Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08

United States, but the people Of every ter
rttury we have ever acquired have been
required to do the saline thing-with this
difference. that the psbpie Of Porto Rico
are allowed to keSp the duties 30 collected
and use them for the support OF their own
government, while the duties collected in
every other NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Florida.
Washington. Oregon-have been turned
over to the national government at Wash
ington for the support of the whole ma
ton. 1t is true that duties equal to 10 per
cent of the rates prescribed by law are
paid on certain articles OF commerce be-
tween the United States and Porto Rico,
but 1t is also true that every cent SO col
lected goes, not Into the treasury OF the
United States but into the treasury OF Porto
Rico for the support of the Porto hican
government; and this provision continues
IN force only two years, until system OF
taxing property similar to our own may
be devised and put into operation, until
which time there was. no other way Tor
the Porto Ricans to raise sufficient revenue
to support their government.
1t Is also true that while the people or
every other territory are required to pay
internal revenue taxes the same as the
people OF the United States, the people OF
Porto Rico have been exempted from that
burden. All these provisions are unprece-
denied in the history of our legislation, and
all these exceptions to the rule that has
heretofore prevailed in legslating for ter
ritorfes has been made that we might gen.
erously relieve the people of Porto Rico In
the hour OF their weakness, their poverty
and their despair, from the burdens of d.
rectly taxing their own property for the
support Of their government, and at the
same time give them a system OF revenue
that would enable them to meet the ex-
penses that must be incurred.
Already good results are everywhere
manifest. Where we found want. idleness,
poverty and restitution business has COM
menced. employment is being found and
the people are beginning TO command
money. credit and food. It takes time to
change such conditions, but we are rapidly
supplying all their wants and happiness,
contentment and prosperity will soon be
within the reach of all.
As to the Philippines.
Consider now the Philippines. There was
difference of opinion as to whether we
should acquire them. but all were agreed
that Spain should relinquish her sovereign
ty there. If SO, somebody had to succeed to
the title. The Filpinos themselves said
that If we simply drove Spain out and
came away they would fall into the hands
OF the European nations, and their last es-
tate, because Of the divisions that would
ensue, would be worse than their first.
The only way to prevent that was to take
control ourselves. The President reluctant
ly reached this conclusion, for he foreSaw
the serious responsibilities involved in such
action. The treaty of peace so provided,
and the Senate with the help of seventeen
democratic votes, ratified it, and it received
the seventeen democratic votes because Mr..
Bryan, and large number, If not the ma
jority of the democratic party advised and
advocated the ratification. But before the
treaty was ratified the insurrection COM
menced. 1t was the duty of the President,
under the protocol then in force, to sup
press 1t and preserve order. Before the
Publications were exchanged Congress had
adjourned without legislatng on the sub
ject. The President was left in charge of
that country as he is in charge of all other
territory over which our Jurisdiction ex-
tends 1t was his duty under the Constitu-
ton and laws Of the land to maintain our
authority and to use all necessary force.
This he has done, nothing more, nothing
less If he had done more there might be
some excuse for talking about abuse of
power: If he had done less Mr.. Bryan would
be talking now about articles of impeach-
ment instead of imperialism.
II President Mckinley had pursued such a
policy as Mr.. Bryan is now proposing, if
elected, he would have been branded as a
weak betrayer of his trust and as response
bic Tor great national humiliation. If
You have any doubt about this, you have
only to turn back to the expressions OF
democratic newspapers and democratic
leaders at the time when trouble in the
Philippines commenced, to learn that these
men who are now talking about hauling
down the flag, giving the FIlip.nos independ-
ence and making peaceron any terms were
then more imperlalistic and bloodthirsty
and tyrannical, as indicated by the advice
M
ever even been charged by them to be
Senator Foraker read, editorials from sew
efaI democratic newspapers 70 show that
their sentiments had changed very mate
rally regarding the Philippines since the
campaign began.
Mr.. Bryan seeks to justify himself for
advising ratification of the treaty and
now condemning the Presidents policy on
the ground that he expected The President
as soon as the treaty was ratified, to an
nounce to AguinaldO and his followers not
outstanding they were in arms against us
that he proposed soon as he had es-
tabished stable government, to give them
their Independence under an American pro
toctorate. Mr.. Bryan forgets. He could
not have expected any such thing: be-
cause in the first place war with the Fill
pinos had already commenced before the
treaty was ratified and every act of the
President was a declaration that until the
insurrection was ended nothing else was
In order; and in the second place Mr.
Bryan was aware that the President had
already, In the hope of avoiding any clash
with the Fflipinos, announced his policy by
a proclamation, promulgated by Gen Otis
in the previous December.
This proclamation set forth a liberal and
generous plan of government and declared
that our flag and government would be up-
held throughout the Philippine Islands un-
til Congress could have opportunity to leg
islate- This explicit declaration was not
only made, but it met the approval of
democrats as well as republicans.
Advantages of the Posse.sions.
Recent events have demonstrated the adj
vantages of these possessions and the folly
that their abandonment would involve. Had
we not been in the Philippines, we would
not have headed the column for Pekin. but
being there We were enabled to do a con-
spicuous service for all the civilized DOW
erS.
For generations of Americans will man.
tel with pride as they read of our par, i'm
that great world work. Such work is not
ended. The slow processes of time are
fast reaching their elimination. Every
student of history and current events
knows that in that far eastern country IS
located the scene of the worlds greatest
activity for years to come.
Our presence there is most fortunate not
alone for ourselves, but also for the other
nations We are the one conservative force
SO favored with the confidence and respect
of other governments that we can restrain
and guide to just results the great transit
tons that are impe nding. We have the
post of honor in the onward march of the
world. To hold it involves responsibility
and duty; to abandon it shame and humii-
iation.
We cannot recede: we must go forward
We have the strength of giant and the
opportunity OF the centuries The great
duty of the hour is to show that we are