Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-28
TWELVE PAGES.
THURSDAY. JUNE Is, 1900.
1T TAKES TO THE WOODS.

The time was when the Republican
party had the courage of its convic-
lions. The time is when 1t has no con-
victions and little courage. When 1t
had convictions. It was dangerous be-
cause its convictions were mainly
;, wrong Now that 1t has no convic-
TONS It ,is- even more dangerous be-
cause its power Is ut the service of any
who may have the price. 1t has under
gone the most wonderful metamorpho-
sis in history-from fanatic TO blackleg.
and it has engrafted the principles of
the latter on the temperament of the
former. 1t has the nice scruples of n
Machiavelli and the engaging man
ners of bowling dervish. where its
on skin is not in danger.
If any find 1t worth while to call in
question all or several of these asser-
lions. let him examine Il very recent
bit of the Republican record. that
which concerns Porto Rico. How it
sold the poverty-bitten inhabitants of
that island to the trusts for campaign
contributions, is known to every man
who reads a newspaper. Republican,
Democratic or Independents. 1t was at
once a dastardly surrender of declared
purposes. an unparalleled piece of
moral and political cowardice,
shameless betrayal of helplessness into
the hands of merciless enemies and
bargain so currupt that hardened
hucksters of politics rebelled in dis
gust. The bargain was kept and the
Republican party professed. for the
time being. to see in 1t an exemplifl-
cation of the highest chivalry and the
frution of extensive and benevolent
designs.
The passage of the Porto Rican ta-
riff law gave rise to n clearly defined
issue involving an Interpretation of the
Uuited States Constitution. The DEM
ocrats challenged both the morality
and the legality of the measure. The
Republicans professed unlimited admi-
ration Of the former and unlimited
confidence in the latter. They declar-
ed that the right of Congress to gov
ern territory outside of the Constitu-
ton was a clear prerogative of Sow
erelgnty and that this prerogative had
been exercised in the most humane and
liberal manner. The Democrats as
serted that Congress had no such pow
er, and that. having assumed 1t. it had
used 1t in the most shameless fashion.
d The Democrats declared that the as
sumption by Congress of extra-consti-
tutlonal powers was most danger
Y GUS innovation. The Republicans pro-
fessed to see in it nothing new and
nothing dangerous. That was the
equarely Joined issue in Congress.
How was the issue met by the Ma
tional Republican Convention? 1t
dared not refer to 1t even remotely in
Ats platform. Congressman Grosve-
ehor says that the platform as original
ly drawn contained plank which was
and which approved the Porto Rican
measure. Lemuel Eli Qugg, of the
isub-committee on Platform, admits
sthis and says his committee cut it out
because the question is one for the SUI
lpreme Court to settle. This, in the face
sof the fact that the administrat ton has
lepered no effort to prevent a test case
Preaching the Supreme Court.
The annals of American politics
shows no instance OF political coward
lice so AFFECT. The Supreme Court can
settle only the question OF the legality
Z Of the Porto Rican measure. 1t can
3net arbitrate the issue raised by the
Domocracy-that the power to govern