Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-10
graduates the Senators upon their ac-

Mr.. Magoon, the law officer OF the
Division of Insular Affairs, some
months ago. prepared an elaborate
opinion, fortified with decisions of the
Supreme Court, to prove that when
Porto Rico was ceded to the United
States 1t passed under the provisions
of the constitution, and Secretary Root,
himself lawyer of high standing,
declared that "the highest considera-
ton of justice and humanity" demand
ed that there should be free trade be-
tween the island and the United States
But Mr.. Magoon's opinion was not per-
mitted to see the light, and he prepar-
ed another, taking directly the oppo-
site view-the officially acknowledged
opinion by which members Of Congress
have been influenced to favor a tariff
upon Porto Rican products, the opinion
from which they have drawn argu-
ments for use in their speeches in favor
Of this policy of oppression.
It's advocates in Congress have pro-
fessed to be absolutely certain that the
Supreme Court would decide that the
constitution did not apply to Porto
Rico, and expressed their desire for
an early decision from that tribunal.
The Herald lands Porto Rican work.
man. whose detention under the alien
contract labor law would afford the
speediest of all appeals to the Supreme
Court, and the Administration refuses
to stand the test, and lodges the issue
by ordering the Commissioner of I'M
migration to permit the man to land.
This order, made by Secretary Gage,
after consulting with the Attorney
General, pleads that the man had no
knowledge that he was violating the
law, "if he be here in violation Of law"
Without attempting to resolve this
plainly expressed doubt, and in
wild rush to avert the threatened test
Of the great underlying question in
volved instructions are forwarded from
Washington by wire to permit the man
to enter the United States, "the depart
ment reserving the right to deport hil
at any time within one year."
Always the same story Of wabbling,
shifting, evasion and procrastination!
Why prevent the decision of this ques-
tion, on which such vital interests de-
pend? Our Washington dispatches
this morning give the answer from the
mouths of such Republican Represen-
tatives as McCalla, Littlefield and
Crumpacker-to postpone the decision
until after the Presidential election,
and, we may add, to forestall, and, IL
possible, influence the judicial branch
by the action of the legislative. Mean
while feverish efforts are making to
force the Senate bill through the
House. And what of the unfortunate
islanders whose fate is being disposed
Of? The cable dispatches we print
this morning tell the story--a process
sion of almost naked women entering
San Juan, headed by two little girls
bearing black flags, the symbol of
starvation; at Ponce a similar demon.
stration Of abject misery and threat
ened thrush Of 5000 famished peasants
whom the townspeople are powerless
to relieve. And this is the result
Of American rule upon n people wht
received with open arms Gen. Mile.
and his little band of 3,0OO-a people
who, as General Stone said, if hostile
in their mountain Businesses could hav,
made bloody work for 100000 men, bu
. who, accepting Gen. Miles promise o.
the blessings and immunities Of our in
stitutions, gave him welcome and help
Spain had given the Islanders opei
markets, universal suffrage, local self
government and ample representation
in the Cortes at Madrid. Compare thi
treatment under a tyrannlcal monarch,
with the situation which, despite tn
protest of the generous American pee