The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-23
1T WILL NOT BE DISASTROUS.
PORTO RICAN CONTROVERSY AND
REPUBLICAN PARTY.

senator CuIIOm Thinks the Party In
Power VIII Pull Trough All Right.
Declares There Is Not So Much Bit
ter Feeling Among the Republic
cans, and That the Question VIII
lie Strnightened Out-RepubIicans
Feel the Responsibility.
Washington, March Ex-senator Cu1iom,
who is one of the veteran members OF
the Senatorial Steering Committee and
regarded as one of the most practical pol
iticians Of that body, says the political
effect Of the present controversy over
the Porto Rican question is not likely to
prove disastrous TO the Republican party.
I'VE are Obliged to proceed slowly and
cautiously in forming our colonial pol
Icy said the Senator. "and / have no
doubt that after due elaboration will get
together on the practical proposition
which will commend Itself to all fair
minded people To be perfectly frank
with you" added the Senator. ut is not
the Porto Rican question that is troub-
ling us, for that Is practically a simple
matter and might be adjusted without Sc
rious complications. A dangerous ques-
ton underlying the Porto Rican matter
is the Philippine question. How 10 deal
with the latter is the problem that is
causing us the most anxiety We cannot
afford to rush headlong into the estdb-
lishment of a precedent in the Porto
Rican case which may be turned against
us when we come to deal with the Phil
ippines. There are so many doubts and
conflicting opinions involved in a salts
factory adjustment of the Philippine
policy that the Republican party cannot
afford on the eve of "a presidential cleo
ton to act hastily and take a position
from which 1t may have to retreat before
the result of the next presidential cleo
ton is declared.
Not So Much Bitter Feeling.
There is not the bitter feeling in the
Republican ranks that many people i'm
agine. AS matter of fact, while there
is an honest difference Of opinion within
the party ranks, the main object in view
is to reach a result that will reflect credit
upon the present administration and pro-
mote the success of the Republican party
at the polls. We have had serious differ
ences of opinion on great national ques-
tons before, and we have always man
aged to reach a satisfactory compromise
in the interest of party harmony and sue
dess. There is no necessity for undue
haste in determining either the PortoNRi-
can or the Philippine policy. To many OF
us the problem of dealing with colonial
possessions or dependencies is entirely
new. and I regard it as an act of wisdom
to pause and well consider the step we
are about to take, so that when we de-
eide to go forward in the establishment OF
our colonial policy we may be sure of our
ground, and not lay ourselves liable to
criticism by our political opponents for
premature or unjudicious action.
I'VE expect the Democrats TO antagonize
any position we may take either in Porto
Rico or the Philippines. That is to be ex-
pected in the game of politics. We're the
parties reversed, we would i'm all proba-
bity condemn any policy our political OPP
ponents might propose. In a national po-
lilical contest false accusation and mis-
statements of facts bearing upon the is
sues Of a campaign are commonly expect
ed as permissible. 1t Is done on both sides
of the political fence and Is not regarded
as an unforgivable sin by either party
Must Make Haste slowly.
The Republicans appreciate this fact
that they are responsible for whatever poll
lev we may determine upon for the gov
eminent of Porto Rico and the Philippines,
and therefore 1t behooves us to consider
carefully all the circumstances involved
with a view to final settling upon prac-
teal business-lke policy which win not
only commend itself to the intelligent and
fair-minded people of the world. but
which will be able 10 Withstand the hostile
criticism OF our political opponents. Fob
this reason ] believe that the Republican
senators have acted wisely in deciding 10
further consider the Porto Rican question
before committing themselves to any OF
the measures on this subject now pending
before Congress.
personally. / hold that Porto Rico Is
a part Of the United States and should be
dealth with just the same as we wond
deal with any other territorial possession
| am unable to see any justification in
imposing a duty on exports or imports
between Porto Rico and the United States
/ realize, however, that many of my as
socates entertain different views on The
subject therefore ] believe more satisfac-
tory results will be reached by mature
consideration of these new questions
which have been forced upon US as the
outcome of the Spanish War"