The record-union., 1898-11-20
CONGRESS AND THE PARTIES
CONFRONTING IT.


When Congress assemblies in the first
week in December it will be met by
questions for decision new to it's legis
lation and involving the gravest con-
Germ. It will be asked distinctly and
withouta any hesitation to assist the Ad-
ministrationin framing a system for the
government of Cuba until the people
of that island are able to stand alone.
It will likewise be called upon to i'm
mediately propose scheme for the
proper government of Porto Rico, and
to declare just what its position shall
be in the national economy.
Shall that island gem remain under
military supervision, or shall civil gov
eminent be established at once, and
il so, how largely shall the inhabitants
of the island be given participation in
it under forms of home rule? Con-
gress must clearly define the political
position of Porto Rico, whether it is to
remain a. possession or to be lifted to
the level of territorial government.
Probably the burden of opinion now
is, and it is right, opposed to making
the island a Territory, and favorable to
a district form, with accountability
directly to the Federal Government.
But the graver questions with which
Congress will be confronted relate to
our Philippine policy. In all these
cases, Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines, we have assumed power and
exercise it. That carries with it the
responsibility Of wise use of it, and in
determining what is wisdom in these
cases resides the problem. Congress
must pass upon.
The gravity of such responsibility is
ger timid minds. It will better than
anything else test the courage and
craftsmanship of the Federal Legis-
lature. It will probably be settled at
the outset-but after sharp contest
that we will not think of restoring the
Philippines, for that would mean the
assumption of the responsibility of re-
turning to the incompetent and merci-
less rule of Spain millions of people
who are entitled to be free from her
incapacity, cruelty and rapaeity.
Butswe must expect that opposition
will make itself manifest proposing
restoration, not only of the Philippines,
but of Porto Rico. That party will be
composed of the anti-expansionists,
and they will stigmatize the larger
party representing the greater body of
the people as ''imperialists.' We ex-
pect to see the Democracy quite freely
line up with this opposition, since it
has always been the party of obstruc-
ton, and has invariably barred the
path of the progressive and advancing.
There will be adjustment of groups
also somewhat according to local con-
ditions and prejudices; as, for instance,
the Pacific Coast will be found, we ap-
prehend, unanimously with the party
favoring expansion, or rather reten-
ton policy, since self-interest will
furnish for the people of this coast the
incentive for action in that direction.
Where local productive interests
are nkely TO De dHldSOulzSu ny open
ing up new possessions to perfect free
trade with our States of the Continent,
we will find the people arrayed against
erection of new provinces into such in
dependency as will break down pro-
tect1ve barriers.
Thus we viii find arrayed, not only
opposition to retention of the fruits of
the war, but several groups among the
friends Of retention who will be in
hostility to any erection of the new
possessions into governments which
would, by competition, seem to menace
home interests.
But the two larger and more power
full groups of the people with which
Congress will be confronted will be
composed of those who favor the in
dictated policy of President Mckinley,
the retention of the legitimate spoil OF
war; and those who view expansion as
the commencement of a career of retro
gression and intermeddling with for
eign affairs, which, it will be urged
viii bring Us into conflict and compiled.