The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-11
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor
As to Wabbling,


imperialists and all the ill.assorted ele-
ments of opposition to the Administra.
ton say the President has "wabbed" in
his course in recent Porto Rican affairs.
If Mr.. Mckinley makes diversion to
avoid pitfall the arch enemy digs in
his pathway, he "wabbles." In this
Porto Rican tariff matter, it would have
pleased his enemies much better if he
had gone blindly, or pig-headedly after
the manner of Cleveland, along the
strict letter of the line "plain duty"
pointed out when his last annual mes
sage was written, and had tumbled into
the pit craftsmanship dug three months
later TO entrap him and his party. But
the President observed the spirit of his
injunction to Congress to remove trade
restrictions between Porto Rico and the
ports of the mainland, and rescued the
country from grave peril and his par
ty from situation of great embarrass-
ment.
Under the circumstances it is natu-
raj for the enemies of the President,
in Congress and out, to raise howl of
disappointment over their discontinue,
to denounce Mckinley, charge him
with "wabbling" and cover him with
contumely generally, but why should
any Republican engage in this un-
seemly and unpatriotic business? The
Presidents DecemberI utterance that
has been so much banded about in
political discussion was based on a
then existing state of affairs, Iboth in
respect of the known conditions in
Porto Rico and of theSposition the
Democratic party would take with ref
erence to a measure of relief. Three
months later conditions in the island
had become far better understood, and
Democracy had disclosed the cloven
hoof. In December the President had
recommended free trade between Por-
to Rico and the mainland as a measure
of justice and alienation of the pow
erty and distress in the island. He
had right to assume that Democrats
would meet him half way in his hui
name purpose, and that partisan issue
would not be raised over question of
national generosity. Had the Demo-
Gratis in Congress and the combined
elements of opposition outside accept
ed the Presidents recommendation
free trade with Porto Rico in the spirit
in which it was made, pending legisla.
ton might not have been insisted upon
at first, though it is probable that the
light which has recently been shed on
the present inability of the Porto Ri
cans to endure direct taxation, or to
pay the internal revenue taxes that
have been proposed in lieu of tariff
duties, would have compelled Congress
to adopt some such measure as passed
the House, or the amended measure
which last week passed the Senate and
is now pending in the Honse. The
measure is defensible and fully justi-
fable on this ground alone.
But the Democrats began to talk of
the constitutional rights of Porto Rico,
and of the Philippines. In all their
speeches they were asserting that the
Constitution follows the flag. Then it
began to appear that under the cover
of generosity to Porto Rico there
lurked tacit acquiesence in the Demo-
cratic contention of which the Demo-
cratic party was planning to avail it.
self. An "open-door" would be left
for future trouble. Humanity had Gun
derestimated the corrosive influence of
partisan politics on the eve of a presi-
dental election" In cause of thu
mainly Democracy first raised the black
flag of partisanship. 1t forced for
party purposes new factor into the
problem, and demanded as a constitu-
tional right what was proposed as hu.
name concession. An issue of lasting
moment was raised. The question en-
braced the Philippines as we'll as Porto
Rico. The President began to hear
from Democratic sources that not sour
plain duty" but the Porto Ricans' I'M
questioned right, opened the ports of
the island and the mainland to unre-
stricted commerce. The Democrats
undertook to define the Presidents
December message as recognition of
the old Bourbon shareholders doctrine
that the Constitution extends itself
into all newly-acquired territory, doc
trine that has been exploded by the
courts and was shot to death in the
civil war. The Republican majority in
Congress was solidi6ed, by the Presi-
dent himself, against this partisan per-
version of his generous recommends
ton of three months previous, and the
hill was framed and naaaad that daD;od