The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30
Views OF Mr.. BBVERIDGE
The Senator Discusses the Pending
Porto RicaB Bill
An Argument in Fnvor of n Gree
Hand" in Dealing Wit.. the InsuIar
observation-disclosures in Favor
"f Immediate and Unrestricted
Free Trade With Porto Rico.

he principal feature in the Senate
proceedings yesterday was the delivery by
Mr.. Beveridge of prepared speech on
the Porto Rican bill. 1t occupied an
hour and twenty minutes and was listened
TO in silent admiration by an immense
crowd in the galleries. While the main
argument of the speech was reciprocity
with Porto Rico its predominant tone was
the present and future grandeur Of the
people Of the United States
Various eulogistic notices We're applied
to it, such as warden of the gate Of
the Gulf" In a position to command
peace" Sovereign nation of the earth;
Master people o. the world" Agents,
under God. of civilization of the world"
The island possessions were described as
Ours by the decree of Providence" and
Cuba was to be also ours in good time"
THE ocean empire" Mr.. Beredidge de-
clared, lis ours rev and ours forever"
American institutions were lauded as
older and greater than the Constitution:
and court decisions could not restrain
them" For Congress he claimed absolute
and almost imperial power" but he had
no respect fer constitutional charlatan-
ism He favored immediate reciprocity,
said he should vote for an amendment to
the bill giving immediate and unrestricted
trade to the island possessions. While
the bill was not all that he could wish
ii to be. it was step in the right direc-
tion, and therefore he should vote for it.
The Power Of Congress-.
In beginning his remarks Mr.. Beveridge
said: The issue Joined in this debate in
wolves the power OF Congress over the
islands and the peoples which providence
has placed in our keeping, and therefore
the expe6iency OF retaining them. II in-
wolves the power and progress of the Re
public throughout all its future Fer II
Congress has not free hand to deal with
these islands as their different conditions
and changing needs demand. it is not only
inexpsdient. but il may be impossible to
hold them To treat Porto Rico as We
treat Hawai- and 10 deal with the latter
as we deal with the Philippines. and to ap-
ply to all without delay the same fixed for
mula of laws which custom and the inten-
ton of statehood have prescribed for our
Territories from which our States are
formed, is a proposition as mad as il is
novel "
Mr.. Beveridge discussed the needs of
the newly acquired possessions and de- /
clared that they are utterly unlike those I
of the American States when they we've 1
territories.
And. he continued, IF We may rot .
adopt measures fitting the condition and
the necessities OF each and change those
measures as conditions and necessities
change, We must give them up. There is
no other alternative, or rather, there is
an alternative whose very statement puts
Us TO this melancholy choice.
That alternative is the proposition that
our Constitution extends over peoples TO
whom its sacred meaning is dark as mid
viued for according TO a fixed formula
OF government and laws prepared for the
highest type Of governing communi-
ties the world ever saw; that before
these people ever complement the term
self overnment, before they realize its
duties, its obligations. burdens and re-
wards, exercise Of that holy function is !
to be forced upon them; that they are TO
be made part OF the American leople,
and States OF the American Union; and
that Porto Rican Senators, Hawaiian
Senators, and Filipino Senators shall sit
here, equal in dignity and power to the
Of the historic State of
the imperial State of New
York, or Of Indiana, the very heart of
the Nation; and that all this shall be
determined Immediately and irreyocablv.
now aud for all the future.
The Government says that we reserve
The future for the future, but that for the
present we will hold these islands as a
sacred trust for them. for US for mankind
and for the world, dealing with them as
wisdom and righteousness from day TO day
shall dictate. developing them into gardens.
heir inhabitants into happy and prosper
Dus peoples. and when the time shall come.
Il ever, that American ideas. American
methods. and the American spirit change
he qaality of their blood. the method OF
heir minds. the tendency OF their charac-
-er, and their ideas. ideals, and under
standing of government then our success
;ors in the American Congress may admit
Or inject them into the blood OF our ma
-ional life the wisdom and justice of
posterity may determine
In word, the question is whether the
gives Congress a free haul
over pur possessions or whether. if we re-
tain them. the Constitution gives them
Tree hand over us.
Free Hand Necessary.
And so again the issue focuses upon
that burning point which, according to our
viii become the fixed and radiant
star of our progress and our hope, or the
nalign and darkening orb of our decay
md dooin-the retention of our islands and |
'ur future power to acquire 10 govern to
ieyelop. For If we are not to have the !
49, y : n !