The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-17

/ up from cafe and from curbstone in de-
1 mand for the things which it thinks 1t
needs and imagines that it wants But
/ there are fundamental propositions here.
! and there seems to be an undue delay
settled terms. or unsettled by however
nominal a conquest it has been acquired.
We do, by natural occupation. hold and
/ control certain portion, at least, of
the island Of Porto Rico.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to see
how We can, with any shadow of honor,
withdraw from the position taken.
Whether the position be a wise one. or an
unwise one. We have accepted it with de-
liberation, and must now maintain It.
That portion Of the island which we hold
is United States territory. We are ad-
but as principals. We are using the reve-
nues of the custom house for our own re-
quirements. No one disputes our posses
sion or our administration. The recog-
milton Of our authority over a part Of the
island was some what curiously illustrated
during my stay in Mayaguez A few
miles north Of the place is the little city
of Aguadilla, over which the Spanish flag
still floats. A wholesale merchant in
Mayaguez came to me to relate an Incl
dent which had occurred on that day
He wished to ship some dried Goldfish to
one Of his regular customers in Aguadilla.
but was prozlibited from doing so by tbs
fact that, instead Of admitting the goods
under the head Of ''coastwise trade" as
had always been the case, the custom
house in Agaudilla, under Spanish au-
h1F ~ Of
upon the payment Of the tariff prescribed
for the importation of those wares from
the United States" They were to be
shipped from Mayaguez.
Under the disturbed commercial condi-
tons Of the past few months, Porto Rican
merchants have withheld their orders for
foreign merchandise. Under the present
prospects for new and larger business.
they now desire TO increase their stocks
Whers should they order the goods? We
cities in which this desire to place orders
is most pronounced for a period of more
than thirty days. In what are recognized
and accepted as American ports. with
American harbormasters and American
custom-houses, open to all legitimate com
merce and traffic. theold tariff still OBJ
tains. with its duties which operate IN
favor Of Spain and clearly discriminate
against the United States. Thus the Porto
F&can merchants are puzzled IN their
minds and hampered in their operations.
They desire to place their orders in the
states. They do not desire to order from
Spain. The tariff gives a wider margin
Of financial advantage in favor of Spanish
goods. No wonder that they are puzzled.
No wonder that they ask how long is This
to last. No wonder that they complain
and criticise. We are assuring them that
they are now Americans; that our flag
is their flag; that they are now part and
parcel of the great United States, and
that their interests and ours are identical
We are telling them that progress and
prosperity Will now sit hand in hand on
the peak of Luquillo and Guflarte and
the clouds which gather about the noun
tain tops pour down their copious rains.
Then we begin this inundat1on of bless
ing by preventing and confusing their i'm
mediate operations. and by making their
future transactions a matter of somewhat
doubtful speculation.
The complication probably arises from
the question whether any portion OF this
island has as yet become an integral part
of the United States. Doubtless the cues
ton is enshrouded with the thick veil of
legal fog. and doubtless also It will be
stil further enveloped before we are
through with It. To plain and straightfor-
ward American minds the matter seems
simple enough. We have and hold the
various places here. We intend 10 hold
them. Our flag flies from city nails and
from custom-houses. It waves in public
squares and in public streets If the land
of place. They should be limited TO the
consular office and the military head
quarters, and 10 stores and private resi-
dences choosing to display them II this
IS American soil it is American soil with
out limitation. If II is not American, we
are doing things which we have no right
to do We have different degrees Of
American cities. but we have no two kinds
Tucson is as American as Washington:
Sj-ka IS as American as New York There
is no tariff discrimination for or against
any OF them. II Ponce and Mayaguez.
Guanica and Arroyo. are American cities
all commercial questions would be set
tied by prompt notification 70 custom
agents there to adopt the American tariff.
II these are American cities. We have no
more right to apply a special tariff 60
them than we have to apply a different
tariff 10 Boston or New Orleans or San
Francisco from that used IN New York
and Baltimore.
Al present, the Porto Rican merchants,
are an anomaly. He is an American.
and he IS not an American. He is not
even a probationary American He is a
suspended American. He does not seam
70 be an American de lure or de facto.
He is a theoretical American and his posi-
ton is an awkward one.
Another point IS being discussed here.
Il Is perhaps Of minor Importance. but
II illustrates the same principle and con
Germs the same people. Our postal laws
provide for a certain rate for postage
throughout the United States. TIE SOL
der il Porto Rico may send MS letter
from Ponce 70 San Francisco II an Off
Ger endorses Il as solder mall The
civilian visitor from New York OF Chicago
whose American citizenship j. beyond
question. shares winth The newly adopted
citizens % he United States the privilege
Of forwarding his mail from this point
20 MS home n the United States at a
higher rate than II would nave cost him
had ne come here when the S2aniar4s
we're in control. The Ponce merchants
complain that i now costs them re1
cents P. r money. tor s letter 20 New
York Verify these things puzzle plain
men. Even plan men can uaaerstsn nd
that & may involve iittle time 70 bring
about al adjustment OF moaey-exchange