Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-19
DIR NEW POSSESSION.

Al high noon yesterday Porto RICO
passed formally into the possession OF
the United States and all vestge OF
Spanish sovereignty over the island be-
came a thing Of the past. Well, now That
Porto Rico is ours what are we going 10
do with It? We have noticed that recent
ly several of the Imperialisuc organs
have antagonized the idea that any OF
our Colonial possessions would ever be-
come States In the case of Porto Rico
especially. where it seems this question
has already been agitated, the people
have been told that they would as well
dismiss the ambition of statehood from
their minds, and in fathery fashion
have been iectured on the ACCESSIBILITY Of
being content with the prospect Of some
sort OF ill-dehned form Of Colonial SOW
eminent A few days ago the New York
Tribune gave its readers an elaborate
editorial along this line. But some Of the
highest authorities on the Constitution
contend that sooner or later any terri
tory acquired by the United States must
be Incorporated into the Union Of States
with all the rights and privileges enjoyed
bv the several States. If this contention
is correct. we must eventually either ad-
nit our acquisitions, with their hybrid
populations, into the sisterhood, or make
changes in the Constitution that will be
obnoxious to our Republican system and
subyersive OF our time-honorcd irstitu-
tions. IL seems clear that only by fol-
lowing one or the other of these two
courses can the solution of the problem
be reached.
And lust here the Republican party is
placed in a dilemma ON the one hand
TO amend the Constitution so as to pro-
vide for a Colonial system" would be to
stimulate militarism and carry the party
by leaps and bounds towards it's great
goal-centralization Of power. On the
other hand. under the law Of natural
affinity, as the history of Republicanism
I'm the South shows. the Republican party
could depend upon absorbing most of our
wards in our new States Moreover. while
the new States were being prepared for
admission into the Union, they would yield
a rich harvest for the carpetbagger.
But TO come back specifically 10 Porto
Rico and 10 our question: Since the island
is ours, we must make the best of IL. In
connection with its passing under the
American flag, papers in some of our
eastern seaboard cities are discussing the
economic outlook" With the formal act
# yesterday, Porto Rico was brought
within our coast-line so far as the navi-
gallon laws are concerned. and the Span
lsh tonnage tax on American vessels en-
tering Porto Rican ports was abolished.
As we understand II, this means that
henceforth all trade between the United
States and Porto Rico will be confined
10 vessels OF American registry, as is
the case with our present coastwise trade
and consequently large number Of for
eign vessels which have hitherto. been
engaged in bringing imports into the
United States from the late Spanish Col
ony will be displaced. IL Is estimated that
foreign ships have had at least two
thirds OF this carrying. and the contem-
poranes 10 which we have referred have
raised the cry that trade follows the
flag" and are predicting great boom
In our trade and commerce with Porto
Rico as the result OF the changed condi-
lions. III ta
While we are not as sanguine as are
these contemporaries as 10 the magnitude
OF the trade with Porto Rico that is
shead OF as, We must admit that the
changed conditions would seem 20 argue
very substantial increase over the pres.
cnt bulk. Yet. whatever the Increase.
We would bring the matter close home
By asking. Why should not Newport
news with her magnificent harbor and
great short trunk line Of railway TO the
Mest and Northwest, and Richmond.
through Newport News ana her ou.,, oo.,