The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-22
ENGLAND ASKING QUESTIONS.

ENGLAND ASKING QUESTIONS.
The English people are not quite so anN-
ious apparently for us to have possession
Of the Philippines as they were before the
President promulgated his commercial pol
icy in respect to Porto Rico. In our fol-
eign dispatches yesterday, the London
Chronicle is quoted as saying that the
President has established medieval nav
igaiion law In Porto Rico, and is asking
this question: rs a stin graver disap-
pointment coming in the closing of the
DOORS TO our commerce in the Philippines ?"
The Presidents action in extending our
navigation laws to Porto Rico promises
to do our commerce more harm that it
viii do that Of Great Britain. AS the
government Of Porto Rico is now mill
tary, and the President has the power TO
do about what he pleases, we assume that
ne has the power to say whether or not
our navigation laws shall be established
there. II seems that he has decided that
they shall be extended to that island In
that case they will remain in force there
until Congress provides for the govern
ment Of the island by civil authorities.
Aud Congress may adhere to the policy
of the Republican party and continue in
force the laws the President has estab-
lished there. Under our navigation laws
all trade between this country and Porto
Rico must be carried on ia vessels carry
ing the American flag and having an
American registry. To get American reg
istry they must have been built in the
shipyards of this country.
Up to the present time the trade of Porto
Rico with this country has been carried
IN English and Spanish vessels. Such YES
sels can no longer engage in that trade.
If they should do so they would subject
themselves to heavy fines. Under the cir
eumstances what is to be done? We have
no vessels with which to carry on trade
with Porto Rico. We may in the course
of time, build them. But what is to be-
come of our trade with Porto
Rico in the meantime? That is a question
which no one seems to be ready TO an
swer. 1t looks as If we should have no
trade-at least until we can build the
itNiNcSdAg ElllpS Will WlliGil " NdAAy IL Olls
The trade we now have win drift away
to England or to Spain or to some other
one OF the countries of Europe.
1t does look as if the policy which the
President has adopted relative to the trade
between Porto Rico and this country
were a short-sighted one. The language
Of the regulation which he has ordered
TO be enforced is as follows; Trade be-
tween the ports of the United States and
all ports or places in Porto Rico in con-
tween ports or places in Porto Rico an
control Of the United States, shall be car
ried on in registered vessels of the United
States and in no others" With the action
of the President in the case of Porto Rico
before her il would not to be wondered al
her interests it would be better for the
Philippines to remain in the possession of
Spain. She herself has proclaimed that
she shall adopt the open door, policy in
respect to all of her possessions in the
Far East and she had some reason to
think that this country would join her in
that policy if 1t should become possessed
of the Philippines. 1t is true that there
is a report that our government intends
to adopt that policy in the Philippines,
but as yet there is nothing 10 confirm the
report The action of the President in
establishing our antiquated navigation
laws in Porto Rico. however, would seem
TO indicate that we do not intend to per
nit any more trade competition in any
of our new possessions than we can help.
The Presidents action in Porto Rico has
certainly not made a favorable impression
in England. If the same policy should be
applied to the Philippines it is pretty GER
tain that the ports of the colonies of Eng
land and other European countries would
be closed practically to our commerce.