The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26
Our Now Possessions.

lions VIII oh are sure to arise will demand
the best abilities and the best thought Of
American craftsmanship. for mistakes made
at the outset will DO frsught with grave
peril for the future.
With regard to Cuba and the Philippines,
the right position is quito clear. The time
has not yet come for Conp rsss to attempt
any legislation with reference to either.
In the Philippines the suppression OF
rebellion 10 purely an executive function,
and until peace and order are restored
and conditions In the islands thoroughly
known. any attempt at legislation
will be premature. All that Congress
has to do now With regard to the Philip
pines 10 to supply the Executive with
ample appropriate ons. with q sufficient and
well organized army, and with a navy
strong both In men and In ships. II Ia
hardly to b. expected that ueeless Discus
sion can bs avoided Senators and Repre-
sentat YES will no doubt feel II necessary to
unburden their souls In regard to the
Filip'nos and about the situation In the
islands. This oratory can do no good, but
1t cannot do much harm so long as IL
Is not translated into acts or resolutions.
We can put up with language In reference
TO the Philippines, but laws passed while
disorder is still fragrant and knowledge Of
the conditions wholly insufficient cannot
be regarded as desirable.
As to Cuba, the eama course should DO
pursued. although for quite other reasons
Our relations to that island are different
from our relations to all othars which
came within our power as q result OF the
l. IA
stat. We must continue for the present TO
govern 1t through the Executive.
In regard to Hawaii. positive action Is
necessary. For many years Hawaii has
been accustomed tn representative govern.
ment The influences at work In the islands
and tho mon who control them are all
American. Tho Hawailans are "a ut
to govern themselves under the territorial
form ne any State In thu Un'on The act
constituting II wall Territory was care
fully prcp,re1 bv Senators CULLoM and
MORGAN and by Mr. HIT, Chairman Of the
House Foreign Affairs Com mittee. after a
visit TO tho islands and with the best
Hawaiian advice. II ought to have
been passed. Mt the last session, and
the failure to pass 1t might have
led to very serious consequences had
It not been tor tn. fact that there was an
excellent government already existing in
! Hawaii, managed by competent and sfficient
mon. But the present anomalous cond t,on
should not b. a. owed 10 exist longer.
! Hawaii has boon annexed to the United
States AMI In the interests OF the islands
an'l II the peop'e temporary arrangements
should DO I. y aced bv n permanent form N
government. The Hawaiian at should
b. passed by bNth houses of Congress and
sent to the President with the least pos
slblo delay.
/ In Porto Rico the necessity for prompt
action Is even more imperative than In
Hawaii, for while Hawaii has not been
injured by her maSeshlft government
Porto Rico has SUI red very greatly.
The island IL In fact worse OF to- day
than II was under Spain, and such u state
OF things, II allowed to continua will
become a serious dsrradit to the United
State. and ref elton upon our capacity
for governing these new possessions. II
should not b. permitted to exist an hour
longer than Is absolutely unavoidable. We
have taken from the people OF P Drto Rico
the market Of Spain and we have not
gwen l'tiu O"n' luS TthuI IL
that business in the island langushes
and declines. The currency also Ia in an
unsettled condition because every ono
expects change. and uncertainty In
regard to the currency Is the severest
drawback to business confidence and
prosperity. Our first duty is to make that
island, which Ia wholly our own and ell
TREY peaceful. as prosperous az 1t deserves
to he. This can bs done In only one way.
Porto Rico should he brought within our
tariff and within the navigation laws regu-
lating our co'stwise traffic; the present
currency should DO abolished our own sub
stituted and the financial and monetary
system OF the United States should be
established there. The Internal Revenue
laws should also DO extended to the
island. for tobacco and certain other
products OF Porto Rico cannot be
brought within our tariff unless they
pay the excise which similar products
pay In the United States. The revenue
derived from customs after our tariff goes
into force In the island and from the excise,
will be paid into the Treasury OF the United
States. and the United States will bear all
the expenses OF the general government.
economically sDenktnR, we should nut
Porto Rico in the position which Alaska has
occupied for the last thirty years.
AS for tho government OF the island.
It is quito clear that tho people are not
yet ready for representative government
such as exists In an American State or
Territory. They have never had repre-
sentative government. They do not UNDER
stand 1t. They must be trained before
they can be entrusted with 1t in the largest
measure While Porto Rico, however, Is far
from being ready for making into Terri
tory, legislation OF political character
IL required at once In certain directions.
Federal courts should be estab ishnd
throughout the island, and the prompt and
honest administration OF justice thus
assured. The Governor whether military
or civil ought to have the power. and be
Obliged to appoint Council consisting Of
natives 81 the island selected from the a fer