The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-13
PORTO RICO TARIFF IN THE CAM
PAIGN

PAIGN.
The question as to the effect the Porto
Rican tariff legislation viii have on the
Presidents chances for getting another
term Is an interesting one. There is no
doubt that the charge will be made
against the Republican party that the act
ion of Congress in putting a tariff tax on
the commerce between this country and
Porto Rico means mperialism-means
dealing with Porto Rico and the Philip
pines as if the purpose was to treat them
as colonies. Imperialism means mill
tarism because 1t will require a large
standing army TO uphold our rule in our
insular possessions. There is no doubt that
there is a strong feeling throughout the
country against both Imperialism and nil
itarism. No effort Will be spared to In
tensify this feeling and make it contrib
ute to the defeat of the Republican party.
1t was the purpose of the President
originally that trade between this country
and Porto Rico should be free. In fact,
there is every reason TO believe that he
held the view that the constitution extend
ed to that island without any legislation
by Congress. His party in Congress SIS took
a different view. and he abandoned his po-
sition for that of his party's leaders.
But suppose the President had insisted
upon maintaining his position and made
an issue with his party, would he have
been the gamer by such a course of
action? He would have won credit for
having plenty of backbone and he would
have been praised by some of the pa
pers of his own party as well as those Of
the opposition. But would he not have
placed himself out of touch with the lead
ers and papers which dominate his party?
1t is very probable that he would
The politicians of the Republican party
took the view that if the principles of pro-
lection were abandoned in legislating for
Porto Rico it would have to be abandoned
in legislating for the Philippines. If
abandoned in respect to the Philippines
the workmen of the country might become
alarmed at the prospect of competition
with the cheap labor of the Philippines
The Republican party was, therefore, in
a dilemma. By taxing the commerce of
Porto Rico it exposed itself to the charge
of Imperialism and miitarism, and by
making trade with Porto Rico free it
would probably lose the support of the
labor vote, because, as already stated,
free trade with Porto Rico would mean
free trade with the Philippines, and free
trade with those islands might result in
competition between the labor of this
country and the cheap labor of the Phil
ippines.
The character of the Porto Rican tariff
law shows that what the Republicans I'M
dertook to do by that legislation was to
retain the sympathy of the labor vote
until the presidential campaign was over
1t preferred to be charged with imperial
ism to having it said that it had aban-
doned the principle of protec tion-the prin-
ciple 1t upholds, it has always contended.
for the benefit largely of workmen Now,
the question is, did the Republican party
choose wisely? Would it not have occu-
pied better position before the country
If 1t had made trade with Porto Rico free?
We think it would. The people would
have had more respect for it, 1t is well
understood that the Porto Rican legis!a-
ton was for political purposes. The tar
if law is to continue only until the Porto
Rican Assembly can arrange for a sys-
tenn of internal taxation, and under no cir
two years. A straightforward course is
always the best course In politics, as in
other things.