Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-27
AS TO PORTO RICO.

The New YorkM Mail Express: The case is a very simple me. The pwd-
made his commendaho lastD ecemherto give Porto Ricos products free
to our markets because lie believed it vas right ad best considering
the condition q hat island and rot becaus it was required b the Constitution
He las % changed that rev.. II that weret tn sole principle involved. e are
authorized to say, ne would Insist pom it though he stood alone. Since his rec
concentration. however another principle has been invoked involving the nos
vital question onnected with the whole matter of or new territorial possess
sions TIL president believes. that congress has thu constitutional power to levy
This is denied especially b Y democrats If they cal prevent its assertion;
still more ii they cal hav such action by congress as denies its exishncet the
they "a go to the country with the argument hat the administration has by
it's policy acquired new populations unified for Statehood yet claiming the
free from customs uty. thus impaiing thu valueo of our W labor by compete
ton with the cheapest labor in the world.
The question: therefore, is not between a principle and a expediency. 1t is a
question between " principles ne of them fundamental It is between as
est of the whole country o and hereafter. In the latter case ny departure
from the right constitutional principle cal be recuned. IN III image one
will be irremedabe. Nt a single step. once taken. an be reraced" In the
former casei it will work % injury tori III interests of Porto Rico
That island is todayw without revenu and the people are suffering 1t hash no
government eNcept a military n It will b som i'm before n machinery
for raising revenue car be tut in operation. Meantime, Porto Rico must be
ak care ofa enabled as rapidly as possible to furnish the vent for it's
own expenses BY the bill which theahouseh as passed it is relieved from every
other om Of tax except this p per cent of the existing tariff laid upon it's pro-
ducts coming into thu United States the produc of the United States n
ter1ng Porto 2ican ports. Every dollar o ftis is turned back to it's w use.
The measure is for revenue, and only temporary att that and cal be followed by
free trade az son as the great principle which recognizes the power of congress
to lealsate for these new territories is vindicated. The necesstyo o this inter-
probation of the constitution. after the debate in the house, is paramount, and is
considered important to or success in thu Philippines.
he principle of free trad recommended for Porto Rico and which the
president evidently hopes in due time to see prevail, has.t therefore, yielded only
fort the inn being to a more important principle. The necessity of thu cae an
the honest difference of opinion which, led to h ew issue are frankly recog-
w part in the administration of public affairs He is our to weight against
n personal triumph the demoraNzaho n disorganization Of his party in
the Legislative branch of the government pon which, he III depend. No great
er ca!amHy could happen than to have his party majority fall down o the very
stances the president did what hi thought was right, and W. benevet thai time
will indicate the wisdom of his course.