Final answer:
Senator Beveridge addressed anti-imperialist issues by arguing the Constitution applies only to those capable of self-government, questioning the Progressives' concern for islanders while ignoring U.S. minorities. Through his justification for U.S. control over the Philippines, Beveridge highlighted double standards in American policy. Historical inquiries into American constitutional government show foundational conflicts over power and governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Senator Albert Beveridge addressed anti-imperialist concerns regarding constitutional authority and the intent of the Founders by arguing that the Constitution only applies to those capable of self-government. He justified U.S. control over territories like the Philippines by suggesting that, just as certain groups within the United States (including African Americans and Native Americans) were denied citizenship and self-government, there should be no exception for Filipinos and Puerto Ricans.
Historical inquiry into the roots of American constitutional government reveals two contrasting schools of thought: those who sought to revise the Articles of Confederation and those who aimed to create a new government structure entirely. This philosophical division reflects deeper conflicts over the distribution of power and the nature of governance, which were as evident in the era of the American Revolution and the drafting of the Constitution as they were during Beveridge’s era of imperialism.