The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-20
THE contribution.


1t is about as easy for a political party
10 give such an Interpretation to the con-
stitution as will best serve its purposes as
it is for a religious organization TO give
an Interpretation to the Bible that win
support the doctrines il teaches. A few
weeks ago no one expressed the thought
that the constitution did not extend 20 our
new insular possessions. Even The Pres
| ident, as the head of the Republican par
! ty, accepted the view that these posses
| sions were such a part of the United States
| that in legislating for them Congress
would be bound by the limitations of the
constitution. The Secretary of War rec
commended free trade for Porto Rico and
the President approved the recommended
| ton
Since he sent his message to Congress
in December, however, the President has
seen a new light. The extreme protection
lists of his party objected to the admis-
sion free of duty, of the products of Por-
to Rico, or of any one of our other In
| sular possessions, and now the President
is of the opinion that the constitution
permits of an Interpretation that Con-
Sress has authority to make such laws
as it pleases for these possessions, and
that il can make a tariff for Porto Rico
different from that of the United States
and different from that provided for our
other or any one of our other, insular pos
sessions.
This change of views as to the relation
| which our new possessions have to the
United States was brought about by the
necessities of the Republican party AS
| soon as it became evident that there was
danger of a radical difference of opinion
| in that party as to the legislation that
| should be enacted for Porto Rico and the
other islands, its leaders began to search
| for means by which a lack of party har,
niony could be avoided, and this theory
tho theory that Congress has plenary
power in dealing with these islands-was
hit upon. 1t is by no means certain, of
course. that the courts will sustain this
| theory. II is based upon political neces-
| sity, not upon judicial right. The ques-
| ton whether Congress has the right that
is claimed for it may not get into the
courts for some time-not, at least until
| the theory that il has such right has serv-
ed the purpose of the party that is re-
| sporsible for it.
| AS far as the average citizen can see,
| the Porto Ricans have just as much right
to enjoy free trade with the United States
as have the Hawaiians, yet it is gravely
proposed by the Republican party that
there. shall be one set of tariff laws for
| Hawaii and another for Porto Rico.
| 1t is said that in administration circles
| the annexation of Cuba is talked of as if
| 1t we're already fact. 1t is certain that
| the Cubans would be much less likely than
| they are now to favor annexation if it
| were understood that it would not bring
them free trade with this country. The
| chief indueement to become a part of this
| country is access, free of duty, TO our
| markets for their products. The Republi
| cans had some little show of defending
themselves successfully against the charge
of Imperialism before this new declaration
as 20 the power of Congress TO deal with
our insular possessions was made, but they
have no chance now for meeting that
charge to the satisfaction Of the people.