Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-07
in congress. They are the only kind
who are capable of doing any good.
SENSE vs.. POLITICS.

| i
Deplorable as the fact may seem, II
is fact all the same, that the tenden'
cy in human nature to cut of ones
nose to spite ones face is almost ir'
resistible. A capital illustration o.
this fact has several times been furnish
ed of late by the action of the Demo
Gratis in congress but at no time ha'
the illustration been more striking
than during the consideration of the
Porto Rican tariff question last week
The original proposition of the Re
publicans was to treat Porto Rico, 81
far as taxation is concerned, the same
as any other portion of the United
States, and this proposition was Sc
Just that it did not awaken the slight
est antagonism from the Democrats
But it frightened large interests in this
country. Just what these interests
were cannot be said with certainty
but it is probable that they included
the sugar trust and the American
Tobacco company and other monopo
lies that would be put to the incon
venience of making changes in theil
business if Porto Rican products were
admitted to the United States free o.
duty. Anyhow, the Republican party
was inclined to change its policy. and
determine upon a tariff tax on Porto
Rican products exported to the United
States.
OF course it is understood that the
object of the tax was "protection'
for the interests referred to; but it nat
urally followed that there would also
have to be Puerto Rican tax on
American products applying for admis
sion to that country. This was neces
sary under pretence or sembance o.
making even justice. But still the
proposition was so manifestly unjust
as to afford the Democrats every de-
sired opportunity for successful assault
against the Republicans, and this op
portunity the Democrats were moi
slow to avail themselves of. The
whole country was aroused and the
Republican leaders soon realized that
they had stirred up hornets nest o.
the most dangerous character. But il
was to late to retreat, and 10 have
suffered defeat would have been disas
trous to the party interests. Many
Republicans were wisely kicking Out
Of harness, and to keep the party TO-
gether, the leaders had to abandon
their scheme by reducing the proposed
tax, fixing a time limit Of only two
years, and promising that the presi'
dent would come forward with bis
message recommending that all the
proceeds 90 to Puerto Rico.
OF course, the Democrats had nc
intimation of the presidents proposed
message. Otherwise they may have
been more fully prepared as to what
was best to do; but as it was, they
made mistake. At least this is Oul
Judgment. Although manifestly q
trick, the message was along the right
line. 1t is full of justice and common
sense, and upon its merits there can
be no reasonable objection to it. The
natual tendency of the Democrats is
to oppose everything Republican, just
as the Reformers in the South Carolina
legislature used to oppose everything
emanating from the Conservatives
They gave way to their natural ten.
dency in this case and voted almost
solidly against the bill to carry out the
presidents recommendation.
In our opinion, the Democrats lost
last Friday the finest opportunity they
have had in year to make capital fol
their party. Making capital, of course
nobody will deny, is what both sides
are after. The position of the Demo
Gratis with reference to the original
bill was as sound as the decalogue, and
that of the Republicans absolutely un-
tenable. The presidents message and
the new bill were merely makeshifts
to correct a fearful mistake. In other
words, they were both part of trick.
The trick, too, was dishonest, so far
as the Republicans were concerned ;
but still the whole proposition, on its
face, was full of sound justice and
there was every reason why the Dem.
ocrats should have supported it to a
man. There was no reason, other than
party antagonism, why the Democrats
should have voted against it, and they
should have upheld it; but they did
not see it that way and that is where
they allowed themselves to be hood.
winked.
REPUBLICANS ARE SLICK.