The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, March 29, 1901, Page 6, Image 6

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Former Annexations.
So much lias boon said by tho imperialists to
tho effect that the administration's Philippine pol
icy is identical with the annexations of the past
that it is important that the student of public af
fairs should clearly understand the facts relating
to annexations.
Northwest
Territory,
Tho territory now forming the
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin, was
called tho "Northwest Territory." New York,
Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut severally
laid claim to this territory, but finally each
stato ceded its interests to tho general govern
ment. This may bo called our first annexation.
In 1787, congress provided for the government of
this territory. It provided that after 1800
slavery within this territory should bo prohibit
ed. It was also provided that no property qual
ification should be required of electors. A tem
porary government was authorized to exist until
tho male population of tho territory reached 5,
000, at which time a permanent representative
government would bo permitted, with a repre
sentative in congress possessing the same privi
leges that our territorial delegates do today en.
titled to debate, but not to vote. It was also
provided that whenever the inhabitants of any
one seotion of the territory numbered 60,000,
that section should be admitted as a stato.
The Jay Tho first annexation treaty was
Treaty. with Great Britain, and was
known as the Jay treaty. This
was made Feb. 20, 1700, It contained this pro
vision: Article II. All sellers and traders within tho
precincts or jurisdiction of tho said posts
8)iall not be compelled to become citizens of the Unit
ed States, but thoy shall bo at full liberty to do so if
they think proper, and they shall make and declare
their, election within a year after tho evacuation afore
said. And all persons who shall continue there after
the expiration of the Baid year without having de
clared their intention of remaining- subjects of his
Britannic majesty shall bo considered as having
elected to become citizens, of tho United States.
Louisiana The second treaty was the Lou-
Purchase, isiana Purchase treaty of Octo
ber 21, 1803, made with
France. It provided:
Article III. The inhabitants of the ceded terri
tory shall be incorporated in tho union of the United
States, and admitted aa soon as possible, according
to the principles of the Federal Constitution, to the
enjoyment of all the rights, advantages and immuni
ties of the citizens of the United States, and in tho
meantime thoy shall bo maintained and protected in
the free enjoyment of their liberty, property and tho
religion which they p ofess.
The Florida
Cession.
The third treaty involved tho
cession of Florida. It was made
with Spain Feb. 22, 1821 and
provided:
i.;Ai,rM1CnVMT.Th0 !nllabitants of the territories
which his Catholic majesty cedes to the United States
MYh in the union of
the United States as soon as may bo consistent with
tho principles of the Federal Constitution, and admit
ted to the enjoyment of all tho privileges, riirhts and
immunities of the citizens of tho United I States
Our Treaties The fourth and fifth treaties wore
$fth Mexico, executed July 4, 1848, and June
80 185. Thoy wore known
its ihe Mexican treaty and tho Gadsden Purchase
treaty, and provided:
Article IX. Tho Mexicans who in , the territories
.afpresaid shall not preserve the character Qt citizens
Annexation of
Alaska.
The Commoner.
of the Mexican republic shall be incorporated into
the union of the United States, and be admitted at
tho proper time (to bo judged of by the congress of
the United States) to the enjoyment of all the rights
of citizens of the United States according to the Con
stitution, and in the meantime shall bo maintained
and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty
and property and Focured in the free excreise of their
religion without restriction.
The sixth treaty involved the
Alaskan purchase. It was made
with Russia June 20, 18G7, and
provided:
Article lit. The inhabitants of the ceded terri
tory according to their choice, reserving their natural
allegiance, may return to Russia within three years,
but if they should prefer to remain in the ceded ter
ritory, they, with the exception of the uncivilized
native tribes, shall be admitted to the enjoyment of
all the rights, advantages and immunities of citizens
of the United States, and shall be maintained and
protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, prop
erty and religion. The uncivilized tribes will be sub
ject to such laws and regulations as the United States
may from time to time adopt in regard to aboriginal
tribes of that country.
The Case of
Hawaii.
The next instance of annexation
was Hawaii. This was accom
plished by joint resolution of
Congress, which joint resolution provided as fol
lows: All white persons, including Portuguese and per
sons of African descent, and all persons descended
from a Hawaiian race, on either the paternal or ma
ternal side, who were citizens of the republic of Ha
waii immediately prior to tho transfer of the sover
eignty thereof to the United States, arc hereby de
clared to be citizens of the United States.
The Treaty
With Spain.
The seventh treaty was made with
Spain December, 10th, 1898. It
was the peace treaty. This treaty
provided:
Article IX Spanish subjects, natives of the
peninsula may preserve their allegiance to
the crown of Spain by making before a court of record,
within a year from the date of the exchange of rati-'
fications of this treaty, a declaration of thoir decision
to preserve such allegiance, in default of which decla
ration they shall be held to have renounced it and to
have adopted the nationality of the territory in which
they may reside.
The civil rights and political status of the native,
inhabitants of the territories hereby ceded to the
inhabitants of the United States shall be determined
by the Congress.
It will not be difficult for the student to de
termine the difference between the administra
tion's Philippine policy and the policy adopted in
all former annexations. In all other instances
citizenship for the people of the territory annexed
was contemplated and provided for. In this in
stance citizenship was not guaranteed to the peo
ple of the annexed territory, but the civil rights
and political status of the native inhabitants were
left for tho determination of Congress.
The flcEnery ' The difference between the ad
Resolution, ministration's Philippine policy
and the policy adhered to with re
spect to all former annexations was emphasized ,
when the United States Senate, after ratifying tho
peace treaty, adopted the McEnery resolution,
which provided as follows:
1809. Two years have elapsed, and instead of
getting nearer to the traditional policy of this
government with respect to annexation, wo have
gone considerably farther by conferring upon per
sons to be named by the President "all military,
civil and judicial powers" in the Philippines,
said powers to be exercise 1 under the President's
direction.
It is important that we carefully observe the
marked difference between the administration's
policy and the traditional policy of this govern
ment with respect to annexation.
In every instance, previous to that relating to
the Philippines, the inhabitants of the acquired
territory were to become citizens of the United
States, while the territory was to become part and
parcel of the United States. In the case of the
Philippines the political status was to bo defined
by Congress. And in ratifying the.treaty the Sen
ate said: "It is not intended to incorporate the
inhabitants of the Philippines into citizenship of
the United States. Nor is it intended to perma
nently annex said island as an integral part of tho
territory of the United States."
The people have been deceived by republican
pretenses they have refused to believe that a
revolution in our form of government was in
tended. Each day makes clearer tho purpose of
the administration to discard American principles
and mould our institutions to suit European ideas.
United S os trS,, " ito?tion of tlfe
ffitehi WS
This resolution was adopted in February,
Annabel Lee.
By Edgar Allen Poc.
1 '. -,'
1 -.',.
i
It was many and many a year ago, " '" ".
In a kingdom by the sea, s ' v $?
That a maiden there lived whom 3rou may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me. ' ' ,
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea:
But we loved with a love that was more than love
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
in this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of aeloud, chilling (
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her high born kinsmen came
And bore liefr away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
"?'-
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,
r
f.
The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
went envying her and me
Yes! that was the reason (as all men know"' -
In this kingdom by the sea) '' '.
That the wind came out of a cloud by night, .
Chilling and killing ray Annabel Lee.
But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we
Of many far wiser than we;
An:l neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of thebeautiful Annabel Lee:
For the moon never beams, without bringing me
dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
A"d so, all the night tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling-my darling-my life ana my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea, '
In her tomb by the sounding sea,
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