Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-03-29
REPUBLICANS AWAKENING TO
The Imperialist Lead of the Ad'
miniStratiOn.
MCCALL WILL NOT FOLLOW
Spain Didn't Know How to- Bleed l1eI
Colonies Properly; Watch Uncle
Sam DO 1t.

Representative Mccall, OF Massachu.
sets, delivered Il powerful speech in he
house February 22d, in opposition to the
Puerto Rico tariff bill.
Mr.. McC III. who is a republican,, said
that he regretted greatly that he could
not agree with his colleagues on the pend
ing BILL but he was compelled to dissent
because it involved nothing less than the
proposition that congress in dealing with
territories OF the United States had absU-
lutte power, unfettered by am of the linii-
tations of the constitution. The question
is not: Does the constitution govern
Puerto Rico, but does it govern us? Can
congress, which is the creature OF the
constitution. do those things which 1t
prohibits?
"a great deal OF learning, much OF it
irrelevant, has been expended in discuss
ing the meaning Of the term United
States,' he said. 1T is patent that the
term could have been employed in the
constitution in any ore Of three different
senses, according to the contest. But
there is another and broader sense
which has become justly fashionable
since tho war Of the rebellion, and that is
LIut ttIIo sOSCi 10 INV q
close corporation of states, but that it
polite created by the constitution.
"But the question involved is far be-
yond the dignity Of any controversy about
syntax. Our Revolution was based ON
the idea that one community had no right
permanently to levy taxes upon another
and the prime motive which
led to the establishment Of the constitu.
ton was desire to do away with the
barriers upon trade which were set up on
the frontier Of each state. AS our gov
eminent is not simple elementary gov.
eminent. but one OF limited powers under
a written constitution, the power to tax
and create barriers within our dominion
against trade should, in view of our his
tory before the adoption of the constitu-
ton, be most strictly construed. The
power Of taxation and the method OF its
exercise are conferred in the same clause
and the methods extend wherever the
power extends. II congress has the power
TO levy duties over an area comprising
territories, then the rule Of uniformity
applies to that same area. This is in
with the primary rules OF
"But the decisions of the supreme court
put the matter above question. John
Marshall, as great jurist as ever sat on
the bench, declared in Loughborough Va.
Blake. that the rule OF uniformity in the
imposition OF duties extended to the
territories.
IA fantastic theory which has been dis
covered by some modern jurists within
eighteen months holds that this opinion
OF MarshalIs was a mere dictum and that
the District Of Columbia, in regard to
which the decision was rendered, got UNI
der tho constitution by some process
which made it different from mere ter.
ritory. 1t is only necessary to say that
in all the long line of decisions concern
ing the constitutional status Of the District
OF Columbia, the court has shown it's
ignorance OF this modern doctrine and
treats the district as vulgar territory.
"a third OF century after the Lough-
borough case the supreme court again,
when California became a territory, de-
cided that the rule OF uniformity would
apply to il. Here two different de-
cisions, a generation apart, by our highest
court. each rendered when the court was
composed OF entirely different justices,
specifically holding that the rule of uni.
formity in imposts applies to territories,
and those decisions stand absolutely UNI
contradicted. And yet, in the face of
those decisions, We who have taken an
oath to protect and defend the consttu-
ton, are asked to levy duties against an
American territory.
"If congress is not bound by these limi-
tations against taxing unequally it is not
bound by any limitation upon its power
in the constitution. The case is concur
sive 80 far as judicial authority Is con.
cerned, and when we regard the circum.
stances out Of which our government and
the constitution sprang, the words OF the
taxing power, the direct adjudication OF
their meaning, the long line Of authorities
which deny the existence OF absolute
power in congress, it is clear that the
theory Of despotic power IL absolutely
repugnant to our institutions.
"We are asked to pass the bill that the
question can come before the supreme
court. That question can be brought up
today, hut if you pass this bill it will 90
to the court with the weight that attaches
to the action of the great political depart
ment OF the government. We have had
the decision of the court rendered in
times OF great political stress, that a black
man had no rights which white man
was bound to respect, and this country
was deuged with blood to wash that de-
cison fr. IN our laws.
"Now we are asked to lay the founda-
ton for a moot case with the weight oil
congress behind it, and ask for another
decision that the white men and the brown
men OF Puerto Rico are merely our chat
tells and that the commonest constitu'
tional right, secured to the meanest man
that treads our soil, does not belong tc
them, although they are under our flag
Let no act Of congress impart sanction
to that idea.
"Our victory over Puerto Rico was q
bloodless victory. Instead OF resisting
us, it turned to this great power as a child