The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-08
Yesterdays TEMPERATURES.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 5, 1900.
THE PUERTO RICO DILEMMA.


No subject of general national political
interest keeps the boards more steadily
than that of the system of government
which should be extended to Puerto Rico
This involves the question of duties on
the imports to other ports Of the United
States from the island, and the inclusion
explains the great public interest which
continues to be manifested in the sub
ject.
The committee of ways and means Of
the house has decided in favor of the
leyying of a uniform duty of % per cent
ad valorem on Puerto Rico products.
its report is now before the country.
The recommendation, If 1t is to be acted
on, will involve more than the rejection
of the presidents free trade scheme. 1t
will in its effect and general significance
go far toward determining the immediate
political future of the people Of the
island. 1t will mean to them that they
are to be excluded from political fra
ternity with the rest OF the people They
will find that their voluntary relinquish-
ment of the Spanish connection and
their welcome of Americans as their po-
litical saviours operate for them simply
to divest them of all political autonomy
and render them sort of floatsam and
jetsam in the great ocean of information
al life.
Why these people should thus be dena-
tionalized does not seem plain on any
ground save alone the exigencies of i'm
perialism. The form of government
which Secretary Root has outlined as
adapted to the needs of the Puerto Rican
people is in all essentials the same as the
American territorial system. 1t pro-
vides for the appointment of a
secretary of state. attorney general and
auditor by the president with the adj
vice and consent of the senate, the ap.
pointment of a judiciary on the same
lines, the creation Of local system of
government by the election of municipal
officers by the people, subject to their
removal by the governor. This is ID
principle the American territorial system.
Why make such unimportant changes as
prevents it from being identical with our
system? The answer is suggested
able The imperialist administration is
not prepared to avow its policy in the
Philippines in the last event. 1t desires
to be able to back out of a very difficult
position, should public opinion make it
too hot for occupancy. Hence the sys-
tenn of political and governmental petit
Jogging which prevails.
Gov. Gen. Davis, like his predecessor,
is very evidently convinced that Puerto
Rico should be made an integral part OF
our political system He adopts the plan
go further. He would authorize the ex-
listing government to confer franchises
and privileges which would lead to the
development Of the resources Of the
island and he declares unequivocally for
free trade. Free trade with the home
government says the governor general
II regard as necessity for Puerto Rico
and there is no reason to believe that II
will be at all detrimental to the United
States to remove the duties. and it will
make an immense difference to these
people"
The efforts which are being made by
the ultra protectionist faction of the i'm.
perialists to prevent the extension of fret
trade to the new possessions" will prob.
ably succeed The report of the ways
and means committee makes this plain
They are none the less poorly sustained
by argument and hostile to the people
directly affected.