The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-09
SISSY first Ave.


emotion, how the farmers farm and his
home would be sold under the hammer,
but, instead. the farmer has shared In
the unusual prosperity, and with the good
prices commanded by his products. he has
paid off more mortgages than were ever
before Cancelled in the same length OF
time.
ssThe railroads cannot get cars enough
10 handle the corn, the wheat and other
agricultural products that are hunting
markets in this and other lands, Such
Illustrations might be multiplied. but
these are sufficient to show what the
country needed in 1926 was not free sill
yer, on top OF free trade, as recommended
by Mr.. Bryan. but a protective tariff and
gold standard, as recommended by
President Mckinley, and promised by the
Republican party. In the presence OF
these undlsputed. practical. everyday
facts the predictions and the statesman
ship OF Mr.. Bryan appear indeed ridicu-
lous. Notwithstanding, he now comes
again before the American people asking
10 be placed at the head of our govern
ment
mot. however. on the free silver prop
osition. for although he has not aban-
doned II. he recognizes that the American
people have condemned It, Not. either,
as free trader, for while he still ad-
heres TO that belief. he knows that the
country has not yet forgotten the dis
tress that attended our last experience
with that policy. Neither on any other
proposition we have had occasion 10 de-
hate during the last twenty-five years.
All these great SUBJECTS of political diff
ferences In the past are, IL not conceded
TO be finally settled, at least ignored for
the purposes OF this campaign.
Issue OF Imperialism.
HE has a new shibboleth-At is i'm
perialism. He affects to believe that
President Mckinley is trying to subvert
the government; that he is destroying the
republic and establishing an empire: 1t
Is in this way he refers to what we have
done I'm Hawaii. Cuba, Puerto Rico and
the Philippines. What are the facts?
puerto Rico was acquired in response
to the universal sentiment OF tho whole
Z American people, and OF that people as
well The time had come for Spain to
Quit the Western hemisphere and Puerto
Rica naturally fell to us as provision
OF the treaty of peace.
Given Generous Government.
1.-THE government we gave Puerto Rico.
instead OF being harsh and ungenerous is
the most generous and least burden
some government that has ever been
provided by the United States for any
territory since the beginning OF the re-
Dubic. MORE BrfitFOuS py rdF t0an We
gave TO Louisiana. or Florida, or Cali
fornia, and under that government the
people OF Puerto Rico are now entering
upon career of prosperity and happi-
ness greater than they have ever known
II IN true that the president appoints
their governor and their judges. but ne
makes the same appointments for New
Mexico and Arizona and has done so for
every other territory We have ever had
IL Is true that the president appoints
the upper house OF the assembly but for
all the earlier territories ne appointed
both houses, and II has been only in late
years and under Republican rule that the
people OF our present territories have
been allowed to elect their legislative as
seniblies, and this privilege has been al
lowed them because they are OF our own
race and civilization. fully acquainted
with our institutions, and equally as well
auahfied as thu people OF the states to
discharge that duty
IT is true that the Puerto Rieans are
required 20 pay full tariff duty on ali
importatlons from countries other than
the United states, but the people OF every
territory we have ever acquired have
oafn required to do the same thing-wIth
this difference, that the pecpl. 81 Puerto
Hico are allowed TO keep the duties SO
collected and use them for tho support
OF their own government, while the duties
colleoted IN every other territory-l.ouis-
lana. Florida, Washington, Oragon-haye
been turned over 60 the national govern
ment at Washington fer the support OF
the whole nation. IL Is true that duties
equal 10 Is per cent. OF the rates pre-
scribed by law are paid on cesaln ar
ticles of commerce between the United
states ana Puerto Rico. but IL is also
true that every cent so collected goes not
INTO the treasury OF tho United States
but into the treasury OF Puerto Rico Cor
the support Of tho Puerto Rican govern
ment; ana this provision continues IN
Force only two years until A system az
taxing property similar 10 our own NAY
DO devised and put into operation. untii
which time there waB no other way for
the Puerto fleRns 20 raise sufficient rev.
enus 20 support their government
"li Is also true that while the people es
very other territory are required 10 nav
Internal revenue taxes the same as the
people OF the United States the people az
Puerto Rico have been exempted from
tnai burden. All these provisions are ~.
preceaented In the history of our legis-
laiion, ana Al these exceptions 20 the fuis
that has heretofore prevailed IN legislAi.
inE Tor territories have been made THAT
we might generously relieve the people ~
Puerto Rico IA the hour OF their weak.
ness their poverty ana their aHspair from
the burdens Of Directly taxing their prep.
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