The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-10


Inconsistencies I'm the Bill.
Lindsay said the senate measure contains
all the Objectionable features Of the house
bill and also a provision absolutely incon-
sistent with the taxing power 1t asserted
He then called attention TO the fact that
the senate bill declared that all Puerto
Ricans Who were Spanish subjects should
be deemed citizens of the United States
and took issue with Senator Forakers con-
tention that citizens" when used in the
treaty OF Paris meant merely that person
owed allegiance 10 the government. He
did not believe we are under constitutional
or legal obligations to make citizens OF the
people OF Puerto Rico, but If we are to
treat them az the inhabitants OF depend
ency he insisted that we cannot consistent
Iy declare by congressional enactment that
they are to be deemed and held TO be citi-
zens OF the United States. Any action We
took as TO them could not, In his view,
determine the civil rights and the political
status Of the Filipinos for It was a matter
of expediency with us.
The Constitutional Question.
The Philippines while lawfully subject to
our sovereign Jurisdiction were not integral
parts Of the United States and their in
habitants were not in his opinion entitled
to the claim that they can be governed
only under and I'm exact accordance with
the constitution Of the United States. II
was 10 avoid the claim that by The ac-
ceptance OF the cesson from Spain We
placed ourselves under obligations to the
people OF the coded territory TO clothe them
with American citizenship, however eNpe-
dent or preposterous or even dangerous II
might be to do SO, that the stipulations OF
the old French, Spanish and Mexican
treaties were omitted and a materially off
ferent stipulation inserted in the treaty OF
Paris. providing that the civil rights nd
the political status OF the native inhebi-
tants Of territory ceded to the United
States shall be determined by the con-
gress."
All the judicial opinions relied upon by
thoSe who contend that the constitution
follows the flag had been rendered in cases
arising under treaties fixing and defining
the personal rights Of the inhabitants.
''The Asiatic countries ceded by Spain
cannot be Incorporated into our union"
said Senator Lindsay Their people can
not be admitted to the rights OF citizen
ship We have therefore the alternatives
either to refuse the performance OF the
duty which in the estimation of the CIV
ilized world we assumed by the accept
ance OF the cession or else courageousiy
TO set about the task of giving to these
people the best government they are cap
able of administering. / do not favor,
and do not believe the American people
favor, the permanent holding Of the FIJI
ipinos In a state of vassalage. but we do
not hasten the day of their national en-
franchisement by demanding for them
rights which their condition make II Inn
possible for them to enjoy or by charging
them with duties they are palpably unable
to perform.
why Tariff 4. Unjust.
1--WE cannot forget that with the cession
OF Puerto Rico che lost the principal mar
kets she had long enjoyed, that our tariff
laws have been systematically applied TO
her products. and that the markets of
Spain and Cuba, which were once open
to her. can only be reached now by the
payment Of Spanish and Cuban duties
She has lost free intercourse with Spain
and Cuba. and IL is now proposed to deny
her free intercourse with the people OF the
United States.
re cannot afford to do this unjust
thing.
II shall vote to amend this bill so as to
make II provide for absolute free trade
with the people of Puerto Rico
At the conclusion of Lindsay's speech
he was not only appauded by the auditors
In the galleries. but was warmly congrat-
uated by his colleagues.
The senate then az 4:05 p. m. took a re-
cess until o'clock tonight, when the