Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-01

hazard our existence for its maintenance.
He appointed an additional envoy to CO
operate with our representative already
at the French Capital, in an attempt e
| obtain concession that would cure the
difficulty In communication to him
after. referring to the excitement caused
by the withdrawal of the right of deposit
4 he thus characterized the condition which
I he believed confronted the nation: or
| the event of This mission depend the futur,
| destinies of this Republic. If We cannot
1 by a; ,purehase of the country, insure t.
ourselves a course of perpetual peace ant
i friendship with all nations, then as wal
| cannot he distant, it behooves us immedi
! ately to be preparing for that course
though not Fastening it
| l have not recited these details for the
purpose of claiming that this accelerated
speed and advanced position on the part
OF our Government had any important eff
! feet in Fastening final results. | have
! thought it not aniss, however, to call
attentioneto the fact that century ago
ing to gain governmental benefit by
| clandestine approach and cunning pre-
tense, but were apt to plainly present
their wants or grievances, and to openly
| the general government as was their due
under the mandate of popular rule, and
that in making their demands they relied
on the mutual obligations of the relation
snip between the governed ami those in
vested with authority, and invoked the re-
ciprocity in political duty which enjoins
| port OF government, there shall be given
| in exchange. by the government to the
people. defense of their personal rights.
and the assurance that in safety and
peace they shall surely reap the fruits of
their enterprise and labor. 1t may also
be well to note the efficiency of the peo-
pies call upon the government in those
early days, and how quickly the response
came-not by yielding to temporary gusts
OF popular within and caprice-not by con-
ferring benefits on the few at the expense
of the many-but by a quick observation
of the fact that the withdrawal of cer-
tain rightful privileges by another nation
from toino1 american settlers had caused them
to relieve their distress even if the un-
welcome visage of war frowned in oppo-
Sition.
Another incident which it seems to me
we may recall, today, with profit and sat
lSfact1on, grew out of the conduct of the
President when the treaty of 1903 had been
formulated and was returned to him for
ratification and final completion. He was,
as is we'll known, originally quite firm in
his belief that the constitution as it stood
Old not authorize such an extension of our
limits by purchase as the treaty for the
acquisition of the Louisiana territory
contemplated. Holding. this opinion and
clear conviction that the treaty with all
its stu ,ndous advantages could not be
above to fail without positive peril if
vital object and aspirations, his perplexity
was increased by. the receipt of an author
itative intimatien that any delay in final
action on the treaty might open the way
to recession on the part of France. In
these circumstances not daring to risk the
delay of an amendment to the constitution
oncilng inconsistency with duty by pro-
curing confirmation of the treaty by the
Senate and compas sing its unquestionable
valuation by subsequent constitutional
amendment.
In view of the conclusive settlement
since that time of this constitutional uues-
against Mr.. Jefferson's original opinion
and in favor of the nations power to ac-
quire territory as was done under the trea-
ty of 1903, and considering the fact that
we, have since that time immensely in
creased our area by the acquisition not
only of neighboring territory, but of dis
tant islands of the sea separated ny
thousands of miles from our home domain,
we may be inclined to think lightly of
President Jefferson's scruples concerning
the acquisition of lands, not only next adj
jacent to us, but diSpenSably necessary to
our peace and development
There were wise men near our President
IN 1908, who differed with him touching
tory under the original provisions of the
constitutions; and these men did not fail
to make known their dissent. Moreover
in the Senate. to which the treaty was
submitted for confirmation there was AN
able discussion of its constitutional valid
ity and effectiveness The Judgment of
that body on this phase of the subject was
votes, "A were cast in favor of confirma
ton. An amendment to the constitution
was afterward presented to Congress, but
its first appearance was its last. 1t does
not appear that the President interested
himself in its fate, and it died at the mo-
ment of it's introduction.
While In this day and generation we may
wonder at the doubts which so perpleXed
Jefferson in 1893, and at his estimate of the
limitations of our fundamental law, and
they had been allowed to control his action
We might have lost the greatest national
opportunity which has been presented to
our people since the adoption of the con-
sstitution, we cannot fail at the same time
to be profoundly grateful that these
doubts and this estimate were those of a
man sincere enough and patriotic enough
to listen to wise and able counseIlors and
to give his country the benefit of his ad-
mission of the fallibility of his Judgment
Thomas jefferson never furnished bet
ter evidence of his greatness than when
just before the submission of the treaty
to the Senate he wrote to a distinguished
Senator who differed with him on this
question:: I confess that think it inn
portant in the present case to set an eX-
ample against broad construction by an
peaI1ng Tor new power to the people If
however, our friends shall think different
~. certainly ! shall acquiesce with salts
fact1on-confding that the good sense of
our country will correct the evil of con-
struction when it shall produce i'll eff
fectS." 10 " -
A recent writer on American diplomacy
VINO rs not suspected of partiality for JEFF
fersonian political doctrine, gave in strong
ana graceful terms good reason for our
gratitude. today. when in referring TO fhis
subject we wrote: 1T was fortunate for