The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-07
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, March D Two viola
tons of :he constitution 10 q single
week is the record Of the republican
majority 10 the house-a record that
should drive the republican party frcni
power Il does not mitigate the cfiense
against constitutional government that
Que o: these violations should haze
been az attempt to partially right tie
wrong c3umirted 10 the other. y
rightfu: thiog wrongly done is often as
bad or worse thar wrong When the
republican majority. driven By tie
party whip. passed the bill levyiog
Is per cent duly on the products of
Porto Rico for period OF two years,
grievous wrong was inflated unco the
Porto Rcans and the constitution OF
the Uoi.ed States was violated. Later,
when the republicans became alarmed
at the vigorous protests from all sections
Of all the country against the proposed
robbery Of the helpless Porto R'caos,
they again violated the Cons'ifuton oy
doing thing right in principle ip the
wrong way. passing a bill placing more
tnau 81 100000 already in :he Trea-
surv. aud all future collections ucdeF
Diugley duties under Porto Ricso pro-
ducts. at the disposal Of the President.
to be expended uoder his discretion
70. the benefit Of Porto Rico. It is
perfectly right thai every dollar OF ssls
money should be speot for the benefit
of Porto Rico. but, as Representative
Bailey so forcib!5 pointed out. IL tis
everiastipgly wrong, 60 ,uro over 10 the
discretion of one man money 10 toe
Treasury of tt, U. S, When the Con-
s,itution expressly gives the r'gos to
dispose Of money in the Treasury 20
Congress. aud cot to the Executive
But good mag come oat of evil. These
thiogs serve to accen,ua,e 10 the minds
Of the people the attitude Of the two
great political parties towards the
Constitution, TO make plain that there
is only ore Constitutional party aud
that is the democratic party.
Senator Jones, OF Arkansas, said of
the attitude of the democratic seniors
toward the Porto Rico bill: ''The
dem ocrats accept the issues tendere5 by
the republicans. Porto Rico tas been
annexed to the U s. Il is an atcgral
part Of the country Toe dag pro-
claims our eovereisn:y there. aud the
Constitution follows the flag. Toe
republican position that We cao enact
Discriminating !eeislssion against the
Porto R!cans acd Porto Rcan products
is mons;rous We will fgh' 1t be-
fore the people from aow until the bal
lots are cast 10 November. "
Senator Stewart, who has been
COUNTED as couuteoapcer if cot ao
actual supporter of Imperialism, said 10
a speech against the Porto Rico tariff
"I don't want apy territory 10 which
the constitution does aot follow the
fag. We canoot discriminate against
apy section Of their own country II
our principles of free governueat are
not broad enough to cover any terri
tory uuder the asg, theo We wcula
briug back the dsg .
Ios.ead OF avoiding the collision OF
imperialism and protection, as tie
republicans who fashered it intended
the Porto Rico tariff bill seen likely to
precipita.o tee collision, ADD the repub-
licaos to be called 90 to say whether
,hc country shall give up tee Philip
pipes or the protective tariff Ii the
supreme court decides. as many believe
it will. that all territory Owned By the
Uoited States is coostitu'!oualIy speak
iog, part of the United Safes, the
choice will have to be speedily made
and Senator Foraker has openly said 90
the floor Of the senate, that be would
favor giving up tho Philippines.
Junk ketipg is catching Secretary
Root. accompanied by three members
of his family is officially juoke'los 10
Cubap waters. aboard government
transport Secretary Long is arranging
to take the house naval committee to
Newport News, 90 q government vessel,
and there is talk of a congressional
iuokeeiog party to Porto Rico, made up
of the Joint house aud senate committee
aud their families
There seems to be trouble ahead for
the administration bill providing thai
the adjutaut general of the army sAali
bave the rank of major general. The
senate bas adopted resolution. offered
by Sepator Pettisrew, directing the
secretary of war TO sepd 70 the senate
the record of the court martial OF Ger
Corbin, who was theu Lieutenant
colonel. during the civil war, aud
copy of report made about tue same
time by Colooel Thomas j. Morgan,
relating TO the first colored brigade, and