The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30

free hand for which I plead. we had bet
cry. and woe; better leave them to other
| nations having the power and the wisdom
Of events and situations
Mr.. Beveridge declared that the present
situation is for this country unprecedented
and that our action must be without ex-
ample. The decisions of the Supreme
Court are not TO the point and where an
alogy applies those decisions to he pres
ent situation they are conflicting and con-
fused. Discussing the question of p-ece-
dents. he said, THE very philosophy of
precedent demands the creation OF new
precedents out Of new occasions. Surely
we can see more clearly the situation be
fore US with our living eyes than with the
dead eyes of the fathers. and even those
dead eyes locking not at our problems, but
at theirs.
so let us admit that old decisions of
the courts cannot avail us. There are
some containing passages one way and
some containing expressions the other
way. but none of them illuminates the new
fields of thought and action which We en-
ter
Can we. therefore. unaided by judicial
decisions. find in the Constitution the free
hand needful for our new task? Have we
the discretion of our own wisdom? Are
we to have the liberty of our national
manhood? Are We to have the power of
our mission? Did the fathers, unthinking,
put period to our career as an admins
tering people and close the door of the fu-
ture- in our faces
The Constitution Quoted.
MIR. Beyeridge quoted the clause Of the
Constitution which says that Congress
hall I,-,x-
all needful rules and regulations respect
ing the territory or other property be-
longing to the United States. and said
that the power thus conferred is declared
in words so clear. SO absolute. SO unre-
stricted. and SO unusual that they have
the ring of duty and command.
'Of course" he continued, Congress
must exercise this power in the manner
prescribed in the Constitution. The Con-
stitution determines the method of con-
gressional action in exercising all of its
powers. and the Constitution fixes GER
tain fundamental general limitations to
and absolute general prohibitions on the
power Of Congress; and when Congress
makes needtul rules and regulations re-
specting territory or other property be-
longing 10 the United States II cannot
transgress these limitations or pfohibi-
in any other manner, except the che
marked out in the Constitution.
Our security. the security of our island
wards. the security of liberty, is not in
the written word of the Constitution: it
is in our institutions which are the
spirit Of the Constitution. England has
no written constitution; France has
an ideal written constitution. and yet
England has liberty and law: France has
and mi nhc
Mr.. Beveridge maintained that the free
hand does not mean a tariff IN Porto
Rico. that in fact it means free trade. |
The principle of free hand he said,
''of the liberty of our common sense of /
the discretion of our best thought, means 1
that in Porto Rico we may adopt free .
trade if that is best; in the Philippines /
4 tariff. if that is best: in Hawaii a Terri
orial form of government, il that is best,
rs the situation Of each possession and |
he welfare of its people and Of the leo
pie of the United States may suggest.
IF the American Republic. just EN-
,arked upon the grandest world career OF
Ill time, fears competition with the least
# its possessions. let us strike our colors
Is sovereign power. tack from our
curse marked out by the high inspiration
II great events. put back to the port of
leeay. go out of commission, and let the
mighty voyage on which We started be
allied by bolder hearts, loftier faiths, and
yes of clearer vision.
Il favor immediate reciprocity, and
'hall go on record as voting for amend
nents giving immediate and unrestricted
reedom of trade to our Island OF Porto
Rico. But if we III the Senate who believe
hat Porto Rico should have reciprocity at
nee are net able TO SO amend the bill here
shall, after voting for reciprocity amend
nents. vote for the civil government bill
5 modified By the committee. because We
must not deny civil government TO the
eople Of Porto Rico a moment longer.
nd because the bill as modified ensures
rec trade with Porto Rico as soon as the
iyil government of that island provides
system of taxation OF its own