Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-06-17

on tie question whether, when we COB
bled up the Philippines, the constitu-
ton, ex proprio vigore, accompanied
the flag into them. All Democrats held
that it did, and so did some of the great
est and best Republicans in the land.
But majority of the two houses of
congress held otherwise and that none
of the rights guaranteed to American
citizens in the constitution was OK
tended to the Filipinos and the deni-
zens of our other territories appur-
tenant to the United States'-God save
the mark-unless the constitution or
some portion of it should be extended
to them by act of congress! OF course
every man voting for or advocating
such an idiotic proposition stultiiiel
himself in tie eyes of all Intelligent
persons. 1t was hoped that TIE su-
prenc court of the United States would
hold that the constitution accompanies
the nag into all of Or possessions
wheresoevcr situated and that all the
citizens thereof enjoy the principles
Of liberty therein contained. But such
hopes were destroyed b. tic famous
five to four decision-to tic effect that
the constitution goes not With the fag
and goes not at all unless congress says
it shall.
That decision somewhat startled
somnolcnt people, but as it was In gen
cral terms they soon ceased to discuss
ii and speedily turned their minds to
the universal study of how to pile UP
the dollars, whether they needed them
or not. 4 recent decision by the SUI
preme court of the United States, how
ever, to the effect that Filipinos are
not entitled to trial by jury is a con-
crete fact which may stir the public
mind until some results are obtained.
Mr.. Justice Harlan, appointed rs II Re
publican and for twenty-five years on
the bench, declares in dissenting
opinion that the majority opinion prac-
tically adds a new amendment to the
constitution if it is permitted to stand,
and in so declaring lie does not over
state the case.
The right of trial by jury has been
considered for some thousand years by
English speaking peoples as one of the
sheet anchors of human freedom. In
fact, we have been in the habit of con-
sidering that and the writ of habeas
corpus as the bulwarks of our liberty,
and they are. If the Filipinos are not
entitled to the former they are not
entitled to the latter, for our fathers
enjoyed the right of trial by jury sew
eral centuries before they forced the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus
from an unwilling king. From the
landing Mt jamestown both have been
the precious possessions Of Americans.
Now we, through our supreme court,
say that we are unwilling to practice
our own theory Of freedom, n theory
to establish and maintain which thou
sands of the flower of the human race
gave up their lives. BY so doing we
make ourselves the laughingstock of
the civilized world. No doubt emper-
ors, kings, princes and potentates chuc-
kle when they reflect on what asses we
are making of ourselves. If the Fill
pinos are not entitled to trial by jury
and the writ of habeas corpus, they
are slaves to an American despotism,
for there is no genuine freedom with
out them.
Republicanism is more rampant and
universal, in Pennsylvania than in any
other state. The pass to which it has
brought things is illustrated by what
Is happening in the Luzerne district.
Mr.. Palmer, an able man, ex-attorney
general Of the state, is candidate for
denomination. He has made public two
facts-Q) that he will not buy the
nomination; ~ that before he was
elected the nomination had been going
to the highest bidder, the price ranging
generally from $4,000 to $4,000, while
one palpitating patriot ran the bid up
TO $4,000! Nevertheless the G. O. P.
assumes to have monopoly on po-
litical virtue. Go to!
If it be true, as reported, that Mr..
Secretary of Commerce and Labor
Hon. George Bruce Cortelyou has de-
clared himself against the use Of slush
funds in campaign, then he evidently
has no desire to be chairman Of the Re-
publican national committee, for such a
declaration clearly disqualifies him for
that position. A Republican campaign
without the use Of sluSh funds would
i,e much like the play of Hamlet minus
The Prince Of Denmark. The chances
nre ten to one that he never made any
such remark and that II he did some
ess fastidious statesman will be chair
nan.
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