The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-17
Circulation Statement.
Tn. constitution In Court.

= This Is. destined to be 4 notable day IN
the history of the country. 1t is the day
set for the hearing before the United
States Supreme Court of the cases inrolv-
ing the question Of the Constitution and
the flag. The decision of our tribunal OF
last resort will permanently settle the is
sue as to whether the executive and legis-
lative branches of the Government are
creatures of the Constitution and bound by
its provisions and prohibitions outside OF
the organized States or whether they are
endowed with imperial and absolute and
irresponsible power to govern and tax the
territories organized and unorganized. in
d.pendently OF the Constitution and in
open disregard and defiance of its terms.
Upon this decision may depend grave in
stitutional changes in Gne event, and
most important revolution in Adminisira
ton policy in the other. II ii shall be
held that Porto Rico and the Philippines
are intcgrally parts of the United States,
then the robbery of their inhabitants and
the thrnttling OF their industries by means
Of the Dingley tariff will be no longer pos
sible. and unless these possessions are vio-
them foreign again. American consumers
will have the benefit Of free Porto Rican
and Philippine tobacco. cigars. sugar,
fruits, rice. hemp. valuable dye. and orna-
mental woods, and other useful products,
which are now partially or wholly pro-
hibited for The enrichment of few native
monopolies and industrial combinations.
As concerns Porto Rico, affirmation by
the Supreme Court that the Constitution
covers that island ex proprio vigore, would
lead to the almost immediate rehabilitation
OF the territory. and an era of prosperity
which would make 1t the garden spot of
the country. With our markets opened 10
Porto Rico. as Mr.. Mckinley once de-
clared it was ''orr plain duty TO open
them. there would be no more starvation
aud successful plantations and factories
would spring up over its face in next TO NO
time.
The situation regarding the Philippines
fs more complex. II may be safely said
that the interested trusts would not have
demanded violation of our fundamental
law in Porto Rico If The Eastern archi-
pelago had been in other hands than ours.
But acknowledgment that the Constitution
went with the flag to the one would have
fastened il on the other necessarily, and
that could not be borne by the protected
monopolies. The Philippines are capable
OF producing enormous crops of tobacco,
sugar, and rice. Rather than meet this
potential competition il is certain that il
the tariff barrier is to be knocked down.
the trusts will exert their whole influence
upon the Administration and Congress to
induce the Government TO give the islands
back to Spain, or do anything else with
them. SO that they be gotten from under |
the flag and their trade barred by Dingley- |
ism again.
No enc can guess even approximately !
what the decision will be- The only pos
sibie guide we have at present is in the !
knowledge that our greatest constitutional |
lewyers-men like ex-president Harrison. |
the Hon. George F. Edmunds. the Hon |
John G. Carlisle. and Senator Morgan--are |
firmly convinced taat where or flag and |
sovereignty go, the Constitution to which |
both owe their being and authority also |
must go. As all things are possible to
petit jury, so man! may be to a great |
court, and predictions now would be IN
wise. But the outcome will be awaited
with intense interest by all thinking
because upon the decision will
depend whether in future this is to be
Republic only in relation TO and among the
component States and an Empire as TO the
Territories; or, is TO be altogether and
everywhere Republic under sovereign
ty representative Of and based strictly
upon the Constitution.