New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-20

prosperity. IT means hope instead of despair; IL
who will be stimulated by the prosperity OF their
nelghbors TO restore their own broken fortunes, Som
year 10 year there can be no doubt that II VIII re to
me people Of this island is equally true This VIII
proving a burden to the people and the time win
not be FAR distant when public improvements an
established IN every community beneath the folds
Nor viii this bin injure any interests in the
United States Win sugar at 2 per cent OF me
grow and prosper: forty thousand tons year ago
est,neS ;p tbe naaT f.f,1ra o0 s'1n1 s nioe ~
all we import. As had occasion to say in closing
bin, with beet sugar factory in every Congress
district it viii solve the question of the Sugar
Nor does the American tobacco grower. fear the
i will furnish new market for the wrapper which
he produces and viii Sring him gain instead Of loss
Puerto Rice and the best interests of the people OF
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION DISCUSSED.
But our constitutional power is questioned ! DO
OF the Supreme Court or any decision bearing on
directly involved or which is decisive II is now
no t IN tbe to or tb ~ hqo
speet TO Puerto Rico we are not hampered bv
treaty s5tpua ;5 or By act OF Congress There
the island In this it differs from the status OF
ae This Claimed in the e d nass a On
me L09sians case and This e4ntenton prevailed
Be e and long line OF statesmen and jurists.
You are but reechoing the cry Of the opposltion az
hundred years ago. Still the majority moved on
The Territory OF Louisiana in the plenafy powers
siysn ,s to the President survived and hourshed
Territory OF Missouri, with Legislature at that
pointed by the President and an Assembly elected
by the people Here again, We had Imperialism,
2. for self-goyernment before they extended the
Territory
Florida Only a year and half ago Congress by
vote in the Senate annexed Hawaii by act
Inc DEBATE was strong and furious. but. according
10 my recollection, no gentleman in the opposition
in which Congress asserted the right is absolute
Power p 70 Rroyioe any sort OF en- i4r ms
Congress, representing the American people, is
the hands of any people of the territory belonging
As for the people Of Puerto Rico would move
as fast as their own good will will warrant. Pass
sefss Chr Mccain admits is a well considered
measure from fiscal standpoint. and give them
down their destinies to the whim of 90 per cent il
educated who have known no government except
Spanish r1isrule. Keep them all in leading strings
until you have educated them up to the full stature
Of American manhood. and then crown them with
the glory Of American citizenship. In the mean
time give them all the rights accorded to our own
best interests and happiness.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE PHILIPPINES.
What shall We do with the Philippines? First
stamp out insurrection and restore law and order;
then 1Tesafe tea and sgate with r a IN aSS
time the Supreme Court should declare that
which I do not for a moment believe then our task
VIII be fraught with the greatest diifcui1y- But l
believe that American statemanshp WI. IN mat nat
work out the problem to the elevation OF the
be right in contention. our task will be far
easier Il win be safe to trust the American ta ae people
principles of the American Constitution In the
cIpies in our dealings with them our constant aim
shall be to elevate them and whether we irSor
forth among the nations of the world. we VIII
ever our flag goes up it shall not come down with
out having first guaranteed under It's fods , me
egn citizenship.
Mr. Payne spoke for an hour and half. The
Republicans appauded him when he finished
MR.. RICHARDSON IN OPPOSITION.
Mr. Richardson, the minority leader. made the
opening speech in opposition to the bill. He spoke
in part as follows:
am not an aIarmst. but in my judgment
the pending bill is more dangerous TO the nb-
critics OF the people Of this Republic than any
can Congress. It will prove more far-reaching in
its provisions and disastrous in the results that
must Of necessity follow II 1t shonld De ehacteo
into law than any act ever passed py congress 9t
These statements are broad l CONFESS, Out ma +S
result of my best and most deliberate judgment
ton that Congress enters upon the government OF
Puerto Rico unrestrained by the provisions OF the
oppose this measure, believe. without exception
maintain the bill cannot be enacted into law
without a total disregard and violation Of not
simply the spirit but the express letter of the Con-
etftiIticn The Louisiana Territory, Florida Texas,
California Mexico, Oregon and Alaska, have
all been acquired under Constitution without
provisions and without any demand for its amend
merit Every foot of this vast domain was acquired
and annexed under Democratic Presidents
The Democratic party has always favored propen
not basing opposition to it the ground that
it is a measure for expansion. This is not meas
ure O expansion. Whether the Constitution OF the
United States is extended TO the island Of Puerto
Rico e proprio vigore not it must be admitted
that when we enter upon legislation for the ISL
and, Congress will do If 1t passes this bill, that
question Will be put at rest and the territory will
then be part Of US.
and will have been completed. Legislation by Con-
gress for the island at once makes 1t part Of the
United States. If this bill 1t must follow
that It is then part Of the United States.
DEMOCRATS CALL TT IMPERIALISM
This being true the proposition which this bill
ton of the United States is the baldest form Of
imperialism. The opposition to this bin plants
ism itself. In the former acquisitions which
have referred such measure as the pending one
ever proposed deemed necessary. This eff
tort therefore, clearly marks the dividing line be-
tween all former acquisitions and that of Puerto
Rico, If IL be conceded that the enactment of the
proposed bill into law is required.
Can not, in conformity former rules and
regulations and laws which controlled US in
nexatons Of territory do so now without violating
mind, is strong. and perhaps unanswerable, that
such annexations should not be made They will
cost US more IL this be necessary than they can
This is tax measure. The power to tax is the
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