Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1900 — POWER OF CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

POWER OF CONGRESS

Bryanites Met With a* Clean Cut Declaration. M’KINLEY’S TERSE SAYINGS Line Drawn on the Democratic Doctrine of Opposition to Precedent. Policy First Proclaimed In the Cause of Freedom Will Be Loyally Sustained, but Will Hover Bo Used os a Weapon of Oppression.

In the speech of President McKinley to the committee which recently gave him formal notice of his nomination the Bryanites are met whh a square, clean cut declaration of the Republican principle of the full legislative power of congress over territory of the United States as exemplified in our legislation for newly acquired land with a view to Its peculiar situation. The exercise of that liberty is made the basis of one of the principal Democratic attacks, and the Bryanite platform declares that the “Constitution follows the flag.” The right of congress to legislate for a territory and levy taxes for local purposes in it is attacked as “government without the consent of the governed" and “taxation without representation,” though both these functions have from the time the government was established. Against such an astonishing doctrine, invented by Calhoun to protect slavery in the territories on the same terms as in the states—a doctrine which would likewise have protected polygamy in territories and would have doomed the poor Porto Ricans to pay our internal revenue taxes into the treasury of this rich nation and then raise money by direct taxes for their own needs Instead of being freed entirely from federal imposts and enabled to raise local revenues without hardship—against sqch a doctrine the Republican party has from its foundation been arrayed. The president says plainly: “We reassert the early principle of the Republican party, sustained by unbroken judicial precedents, that the representatives of the people, in congress assembled, have full legislative power over territory belonging to the United States, subject to the fundamental safeguards of liberty, justice and personal rights, and are vested with authority to act ’for the highest interests of our nation and the people intrusted to its care.’ This doctrine, first proclaimed in the cause of freedom, will be used as a weapon for oppression.” , Men who stop to think, who are not driven out of reason by deep seated prejudice, even though they may not agree with every step taken, must realize, as Senator Hom- evidently does, that “this doctrine, nrst proclaimed in the cause of freedom, will never be used as a weapon of oppression.” He will realize that what was done in Porto Rico was a piece of practical statesmanship which has justified itself by its trappy results for the island, and he will know that the spirit of liberty, justice, and law which has been hitherto manifested by the Republican party will characterize its dealings with the Philippines. Those Islands have been annexed to the United States with Mr. Bryan’s aid and consent, and the federal government has had no alternative but to maintain its authority thre as it would in Alaska or Arizona. The president’s duty is to restore order and this disposition is to make that order the safeguard of Filipino happiness, liberty and prosperity.

The president has a happy faculty of stating a case with moderation, but with convincing force. His review of the last three and a half years is a model one in this direction. It shows how the pledges of 1896 have been redeemed, how the gold- standard was safeguarded, how the promised tariff revision was made, as the people expected when they returned the Republicans to power, how prosperity has been restored and the credit of the country Established at the highest point in its history,- where it is able to fund its debt at a lower interest rate than any other country. In internal affairs the administration has discharged its duties. It has maintained the honor of the country abroad, and in the difficult crisis which grew unforseen out of the Spanish war has faithfully guarded American Interests. As is always the case w’here events force new policies, differences of opinion arise, and opponents of any new step at once forsee the downfall of the republic. But if prosperity, redeemed pledges, bright prospects at home and abroad, have any weight with voters, there can be no question of Republican success and the re-election of President McKinley to carry 3ut the polisy he so ably expounds.