Civil Liberties in American
Colonies
A T the conclusion of the Spanish-American war in 1898 the United States found itself suddenly, for the first time in its history, the ruler of overseas colonial possessions entailing responsibilities for which it was utterly unprepared. No constitutional or legal provision existed either for extending our form of government to possessions or for establishing a colonial policy. The fact that these possessions were inhabited by non-English speaking peoples of diverse background was an obstacle to incorporating them as states or territories of the Union. The record made by forty years of administration is not a commendable one. The promise to prepare these peoples for independent, democratic self-government has remained largely unfulfilled. Conflict between the American rulers and the black, brown or white native peoples arises from an attitude of superiority. No better evidence of it can be cited than the imposition of the English language on children in the schools, the employment of American teachers particularly in the higher grades, and the adoption of the traditional American school education, regardless of students’ practical needs. Exploitation of natural resources and of commerce interests has intensified political control and made native workers and peasants the organization of their The benefits of American rule are largely confined of sanitation, health and road-building.
by American difficult for own forces. to measures
The forms of government adopted for the colonies have varied, partly because of the differing needs of different peoples, largely for reasons of political expediency. Hawaii, where a group of Americans had control of the country before annexation, became an incorporated Territory, and its inhabitants became citizens of the United States. The Philippines were regarded as a temporary possession, to be fitted for self-government, and citizenship was not extended to their people. Puerto Rico has the anomalous status of a Territory “organized but not incorporated� as a part of the United States. Its inhabitants are United States citizens.
