The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-03

I
and when. CORRESPONDENCE, the prin-
cples and ideals We had inherited from
the founders OF the republic gave way
10 ideas as to the powers of our gov
eminent which differed widely from
Abraham Lincoln's conception Of de-
! mocracy that it was a government of
the people, for the people and by the
people.
Human Rights Ignored.
when we annexed the PHILIPPINE isl
&nds il was done not only with COM
plete disregard of the rights and wishes
of the people thereof-a disregard as
absolute as ever characterized any of
the conquests of the Roman empire or
of the French empire under Napoleon
but also with hardly less absolute dis
regard of the spirit of our present in
situations. The annexation OF the ISL
ands, aud the subsection by force of the
Filipinos fighting for their independ-
ence, was as different from the inten-
ton of the fathers as government by
superior artillery is from government
by the consent OF the governed.
Moral Effects of Conquest.
When we contemplate the moral eff
/ fects of the policy of conquest and sub
! jugation, as IL has been carried on and
! is now defended by the Republican par
! ~. we cannot but feel serious anxiety
as to the peTmanency Of democratic in
/ stitutions among us. The great princi-
/ pies proclaimed by the Declaration of
I Independence, that government derives
! its just powers from the consent of the
| governed, stood Substantially unques-
/ toned among us until the imperialistic
policy of conquest and arbitrary rule
] over the conquered was entered upon.
( IL was recognized as the very essence
/ Of democratic institutions. Now 1t is
/ scoffed at by many of the leaders of
| the Republican party as a glittering
] generality that has no practical mean
] ing. and application: as baby talk, fit
/ for the infancy of this nation. but RI
! diculous in its present state of power.
| Indeed. it is perfectly logical for them
20 deride and reject il il they mean 10
justify and maintain their policy Of
! conquest and dominion.
True Source of Government.
But let me ask them as citizens of
| democratic republic what the true.
/ source of the just powers can be if not
/ the consent of the governed? Is it
| force? That would be despotisnl. Is
/ il wealth? That would be plutocracy.
! Is IL the privilege of birth or position
! in society? That would be aristocracy.
/ What remains, then, as the source Of
/ the just powers Of free government
/ but the consent Of the governed in its
range and effect regulated by self made
/ law You deny that and you deny the
1 vital principle of democratic institu-
! tons. And imperialism does deny it,
Coming Home to Us.
1T denies IL first with regard to the
/ subjugated alien populations. If the
| imperialistic tendency continues we
shall soon have the same experiences at
home. In fact. they are already begin
ming TO appear. You cannot fail TO no.
tice that whenever you quote the prin-
ciples proclaimed in the Declaration Of
| Independence in connection with the
1 case of the Filipinos you are iercely
/ assailed as unpatriotic citizens who are
stirring up our subjects to revolt In
fact a member of the administration.
in speaking Of the present and futuare
/ of the Philippines, stopped little short
) Of admOmshing Us that every public
I discussion Of that subject-unless it be
I entirely in harmony with the policy OF
| the Observation-Disclosures stop for the
reason that it might excite hopes
+ among our subjects which the admins
tration is unwilling to crafty. Now
what does this mean? Democratic gov
eminent is essentially government by
/ public discussion.
Free Discussion.
That discussion must be enlight-
! ened by the truth as to matters Of pub
Tic interest. the fullest possible infor-
/ nation to lie frankly furnished by the
government. 1t must. in order to serve
I its end. be actively free, SO as TO i1lu-
I mine every side Of the question TO be
decided. And now We are told that
we should not freely discuss a question
I Of such stupendous Importance as that
{ whether the United States should re-
\ main a simple democratic republic or
/ become a colonial empire: that the
+ principles of the Declaration of indie
/ pendeace, the fundamental principles
. Of our republic should not be men
! toned in connection with the matter,
lest our colonial subjects hear of II.
. and that as the administration knew
/ this business best, the people should
leave it to the administration to deter
mine the course 20 be taken concern
in- Il.
Power of the President.
This is only an initial. tentative at
tempt TO dominate public opinion in
behalf of the government. But there
win be more OF il if the imperiahstic
( spirit is permitted to prevail. In this
respect we must not fail 70 keep in
view the great power welded by the
( president in the conduct Of foreign re-
7, laticns. Tle constitution provides that
1 only congress shall have power TO de-
clare war. But it is within the power
OF the president. If he desires war, to
create. by his conduct of our foreign re-
! lations, situations which make war in
/ evitable- 1T may happen that OH such
1 an occasion congress. having opposed
war. would not consent 10 Il if con-
suited beforehand; but il may be con-
( fronted by things already done. by ae-
comDlished facts. which make the es-
cape from war exceedingly difficult IL
I not impossible.
Could Force War.
The president may then force war
upon the country in spite OF the adj
verse opinion of congress. He may do
I this. keeping. as to the exercise OF his
! powers. Within the letter sc the consti-
! tuition. although flagrantly violating its
spirit and intent. And he may do mis-,
! almosl sure of the subsequent approval
and support Of congress, which, when
/ an accomplished fact has put our coun-
try in an attitude more or less hostile
! to a foreign power. is usually very re-