The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-24
HAWAII At WASHINGTON
Continued from Page L.

freedom o. the franchise. another re-
-triction. operating more powerfully
than a property qualification, vas mat
OF limiting the legislative power As
ore. Senator remarked. If the major
it's Of the natives don't behave We VIII
t.a them up SO they can do nothing
An old veteran statesman declares
that the present Congress is democrat
lied The majority OF Republicans IN
the House is not twenty-five. The Por-
20 Rico bill Is a storm center. The Re
publican party is blazing its way
through the wilderness OF expansion.
and It's leaders lose their way Con-
gress is astOunded at the anger Of the
country against its action in placing
duties on Porto Rico articles. The
starved people OF the Island have the
deep sympathy OF the American
peOpIe and sentiment rather
than commercial interest. demands free
trade. II is quite possible that the
action OF the House will prove IN the
end 10 be wise. But the people are not
prepared 10 accept anything short Of
free trade. The heart OF the country
has gone out 70 those miserable people.
who have waited for months for jus
tice and fair play. They are impatient
over the delays caused by the Con
stitutional argument" while men and
women are dying and the weeds are
growing over the Island. The pOliti-
clans are surprised and perplexed. This
mighty voice OF the people was unex-
pected. The House OF Representatives
was silent and breathless, when Little
field OF Maine. a good Republican. de-
clared thatThe government had pledged
free trade 70 the Island. when its troops
landed. Il stand here. IL I stand alone.
as a member Of the Republican party.
The party that / love. the party that
mas done so much for the liberty, the
welfare and the prosperity and de-
velOpment OF the Republic. TO enter
my solemn protest against such an act
OF bad faith This speech. worthy Of
the best days OF the House. was re-
spOnded TO by the country within TWEEN
ty-four hours. Littlefeld's desk was
covered with kilograms and letters of
approval from Maine to California.
The measure was passed. but the fright
ened leaders of the party. at once took
shelter under an Act. which was in
stantly passed. which gave to Porto
Rico all the duties collected from its
goods during the last year. IL was a
move in the game OF who shall be
PRESIDENT"
But the Republican party, IL il fol-
lows the President, will get out OF the
woods. and before the day OF election
will make il plain that its policy is true
and wise and progressive. The sec
ond and sober thought is the master
OF the situation.
This morning after coneultafiOn ba-
tween the Speaker and Mr. Knox. the
House adopted rule that on April Bird
the House would take up the Hawai-
ian bill, and vote would be taken on
IL on the 4th. II was not practicable
to fix an earlier date as an enormous
amount of privileged" business must
take precedence. The good will of the
Speaker was shown in fixing this date.
Representative Hit has had the
grippe for a week, and is confined to
his house He expects to be out within
few days. and take an active part
in the debate on the Hawaiian bill
AS he Is one OF the few men in the
House who have visited the Islands, his
services will be OF great value in the
debate.
On Wednesday evening, March 7th,
Mr.. w. o. Smith addressed the Mems
club connected with DR.. Radcliffe's
church in Washington on the subject of
leprosy. At the close of his address Mr..
John w. Foster, ex-Secretary Of State.
moved a vote OF thanks for the address
A number of invited guests were pres
ent, many OF them members OF Con-
gress and persons connected with the
departments. w. y. A.