Excerpt from Republic or Empire?: An Argument in Opposition to the Establishment of an American Colonial System
One of the various arguments which are advanced by the advocates and the supporters of the President"s policy of territorial expansion is that the commercial interests of the United States imperatively demand that the markets of the old world should be thrown open to our surplus products. This is the principal ground upon which Senator Beveridge of Indiana, in his recent speech in the Senate, sought to justify the war which the Federal administration is now waging against the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands. As this speech is said correctly to represent the views of the President and of his coadjutors, it is worthy of more serious consideration than it would command were it merely an expression of the individual opinions of its author; and for that reason the writer of this article will inquire whether or not a colonial system can be inaugurated by the United States consistently with the fundamental principles upon which our Government was founded.
Conceding for the purpose of this discussion the truth of all that the Senator has said concerning the great advantages which would accrue to our people by creating an increased demand for their manufactures and other products among the inhabitants of our so-called "new possessions," the question as to how a colonial system can be established or maintained under our Constitution as it now reads must first be considered; for no legislation by Congress which is contrary to the provisions of, or is forbidden by, that instrument can be valid and binding upon our citizens. If, after a careful examination thereof, it should appear that such a system is authorized thereby, we may then decide whether or not it ought to be adopted; and if we should be convinced that colonies would be advantageous to us we may proceed to establish them.
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