The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-07-21

whose official positions render sucn
invitations especially appropriate, to
open the doors freely to all citizens,
rich and. poor alike with or without
social or political influence, to limit
of the capacity of the building, allow
ing the principle, first come, first
served" govern. The White house
is the last place where the American
people can afford to sanction undemo-
cratic social practices.
At the reception to the Filipino COM
missionerS has been the occasion OF
the present communication, the writer
cannot forbear to add an expression
Of the mingled amusement and con-
tempt with which he and all other
lovers of constitutional liberty must
regard our national welcome to a
body of traitors, on the part of men
who themselves have shown scant re-
spect for the Declaration OF lndepen-
dence and the constitution OF the
United States. In the light OF the
historical events OF the last six years.
what mockery it is to talk. as both
hosts and guests have done, Of the
Philippines for the Filipinos! 1t ap-
pears that the Filipino commissioners
visited the tomb of Washington. 1t
is we'll that they did not fail to make
SO appropriate visit Filipinos at
Mount Vernon, under escort OF Amer
lean officials! That is about the cli-
max OF inconsistency and aDsurdity
The administration may succeed in
deluding body of men whose fiat
terry it has virtually purchased; but it
cannot blind any thoughtful and pa
triotic American to the righteousness.
audacity, and hypocrisy of the whole
miserable spectacle.
Nor can the undersigned close with
out adverting to the satisfaction with
which the visiting junta of the Phil
ippne federal party must have hailed
the announcement, during their visit,
of the decision OF the supreme court
of the United States, sustaining the
legality OF the denial of trial by jury
in the Philippines. How gratifying
and edifying it must have been that,
while the executive branch o. the
American government was showing
the apostates to Philippine liberty all
7 ,;oSsible social honors. the judiLiai
branch of the same government Il IL
highest tribunal, was denying them
| a fundamental constitutional guaran-
| ty! How like dogs these Filipino
tories must have felt to kiss the hand
that smote them.
While this decision, denying trial
nv Jury in "unincOrpOrated' American
| territory whatever that may mean)
was in line with the odiOus, un-Amer-
| lean decision in Downes VS.. BldWell
yet every fresh Endorsement OF thai
| imperialistic decision cannot fail tC
arouse the just resentment and aug
ment the humiliation of the American
people. This latest decision affords
new illustration of the fact that oul
Philippine administration is neither
fish nor fowl. but tumble OF the
most inconsistent, arbitrary, Quixotit
| procedure that ever disgraced So
called civilized state. Whatever vii
serve the caprice or extend the pa
tronage or initiate the pride OF tn:
| commercial buccaneers who ran Nc
Kinley and his administration as they
are running Roosevelt and his admin
| ;sti alton, is unhesitatingly adopted
Constitutional principles and Ameri
can ideals are thrown upon the dump
heap of political refuse, just as thu
portraits of Washington and Jeffer
son were consigned by Roosevelt t.
the basement of the White house
Wnile the portrait Of the Rough Ride
;. himself took the place of the father
of the republic as the first sight t
meet the eyes of visiting patriot
from every quarter of the Union Al
Justice Harlan well said in his dis
senting opinion in the trial by jur,
case, the decision constitutes plail
case OF judicial amendment of the fed
eral constitution. And as for the al
legation that Inconvenience nigh
attend jury trial in the Philippines
Justice HARLAN meets this principa
, argument of the administration wit
; the conclusive rejoinder. I'VE kne,
. that when we acquired possession O
the islands," The fundamental maxir
, that 1t is the province not of tn
courts. but of the legislature to con
slider matters of inconvenience conse
quent on legislation was overturned i
Downes VS.. BidweIl. as in the presen
case IN tho digrpDufp Of the hfghgs