The Portland daily press., 1900-03-30

American people. Obstruoting partisan
ship must not oapturs for Its uses q sin
gle shining principle Of atatennaanehlp
whioh belongs to that mighty movement
we must have q world Substantially
that considsrs the effect OF every laA
we pass upon the people over whom our
inflnsnoe n extending aud upon the
world ct large, ~ well ~ upon ourselves.
Our power ls aooursed n IL BE- not exer-
oissd In riRhteouaness. Orr dominion is
moskcry II IL means not noble and sn-
nobling innusncss wherever 1t extends.
We oan not begin our civil work as an
administering people by measures admit
ted to be Of no practical value TO our
selves, aud certain % SOW distrust In
ished. 1t Is not the statesmanship of our
sovereign situation TO 30 ruin our rela-
tions with the vnly island that welcomed
rs. The economic results Of any tax or
tariff on Porto Rico are Of little cUnse-
quence; but the manner and motives
of our lrst act ~ q governing nation
pusses In Importance subsequent laws
which In themselves will be wsight,er
far than this.
1t Is Of no moment that other nations
have dealt more heavily with their pcs
sessions than any act proposed to US
give mankind q new example of the
protitableness Of iustioe.~ We are to de-
mons trats the civil irtuss Of our race
by sowing confidence In hearts that
welcome Us and reaping their favor as
our reward. We are 20 learn from Eng.
lands CORA cted course as an administer
Ing nation, and not initiate her begin.
ming 40 an Expressing power. One hum
dre1 years ago Enginnd's- coionists died
TO tear her hated but once loved banner
from above their heads: today highlands
oolopists in Canada, In Australia, every
where, volunteer TO die In far and saw
age lands 10 keep that same banner over
! other people. A hundred years ago Eng
lands oolonists drove England's tax
gatherers into the Eea, albeit that tax was
only q tribe; today England @ colonies
voluntarily tax themselves by preferen-
tial tariffs. that England may have the
advantage OF their trade. What hath
wrought this miraclef Justice. Senators,
and Righteousness, and statemanshtp
| that considered sentiment ~ rsal fac
tor In the government OF peoples. Shsli
| we begin our world work as England
began hers, by exercising undoubted pow
er with undoubted folly just to demon
etrate that we have shat powerY Or
shall We begin at the highest point in
administrative wisdom which England
| rors, safely learning from her example the
| lesson she has learned even In the book
of her own bloodf What saith the Scrip
turss of those who "hRyipg eyes see not,
aud ears hear notf" No earthly power,
not even our own, Is above the law that
commands men ana nations to ideal
| justly, love mercy, and walk humbly be-
fore God" And wherever American pow
or 10 established there will We observe
that holy ordinances.
Sir, In this great historic and racial
movement of the American people are
gathered the modest, best and pure.t pur-
poses or orr raca- We muEt do our work
practically but d. to be practisal Is not to
be selfish. We must do our work with
decision and power; but power does not
mean oppression. Ne must do our work
mas tsriully; but mystery DOES net i'm
ply its wanton ASSERTION where and when
our hounuless authority, our unlimit-
sd Sovereignty lie freely admitted. he
WHO asserts his rights unnecessarily
where thess rights are fully gran ted, him.
self crentes the only doubt Of their exis-
tence.
| for administration now at the beginning
of our career as an administer ing people.
Administration Of government involves
| more uhan balance sheets, more than
Weights and measures. 1t means these,
but 1t also means the weighing OF the
hearts Of men and the balances shsets Of
the confidence and Affection OF the gov
srnsd people. The American masses, In
whose breasts dwell the purity and pow
or and hope OF the Republic and OF the
world, understand this well. They feel
and deeply know that we are hencefortn
the master people Of the world. They
doubt not that
Through the ages an increasing pur-
And the minds of men are br oadened
with the process of the suns"
They doubt not that human progress
IL one vast and swelling harmony, which
not even all the uisoords OF history oan
destroy; ana they mean that IN all that
divine and splendid compcs ition the
noblest, the highest, tsnderest, pursst
note shall he that struck by thu Ameri-
can people as the sovereign power of
earth.
At the conclusion Of Mr. Bevor iigs'
address Mr.. Boraker asked that the Sem
nts proce1d with the consideration o
amendments. The first amendment was
one imposing duty of five cents pound
upon coffee imported into Porto hico.
MIR. Psttus OF Alabama moved to strike
out the amendment and demanded a d.
rect vots on his amendment which in
volvsd the question whether a tax could
be imposed on products imported into
Porto Rico which we S not imposed on the
same products imported into "other
parts OF the United States.
MIR. GallinRer defended the amendment
Of the committee. During the Spanish
regime, hssaid, tariff had been Imposed
upon coffee imported into Porto Rico be-
cause the coffee raised there was regarded
as the best In the world and it was de-
sired to prevent 1t from being spoiled by
being blended with inferior brands.
''Ir you have free hand to mutilate
the oonstit uti0n. said Sr. Pettus, 'then
you oan pass this bill, but If the consti
tuition means any thing when 1t says that
taxes md duties shall be uniform, then
you have no such right.
MIR. Pettus's amendment was defeated
Is to 81.
Mr.. Bacon Of Georgia offered an amend
msnt in the form OF a substitute fer
sections and 8 Of the committee bill
esta blshing ths regular Dingley tariff