The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-03

Following these recommendations n
bill was introduced in this body BY the
Senator from Ohio. the chairman Of the
committee. giving Porto Rico free trade
A like measure. was introduced IN another
body; but, presto, with little notice or
apparent reason bill comes 10 Us levy
ing a tax upon Porto Rican exports and
imports.
as Il strange that some Of US. in lack
Of any official statement or apparent rea-
son for this sudden shift, should be slow
10 follow or give up line Of action while
We believe il to be based on principle and
justice and TO be the only honest and con-
s.stent course. and that as a matter Of
policy any other would be serious mis-
take? 1t is charged do not know with
what truth, If any-that this change was
demanded and brought about by the
sugar and tobacco interests, and also, it
is stated by organized labor.
i. however. have failed 20 see that the
representatives Of this latter interest ap-
peared before the committee 1t Is prac-
( ticaIIy admitted that free trade with PoT-
to Rico does not harm these interests ma
teriaIIy, but they claim that it creates
precedent that may harm them II adopt
ed In reference to the Philippines and
Cuba. IL will be time TO cross those rivers
when we come TO them, and. in my opin-
ion, the crossing viii not be dlf1cult When
the time comes for action.
Letter from ex-senator Edmunds.
There are differences OF opinion about
our constitutional right 10 impose tariff
tax upon Porto Rico. do not propose to
discuss that question, but upon II and the
general purpose OF this bill viii ask the
Secretary to read letter from one who
held and filed an honored seat in this
chamber for quarter of d century, Hon.
George F. Edmunds."
The letter was read, as follows:
Philadelphia. Pa. March p, 1900
Nv Dear Sir: I have yours Of the Goth instant.
and both as an American citizen and an olginsi
and constant Republican, an very glad TO learn
that YOU are opposed to legislation having the effect
o: imposing on the people Of Porto Rico whether
we call them citizens or subjects OF the United
States, any kind OF revenue burden or benefit that
is not common to the whole people Of the United
States ANY such measure. II enacted. will. I be-
I.eve be unique in whole history. 1t will imI-
tate and parallel the acts OF the British Parliament
which forced our fathers to resistance and reyOu-
ton and led ihem 10 establish a Constitution
which in studied ant explicit terms, forbade any
such Discrimination
| know there are many EtUiltlntu tnhdetu III pun
lie affairs whose intelligence and patriotism are
above question who believe that our Constitution
does not embrace the Territories, and that to
them the President and Congress possess the same
omnipotent powers that the British crown and
Parliament have always possessed over their pOs5es
sions. While l think that position is untenable as
a matter Of law, I believe the proposed action is
still less defensibIe viewed in the light Of those
principles OF liberty justice and equality Of rights
believe in and practice not still living and
will live and bear fruits more and among men,
in spite Of all the tyrsnts-weI-neaning or other
wise-in the world
l need not weary you by referring to the often
stated arguments the general subject, but will
mention one aspect OF IL which so far as | have
noticed. has not been particularly adverted TO.
Congress is the creature OF the Constitution and
not the re-erse. law passed by Congress is its
creation. mere expression Of its will which it
may repeal change at pleasure. IT, therefore
assuming that the Constitution does not exist in
Porto Rico, Congress we're to enact statute de
claring that the present Constitution shall be ex-
tended and be in force in that island the Con-
sttuton gets its only force there by the virtue o.
the statute 1t is statutory Constitution, and
nothing else and repeal OF the statute would ex-
tinguish ii.
But the Constitution. as such / suppose all admit
suDgcCI 70 lne .ONtFO OF congress, either to
enlarge or diminish. TO expand contract or to be
applied to or withdrawn from any people or place
II is not movable thing like the Ark OF the Cove
nant OF the lsraelites 70 be up and moved here
or there. as the tribes might wander. II is the
actual event and condition and not the legislative
or executive will that must In the nature Of things
determine the status Of man or country under IT,
The instances in which Congress has declared in
statutes organizing Territories that the Constitution
and laws shOuld hA In
that they were not already there for Congress and
ali legislative bodies have often made enactmentg
that in effect merely declared existing law In
such cases they declare preexistng truth to ease
the doubts OF casuists. Porto Rico and its r-cn!e
came under the sovereignty Of the United states by
iorce OF the treaty with SPAIN and think all will
agree that If any part OF the people Of the island
levied war against the United States or adhered to
our enemies. &c, they would be guilty Of treason
But treason is exclusively defined constitutional
crime and 1t cannot exist On the island unless III.
Constitution that defines 1t is in force there
apart however, from considerations Of funda-
mental equal law for all who owe allegiance TO
our nag OF liberty aud justice there are II seems
10 me, other very weghty ami commanding reasons
why we should treat the people OF Porto Rico on the
basis OF absolute civil equality Of right and cfrcu
stance with the citizens OF our States and home
Territories, and in doing So IT, as is contended
49, 0A-NNi'H'i'A 10 hoL IN lOfCe tnere. make
precedent for the territories on the other side of
the globe for. like all measures within N. dtscra
ton OF Congress- each subject must Of eourss hs
ueaIt Win when II arises under It's own peculiar
circumstances and conditions. These people gladly
yielded to our dominion on assurances never az.
owned or Withdrawn, of our commanders ara IT,
officers that they would become free and eou,I ci,i-
zens OF the republic, with all the rights implied by
that term. y
teaf
70 my mind. especially important that its psonIe
should become and remain conpIeteIy and s.r,,s,,
loyal. and intimately acquainted and ir,s,os,ad
with the people here and bound 10 us nv ,i.s .,
business and friendship common 10 all I, N. 5o
hot aoancon or Impair or imperil our sunremslv
important and exclusive interests-couno, b,,-roe,
our eountFy and the Central American rerubI,cs
ana olhef american states-ln relation TO the N-ic
ragua canal, Porto Rico will in tfr,,g r. Co. =
'he key OF the situation. Il was for this rA.so,
that before peace with Spain was attsines -
earnestly IN favor Of holding the island srtbo,aL
vas opposed to taking dominion ever the pbt,,.
pines. excepting Guam HiNp-
faithfully yours CrT 0e,.e'e me-
non Redheid Proctor. United g:d,.s S-.zte Z,ssa.
ington D. C "SsA'
The Fair and Right Cour.e
But Mr.. President. ADMITTING, for the
SdAe VI argument that we have nIsnarv
power under the Constitution. that rtebt
must ne interpreted in the fair and gen
erOus sense which the American n.,orI..
give 10 that instrument and not give tbe
interpretation Of ahsOIutisrn. Let q bo
interpreted in the light Of the dawn of
the twentieth century aid not un6ar ,ba
shade OF tfe middle Of the eighteenth We
may CO many wrong and foolish ,bIrgs
without violating the Constitution bII, :,
does not follow that We must DO tbeyn -.
CHgAt 70 DO them, and claim. Mr. Presi-
dent' that the plain people, the se.sihIf
Eohest American people. who look al tbis
question from TO STANDPOINT OF inferss,
VINO are not sugar men. nor tobacco rne,.
hor men who have any commerce. 49,,
class interests. which it IS claimed must
be placated by our action, are tho bae+
Judges OF what IS fai: ard right and hon
est and that their judgment in the end
must and will prevail.
II We are not bound by the Letter ~