The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-09

government over territories. dependencies
or outlying states. II is large subject.
and the author has treated 1t in a large
traverses the whole field so thoroughly
and presents so much information on the
subject derived from so great number
OF original sources. 1t Is the more valu-
able because the subject is treated In an
historical and not in partisan spirit, and
ing the evolution. of principles, rather than
OF sustaining any particular theory. The
authors researches led him to the con-
clusicn that the American leaders of the
revolutionary period understood the theory
of federal empire or imperial central gov
eminent better than any other statesmen
before or since their time-a conclusion
which is well sustained by the splendid and
enduring political structure which they
founded on the principle. No one can read
the book without concluding that the rev.
dictionary leaders and the trainers of the
Constitution were imperialists and expan-
sionists The author says:
When it is recalled that 1t was Franklin
who made the first draft of Articles Of
Confederation which was considered by
the Congress, it is not surprising 10 find
that ii contained provisions establishing
an American Empire. in which the Amer,
State. 1t was Franklin who made the
original draft of the plan of union. which.
as has been already noticed, provided Tor
the establishment OF an American Empire
much more completely and distinctly than
1T did for the establishment of an Amer
lean State. He was the foremost expan-
sionist OF his time.
The author shows that in framing the
Confederation which preceded the Consti-
tuition the two theories Of Imperialism and
anti-imperialism contended for mastery.
resulting in a substantial victory for the
former. IF any proof is needed" he says.
"other than Franklin's and Dickinson's
drafts of Articles OF Confederation, that
it was the purpose of the United Colonies,
from the moment when their independence
became a matter of necessity, to form
themselves into union Of states which
should be the Imperial State of an Amer
lean Empire, all doubt on the subject is
removed by the treaties of alliance and
commerce with France, signed in IT'S"
Coming down to recent times and to the
practice under the Constitution the author
shows that the American federal empire
is a fact and will remain a fact, and that
the performance of it's imperial obligations
towards territories and dependencies rests
with Congress and the executive. He con-
cludes:
That America can temporarily perform
the functions of an imperial state towards
dependent state has been shown in the
case of Cuba. 1t is now necessary to prove
that that can be done habitually and con
stantly which has been successfully
done temporarily and as matter Of emer'
gency. That America will do so there car
be doubt; but it will be done only by
hard thinking and hard work. 1t will mo-
be done by despising the experience of Other
nations. but by studying 1t and daring
to follow their example where they have
succeeded in improving and elevating the
people whose affairs they have admins
tered 1t will not be done by those wht
blindly worship the Constitution of the
United States, but by those who, with tbs
principles of that Constitution as theil
foundation and their hope shall apply them
selves to the task of patiently evolving
the unwritten Constitution of the Amer
| lean Federal Empire.
The work as a whole shows careful his
| torical research and is a valuable contri
button to political and governmental his
| tory