The times., 1898-06-13
OUR NEW NATIONAL POLICY
Il May Cause a Realignment
of Parties.
EXTENDlNG ANEaICA'S DOMAIN
a Constitutional Amendment May
BE Necessary to the Inauguration
Must be Readjusted-Cosonfc and
Their Relation TO Soverein States.

Statesmen in Washington are beginning
to discuss the political questions growing
out Of the present war There are indi-
cations which cannot be ignored that,
perhaps, the next campaign will be con-
Quoted along lines that VIII relegate the
great questions of 1886 TO a secondary
position. Already public men are care
fully considering the problems that con-
front them and endeavoring TO reach
satisfactory conclusion with respect to
the policy Of territorial extension.
The division on this question in the
two houses OF Congress knows no politi
cal lines as the parties are now divided.
Men OF all parties are arraying them
selves on that side which favors the ac-
QUESTION Of the territory already in mill
tary possession of the American Navy
and that other territory which seems sure
TO fan under the powers Of American
arms. Against this position are men
prominent in both the Democratic and
Republican parties and affiliated with the
Populists, so that so far as parties are
now aligned there is no such thing as
partisanship on this new question.
II appears TO be conceded that the
United States cannot sieze Cuba for her
own after the solemn pledge given by
act OF Congress in her declaration that
she did not intend to acquire that terri
tory, but simply to intervene in the cause
Of humanity The case of Porto Rico.
the Philippines and the Caroline Islands
IS different. They are the incidents grow
ing out Of the war that was begun for
humanity's sake They are the pavns
which the United States viii redeem and
out of which she viii recoup herself for
the enormous expenses which have been
incurred in fho rroeecr+--- of this war.
Statesmen Differ.
Public men, however, disagree as TO the
proper disposition Of this territory. Some
insist that only a coaling station on each
should be retained; others that the ter
ritory should be absorbed and kept for
ever as a possession of the United States,
and the differences of opinion thus engen-
dered form the questions which many be-
lieve viii be paramount issues OF the next
campaign. Il is an entirely new problem
that confronts the American people, but
the natural desire to hold that which has
race and that party which goes TO the
country on a platform favoring the acqui-
sition Of this new territory Will. it is gen
orally thought and claimed by public men,
gather 10 its support the great mass Of
the American people, If the present tenn
per Of the country as expressed in the
press is an index Of the popular senu-
ment.
There are powerful agencies at work in
Washington against this policy, prominent
among them being those corporations
whose profits are threatened by the prod
ucts Of the islands OF Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines being put on a par
with the products of the United States.
During the recent conference on the war
revenue bill this subject was informally
discussed by several of the Republican
members. If the products OF those ISL
ands, now on the dutiable list, were to
be allowed free entry in the United States
material changes would be effected in
the receipts from customs duties and a
revision Of the tariff laws would be abso-
lutely necessary. unless the internal taxes
imposed by the war revenue bill are to
become permanent. While this is likely
taxes and several other items in the bill
the main features OF this war measure
will be repealed as soon as the necessity
for their continuance ceases.
With the enormous Imports OF, sugar and
tobacco from the three dependencies OF
Spain, TO say nothing of the many other
products which are largely imported to the
United States, placed on a level with the
products Of the United States. a hole OF
very large proportions would be knocked
in The receipts that now come through the
Dingley tariff law. II was suggested al
this informal conference that this subject
could be successfully disposed of by pat
terning after the French system. France
requires her colonies TO assume relations
somewhat similar 10 foreign countries.
with the exception that they are slightly
favored in the tariff rates, so that it Is to
the interest Of the colonies to trade with
the mother country. The United States
could stin maintain the duties on the
products Of her new colonies, but grant
certain determinations that would enable
them 10 trade with the. States under more
advantageous terms than now exist.
May Amend the Constitution.
There appears TO be no provision in the
Constitution for the control of colonial
possessions, for the trainers Of that in-
strument never dreamed that the original
confederation would ever become the pow
er II now IS among the nations of the
earth.
Constitutional amendments have beer
made and there appears to be little doubt
as 10 the result If an amendment dealing
with this subject were necessary, how
the States would act in ratifying it. The
Constitution only provides how State:
shall be admitted into the Union and a;
At is manifestly impossible TO admit thes'
islands as States, an amendment may b,
ESSENTIAL.
The French system of requiring the col
onies to pay their share of the burdens
of government meets with the approva
of many public men, for. by becoming tn
colonies Of the United States. the Fedora
government guarantees them securit.
and government that is liberal and just
BY comparison with the extortions tha
have been practiced by Spain and corrup
Spanish officials, almost any system i'm
posed by the great republic would be ac
cepted as a relief and would at one strok
lift from all these colonies the iron han'
OF oppression that has for centuries KEEP
them under the domination of the tax col
lector and the spokesman.
Whether or not the United States is Il
enter upon new line of policy and be
come a factor in the affairs of Asia in ad