The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-20
The Statesmanlike View.

" THE BRILLIANT and states
man-like speech which Senator
Il Frye delivered on Saturday even
ing before the Union leasue of
Philadelphia, in which ne gave the
real history of the negotiation of the
Paris treaty Of peace. showed how
retention of the Philippines by the
United States came to be an unavoid-
able necessity. and made clear why
the finding Of outlets for our surplus
production is the first problem in inn
portance now before the American peo-
pie. occurred one reference to the
Puerto Ricap tariff controversy which
need; consideration apart. After eX-
planning briefly why congress, in deal
ing with this matter, thought it best
to levy for a short time a small duty
on Puerto Rican imports. for pur-
poses of insular revenue and for con-
stitutonal reasons. he went on:
''The question is not scrious so far
Us Puerto Rico is concerned. She can
not send goods enough into the United
states to affect the workmen of the
United States. She cannot send enough
n to- affect our industries. But when
you come to the Philippine archipelago
.,ou have an entirely different affair
on your hands. You let peace come in
the archipelago. and American capital
go in there. and with the cheap labor
Of the islands they can raise sugar
without limit: ii is the most produce
tive land in the wide world. They can
raise tobacco without limit; they can
raise cigars without limit. They can
beat down your beet sugar industry:
they can seriously injure your cigar
manufacturing industry, which is an
enormous one in this country. They
can take that cheap labor there and
interfere with the wages OF your labor
ing man-not by bringing the Filipinos
over here: never such a thought as
that enters the head of the Filipino
but in the products of the islands
they can bring the cheap Filipino la
bor here. Now, if the constitution. by
its own force. goes into Puerto Rico.
it goes into the Philippines too, and
there you are, confronted with a most
serious proposition"
This serious proposition was fore
seen by the Republican leaders in con-
Gress. much to the Democracy's dis
appointment. But is it adequately
realized by those who are now so
prone to censure the Republican ma
jority in congress? Have the Repub-
licans outside of congress who so
sharply condemn the Republicans in
congress given ample heed to this
proposition? Do they want to go to
the electorate next fall on the basis
of admitting free into the United
States in competition with home labor
the products of the Malay cheap labor
inhabiting the Philippines? Are they
blind to the fact that unless power al
ready exists under the constitution for
the government of our new depen-
denotes in separate accordance with
their respective conditions and with
due protection for home interests. a
constitutional amendment comforting
such power is the only means of es-
cape from the utter ruin of the eXpan-
sion programme. with the inestimable
loss Of prestige and opportunity which
that would carry with it?
The men who are directing affairs
at the national capital are not fools
or knaves. Look over what they have
done since Mckinley took office, and
see il you don't think they still de-
serve confidence.