The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-04-14
WAS WISELY SETTLED.
Puerto Rican Tariff Adjustment Die
tated by Protection and Sound
=s.a-..- Craftsmanship. -.

policy. Empty territory such as
the United States has hitherto an
nexed required prompt incorpora-
ton and the pledge and promise of
full political rights and privileges
that this new territory might rapid
II attract and absorb population
from the States and be in its turn
admitted to the Union. This was
the problem of the past. 1t is over.
A new task is here. 1t will be
followed by others of like character.
Puerto Rico is now full of popula-
ton. Its area is densely settled.
It cannot absorb population from
the States so as to be in time,
as it equals their popu-
lation and is assimi1ated to them,
admitted among them. The pres
ent population is not ready for a
share in its political rights and
privileges. 1t must be trained and
developed. 1t is long before it will
be. Its illiteracy must disappear.
Political experience must create a
capacity for political action. A
long tutelage is before this and
other islands.
Many perils and problems must
be guarded against in this period.
There are differences of labor, of
production, of industry, of wages,
of habits and general standards of
life and of morals which must be
wisely and carefully considered step
by step. The long task will not be
done in a day. Until it is COM
p1eted Congress must keep in its
hands the same entire control which
Parliament retains over the depen-
denotes cf the British Empire.
For all concerned this. is the best
course. The risk and danger in
this country has always been too
rapid extension of political rights.
States have been admitted before
they were ready. The country at
large has too many ignorant voters.
If the work were to be done over
again an educational qualification
would undoubtedly be imposed.
Less haste would be shown in fill
ing the Union with States not ready
for Statehood, and in bringing to
the polls voters unable to read and
write, as are nine out of ten men in
Puerto Rico.
The party, the papers and the
public men opposed to our new ac-
QUESTIONS and the annexation of the
dependencies have seized on the
Puerto Rico tariff to try and lead
the house into premature incorpor-
alton. They have failed. The
tariff was only a pretext. The
needs of Puerto Rico were mere
sham. The one opportunity which
the opponents of our present policy
of expansion saw was to discredit
this policy by leading the house tc
a course and action which would
incorporate Puerto Rico in the Un
ion before either the territory OF
the population was ready for thi.
step.
Every paper which opposed ex
pansion has loudly urged Free
Trade. Those which were a yea
ago protesting against annexation
have now been loudly urging tha
annexation should be succeeded BY
incorporation. Failing to preven
annexation, they urged incorpora
ton in order to discredit the earle
step WHICH they had opposed
Every supporter of expansion ha
t supported the Porto Rican Tariff
There never was a clearer attemp
of the enemies of given policy t.
ruin its execution by supporting al
; unwise course, certain to end il
| disaster.
: This attempt has failed. Tn
: House has acted so as to retain il
| Congress full control of the futur
| government and administration O
dependencies. Narrow as the Re