The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-07

Inc statements mace py some uneInDeIs
of Congress of their reasons for voting for
the Porto Rican tariff bill are entitled to
be considered in the same good temper and
spirit of fairness in which they are made.
but II they are not satisfactory popular OPP
position to the measure will continue. The
difficulties of the situation and the new
and perplexing questions which 1t pre-
sented are well stated by Mr.. Overstreet,
and, as he says: where absolutely new
questions of law and policy arise, it is by
no means certain that mistakes may not
be made" Perhaps the people are as apt
to be mistaken as Congress. but 1t must
be remembered that their will is the su-
preme law.
From the Journals point of view the
statements referred to fail to go to the
root of the matter. They seem to lay too
much stress on irrelevant matters or tenn
porary conditions. and too little on basic
principles that are enduring. Thus, Repre-
sentative Brick, of the Thirteenth district.
while admitting that free trade between
the United States and Porto Rico is right
in principle and must come when it can
be applied properly" thinks the ignorance
of the Porto Ricans an insuperable obJec-
ton to adopting 1t at present. "Only II per
cent. of Them he says, ''can read or
write" We fail to see what that has to do
with the question. 1t is not a question of
suffrage or the qualification Of voters, but
of free trade and equal rights for a class of
new Americans. Besides, the bill, as it
passed the House, is only operative for two
years, and illiteracy will be about as prev
alent in Porto Rico two years hence as 1t
is now. The more ignorant the inhabitants
of our new possessions are the greater is
the obligation Of treating them justly. Rep
resentative Steele calls attention to the
fact that most of the tobacco and sugar
now in Porto Rico Is owned by rich plant
ers or by persons who have bought it on
speculation, and who will make big profits
If those products are admitted to the
United States free of duty. Suppose they
do. No financial or revenue measure was
somebody's pocket but that is not to be
considered. The fiscal policy of the United
States, especially in so important a matter
establishing it's relations with new pos
sessions, should be based on just and en-
during principles. without reference to the
immediate effect on the fortunes of a few
individuals. They do not own the crops
to be produced hereafter, and that
now on hand is not considerable.
Mr.. Overstreet says that If free
trade should be established between
Porto Rico and the United States it would
be necessary, in order to raise money for
the government and Improvement of the
island, to resort either to direct taxation,
loan, or direct appropriation from our
treasury. The government of Porto Rico
is not going to cost much. The chairman
of the ways and means committee stated
recently, in speech, that $2.500000 would
pay all the expenses of the government,
including the postal service and also $685.
people would infinitely rather have Con-
gress appropriate s2,5OO.O0O a year out of
the public treasury for the government Of
Porto Rico until such time as it shall be-
come prosperous and self-supporting than
to place the United States in the position
of breaking its promises to the Porto Ri
cans by treating them as foreigners. We
have never required any of our Territories
to defray the expenses of their govern
unrestricted trade with other parts of the
United States, as Hawaii will have. Why.
then. should different policy be adopted
for the first time in our history towards
Porto Rico? Why should the first ciA en-
actment passed for a possession acquired
in a war begun for. humanity be based on
avowedly sordid and mercenary considera-
tons?
Thus. 1t appears to the Journal, that all
the arguments In favor of establishing a
tariff between the United States and Porto
Rico fail to go to the root of the question
or TO satisfy the popular demand for con-
sistency. justice and fair play. The true So
luton of the question, and. We believe, the
only one that will satisfy the people, is In
the passage of the Davis amendment or
one substantially like it. throwing the door
wide open to unrestricted trade in both d.
rections.