The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-02
He Would Be Honest-But,

the new statesman from the west. Sen
atOr Reveridse. 81 Indiana, represents
what may be called the high-water
mark Of republican morality. He has
also achieved for some reason or other
not clearly apparent To the thoughtful
observer. reputation for oratory OF
the first class.
We print elsewhere some specimens
OF his Orltory. i'm which. embalmed like
n fly in amber. could be seen a labora-
atOry sample of his morality. Il is
impossible 10 believe that either spec
linen or sample will be relished by the
plain people Of the country the men
who think and act for the nation.
To appreciate the curious speech of
Senator Reveridge. the reader must re-
member the situation and circum-
stances that called il forth. Mr.. Nc
Kinley had said. officially. that il was
our plain duty" TO abolish all GUS
toms duties between this country and
Porto Rico. and to treat the island as
definite part Of the United States. Then
came the trusts TO their agent. Hanna,
politely inquiring if he intended to
raise a campaign fund this year. Mr..
Hanna passed the wink around among
president began 20 send for congress-
men and plead with them not To per-
form our plain duty To Porto Rico,
but to do just the contrary. Then II
was that Congressman Grosvenor wiped
his weeping eyes in the house and an
nounced in husky tones that nothing
no conceivable event whatever. would
cause the president more sorrow than
z Il lou N sb
tax ON the products of Porto Rico. al
though Mr.. Mckinley had declared
that il was "our plain duty" to estab-
sish free trade with Porto Rico.
Following these lightnins-like
changes on the part OF the president,
there came remarkable protest from
the people. The republican newspa-
pers. representing the voters Of their
party. denounced the Porto itican bill.
ana they have kept M their opposi-
tiGa
menr canle- inst Seliacur Beverage. of
Indiana. representing the republican
craftsmanship of the west. and having
in charge a large slice OF the republic
an conscience. would deliver an Grafton
in favor of free trade with Porto Rico,
on the lines laid down IN the plain
duty" message
The suecrh was 10 be delivered on
a certain day. and as something dra-
matte was expected. the beauty and Wit
of Washington society packed itself in
the senate galleries and patiently await
"a tne moment when the modern de
mosthenes would rise in his place,
eh3tter the frail logic ~ Hanna and eX-
nose 10 public view the lily-wnite con
science Of the republican party with
the nimbus of morality towering over
and playing about il.
Th.. sDercn was not delivered The
modern Demosthenes had been seem
lie was ON hand. as II We're. but the
fountains OF his OratOry We're sealed,
aud the stersopticon with which the
reuuhlican conscience was 10 be eX-
hibiteI was out ~ gear. Neyerthe-
less. he had a speech IN his posses
sion. tie revised il carefully. scratched
ont his nigh purposes ana carefully
deleted all reference TO morality. sub
stitutiug for these a column of sense
less quibbles about the attitude OF the
opposition.
Now. this opposition is nothing
less than the constituents Of the repub-
liran members. plus the democratic
party. DemostheneS. from Indiana. de-
clArles that the opposition the re-
publican editors. the republican voters.
and the democratic party are claim
ng that now, this moment,
tire decree shall be. nay. is ire
vocably registered that the Philippines.
Hawaii. Porto Rico. ali We
may acquire. snail be states of the
American republic. with congressman
and senators. helping 10 devise our
laws or 10 corrupt them ON the
other hand. says DemoSthenes of IN
diana. the government says that we
reserve the future for the future. ut
that for the present We will hold these
islands as a sacred trust for the world.
dealing with them rs wisdom and right
eoUsness from day To day shall dictate,
and 81 on and 81 forth.
We 40 not remember when we have
seen brought together such a lot Of
rhetorical fustian as IS contained in the
speech OF Mir. Beveridge of Indiana.
In a word he says. the question
is whether the constitution gives CON
gress free hand over our possessions.
or whether If we retain them. the CON
stitutiOn gives them a free hand over
US" IL is hard 10 believe that
Schoolboy. preparing a debate. would
commit himself to the utterance OF
such nonsense as that. The great
movement he declares, ION which the
American people have embarked is a
movement of conscience, as well as of
power' Well. what has become OF
''our plain duty" as set forth by Mr..
Mckinley
II is perfectly well known that the
Indiana senator has avowed himself
To he in favor of free trade with Porto
Rico. He has hinted il in the senate,
he has announced il in the corridors.
Eut now he insists that if We do "our
pIiin duty and give Porto Rico free
trade. il is the same as giving the peo-
Mo of that island "a free hand over
..- Thus we are able to perceive
~ :. glance the quality of republican
statesmanship as edited and revised by
Hanna.
II has been claimed that Mr.. Bever-
idge would give new tone to the sem
ate. but there is nothing new in his