cartoon
in which the boat is shown dismasted
and stranded, her colors and rigging
drifting upon the tide, while under
meath is the inscription: Let US be
thankful that the Constitution did not
follow the nag" Obviously, the car
toon was intended 10 satirize the atti-
tude Of those people who are rejoicing
in the fact that the Federal Constitu-
ton does not accompany the flag into
newly acquired territory, or at least
does not get there 50 securely that Con
sress cannot cast il out again at viii.
What does this doctrine mean2 Sim
ply that when we take possession Of
foreign territory we may, if we choose,
deny 10 the people all constitutional
protection. and treat them just as Rus
sia or any otEer despotism would treat
them. That Is what it means, reither
more nor less. If this is not directly in
the teeth OF all American tradition, and
Numerically opposed to the principles
which the Republican party was formed
10 uphold. then it is impossible for the
human mind 10 imagine anything that
would be.
1t is no answer to say that we intend
to treat those people kindly. and give
them good government. This is exact
Iy what Lord North said when he as
serted the right Of Parliament TO tax
the American colonies without their
consent And the colonies did have
good government, as government went
il those days. Nevertheless, they de-
clared that taxation without represen-
tation was tyranny, and in defence Of
that declaration they threw down the
gage Of battle TO the greatest military
and naval power Of the world.
So in defence OF slavery in the South
it was claimed. and generally with
truth, that the slaves were treated
kindly by their masters. but that did
not satisfy the moral sentiment Of the
Republican party. Il planted Itself
upon the high ground that there should
be neither masters nor slaves. ana
when emancipatio dawned for the
negro not a vestige Of serfdom was per
mitted TO remain, whether the masters
were good or bad. kind or cruel.
To deny the constitutional safeguards
Of liberty 10 the people of the islands
over which we have raised our flag in
sovereignty is equivalent u declaring
that those people have no rights which
the American Government is bound 10
respect and that we intend 10 hold
them in such a position that we can do
with them as we viii. according TO any
contingency that may arise OF that we
may choose 10 invoke. This is nothing
more or less than political slavery,
however il may be sug2r-coated and
CLOSED over with false rhetoric about
the American flag standing for liberty
everywhere.
Would we consider that the American
flag stood Tor liberty in New York or
Maryland if il were held by the Su-
preme Court that for any reason those
States were not within the protection
Of the Constitution We all know bet
ter To deny constitutional rights TO
the great State of New York would pro-
woke an armed conflict, perhaps before
the setting Of the sun on the day OF
such denial Why? Simply because
the people Of the State regard the Con-
s7GA1A-'-- --A-- JA-4 val p % A+-tA4 lAbtl-
ties and Believe that without il those
liberties would be insecure. And they
are right about it. II constitutional
safeguards had not been deemed neces-
sary. they would not have been pro-
Yided by the founders Of the Republic.
II they are necessary in the States,
where the people have potent voice in
all the affairs Of the nation. how much
more essential must they be in outlying
possessions, where the people have
neither State nor organized Territorial
governments where, in fact, they are
subject 10 every whim Of Congress and
the Executive,
The Republican doctrine of today is
that If strong enough we might conquer
the entire world beyond our own con
tinental boundaries. and deny to the in
habitahls every one Of those privileges
which for more than hundred years
we have vauntingly proclaimed 10 be
the iualienable rights Of man. Such is
the attitude Of the Republican party.
and il IS an amazing thing 20 contem-
plate. A more complete metamorphosls
probably never took place in any politi-
cal party.
Parties frequently change their posi-
tion upon questions Of economies. and
Of policy where no vital principle is in