The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-22
Republicans, Fall Into Line.

Republicans, Fall Into Line.
The assertion made by President Nc
Kinley that the amended Puerto Rico
bill has his entire approval and that 1t
will be made a party measure should
bring into line those who have been op-
posing it conscientiously. no doubt, bat
with a vehemence out of all proportion
TO the facts. 1t is stated that a provi-
sion will be added to the bill making
| II operative only until such time MS
the people of Puerto Rico shall have es-
tablished government and framed a
| revenue law for themselves. Until that
time their imports from this country
will be Free and upon their exports TO
the United States there will be collect
| ed 10 per cent. OF the duties laid down in
the Dingley act. The money so received
will be turned into the treasury Of
| Puerto Rico for the use OF its people.
Against such legislation it is impos-
sible to raise an honest objection. All
| our food products will go to the island
| without taxation. On their exports
| there will be levied a tax so small
that It will be felt little II at ALL while
| It opens to them our markets on terms
| so much more favorable than are grant
| ed to others as to place them at
a great advantage. This condition will
last only while the work Of organizing
| a home government in Puerto Rico pro-
| ceeds. AS soon as that is done, the
provisions of the bill will lapse, and the
| own way the revenue which the admin
| istration of their affairs Will require
| This is justice, good politics and sound
| business sense.
| 1t ought to be apparent by this time
| that the diversion raised against the
| Puerto Rican bill has it's origin In sin
| lister motives. Those of the Democrats
are perfectly plain. First they desire
| to commit congress TO the false and
dangerous proposition that. as Mr..
Bryan puts 1t. 1.-The constitution follows
| the flag: that is to say, that any ter
| ritory which we may acquire, no mat
| ter what the circumstances or the char
acter of its people, comes at once within
the scope OF our organic act Of govern
ment. and the right and power OF con-
| gress TO legislate for II are correspond
ingly limited. Second. they hope to see
! Republican dissension increase so far
as to furnish them with an issue and a
hope for the campaign which they are
about to enter without either.
AS far as Republican DIRECTORS are
concerned. we may admit that. up 20
this time, they have been sincere and
honest. though singularly hypercriti-
cal Hereafter they cannot maintain
| their position without suffering more
| injury than they can inhict. The last
reasons for opposition have been re-
moved by the amendment OF the bill
/ The assertion that private interest turks
| behind Il or can benefit by II Is seen
to be moonshine. The necessity o,
avoiding any course that could be con
| strued "a compelling us TO admit that
! We must have free trade. free irnmi-
/ grafton and free everything else ia our
relations with the Philippines has been
/ made plain. That the act VIII infiict
hardship or work prejudice to Puerto
! Rico IL obviously impossible. Criticism
within Republican lines should be 81
fenced and opposition stillsd
| II Is now a straight party issue. and
party lines should be drawn upon It.
Democrats say that all the territory ac-
] quired from spain 10 within the cons;i.
/ tuition: and that We can no more i'm
/ pose restrictions upon trade with Il or
/ immigration from u than one state can
! against another. They DO this IN or
( der 10 make intoierNble the retention %
I the Philippines. And the vote on tn
/ Puerto Rico bill vii be considered chief
/ ~ as test OF this proposition. Even
/ II doubtful Of, the entire wisdom q the
measure. 81 would be the part u good
( Republicans 20 support Il when the
party attitude on either side IS pro-
/ nouncea. But as We have seen. all crit
/ icism Of the bill that could Be urged on
the ground Of principle is Irrelevant
since changes and amendments have
/ been made. II Is a just measure. a
/ proper measure and a party measure
I The Republican who refuses 20 assent
+ 10 It viii reflect upon MS own public
/ spirit and place his party standing de-
servedly in jeopardy.
/ Secretary Wilson on Monday invested
/ In over Sos 900 worth Of seeds. and thus
/ arn- t.tn - ~ "a -rarA anahlinr rnarr