The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-09

Tho speech of Mr.. Foraker OF Ohio in the
Senate yesterday, In defence Of the Payne
Porto Rican iniquity wss interesting chiefly
for its frank exposition Of the Republican
party alliance with tie trusts. Up TO a
very recent time the organization has
thought it necessary to maintain some pre-
tence Of devotion 10 ideas and principles
strongly fixed in the American popular
mind and faith. Thus in the campaign OF
1896, the St. Louis platform pledged the
party and its candidate TO a mild form Of
bimetallism. This was purely a piece Of
hypocrisy. but il served its purpose and
beyond doubt made the election OF Mr.. Nc
Kinlcy possible. II s admitted on all
hands that he would have been defeated
IL the masses OF Republican voters had
not been assured tina, esther he nor his
political associates were I'm favor OF a sin
gle gold standard. Then the st. Louis
platform declared vigorously for civil sery-
ice reform and extension of the merit sys-
tenn wherever and whenever possible. Ev-
crybOdy knows now how little Credeucr
SHOULD have been given to these ballot
catchers. The single old standard is a
fixed fact, or will be IN a day or two and
irrevocably so fci nc nsNt five years. The
merit system has been practically destroyed
by President Mckinley. his official and per
sonal promises and pledge to the contrary
notwithstanding.
These purposes having been achieved.
the Republican Admin. rtretion and party
appear 10 think il no lUEs,r necessary to
wear masks. One would suppose that the
intense an'agonism Of the plain people OF
the country to the trusts would render a
political organization about to seek ma
iicual power again chary of exposing its
relations with those extortionate and Cd
pressiye combinations The contrary seems
10 be the case. Although Mr.. Mckinley.
when a member Of Congress. denounced
the President Of that dav for loaning pub
lie money TO banks Rtthout interest. he
has himself offended in a far greater de-
gree. The Treasur! scandal in connection
with the Standard ni Bank in New York
is in startling evidence Of the intimate
connection existing between the Admins
tration and the consolidated financial or
Sanizati0n Of the monster mOnopolies.
The Republican course in connection
with the Porto Rican tariff movement ha,
been even holder more open. and
more impudent ,'though President
Mckinley, Secretary Root. and the
party leaders in Congress knew
that customs duties could not be levied on
domestic commerce between different parts
of the Jnited States. because OF a clear
constitutional prohibition. and therefore
proposed free trade for Porto Rico. vet
when The oil. sugar. tobacco. and rum
trusts ordered them to impose DingIeyism
on the island. they instantly changed
front in seryile obedience to their owners
and masters, and proceeded to ignore their
duty and their oaths 10 support the Con
stitUtioB.
The defence Of this wickedness present.
ed by Mr.. Foraker. has sinister slgDjf-
canoe in the threat he INDUCED IN that
should the Supreme Court Of the United
States decide that our insuIar Possessions
are integral parts OF the country
aud so entitled to free trade. the policy
OF expansion might have to be revised.
That means. Of course. that if he Philip
pines and our other islands cannot be kent
and used for exploitation by the trusts.
and the American people deprived Of their
rich and varied productions except upon
the payment Of Dingley tribute TO the
protected monopolies. then Hanna. McKin-
ley, Rockefeller, Havemeyer SpreckIes.
OXnsrt. Duke, and the rest may find it
necessary TO sell or give away our outly-
ing American territory.