The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-21
PROPERTY OR A PART OF US?
CONTINUED from First Page)

account of political conditions and the
doctrines upon which the bill was found
ed.
He said that the Republican party was
sponsor for gONernme by injunction in
the United States, and that they now
proposed a new doctrine-goVer
without the constitution He said that if
Congress should govern the territories and
new posse ssions without the constitution
al limitations it would create a congress
sional despotism precisely similar to that
claimed by Great Britain at the time Of
the Revolutionary war. that the power
claimed to enact this hill is precisely the
power that was claimed by the British
Parliament for the enactment of the
stamp act. lie said:
every person who votes for the bill
announces himself follower of George
Ill"
He argued the injustice of Congress fix
ing the terms upon which the Porto Ri
cans should sell their goods in this coun-
try. and at the same time the terms urol
which they must purchase from this coun-
try. This power, he said, had been, and
always would be, abused. The intention
of this bill he asserted, was to force all
of the leaf tobacco to be exported here for
manufacture and thereby paralyZe the
manufacturing industries of the island. He
then argued the injustice OF permitting the
10000 tons of sugar in Hawaii 10 te dd-
mitted free of duty, while at the same
time the bill imposes heavy custom duty
upon the coco tons of sugar from Porto
Rico that the difference i'm this treatment
resulted from the fact that the sugar in
terest of Hawaii was owned by a few
millionaires. while that of Porto Rico was
owned by several thousand small farm
ers.
Would Increase Revolution.
He said that the present bill, denying as
81 does to the inhabitants Of all terri
tories and new possessions any of the
rights of citizens and imposing heavy pen
alties on them, would have a tendency to
give new life to the insurrection in thePhil-
lippine Islands and make the Inhabitants
have little faith in receiving justice from
this country. He argued decisions of the
Supreme Court that the constitution ex-
tended TO all territory and that there must
be everywhere uniformity in custom duties
and taxes
The wisdom of this Interpretation was
then discussed. he maintaining that none
of The restrictions of the constitution
could be a curse to Porto Rico or to the
Philippine Islands; that those who up
held this new doctrine did so because
they knew that the equality ana justice
of the constitution would prohibit them
from exploiting the new possessions for
their own selfish ends.
He argued That If This new doctrine pre-
walled there could be no expansion for no
people would willingly unite with us when
they were tod that they We're 10 be abso-
lutte chatteis OF congressional despotism.
He discussed at length the turmoil and
discomfort that would arise if Congress
created a difference in the taxes, the tar
ifs and custom duties in the various pos
sessions.
In closing, he sold;
THE passage Of the pending bill will
end the story of the republic and open
the history of the empire. 1t destroys
constitutional government and creates
congressional despOnsm"
Mr.. Hepburn again sought an agreement
to consider the canal bin March 6. Mr..
Payne of New York objected.
The House at O'Clock adjourned.