Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-02

United States at large profit after the
duties were paid. In the bill which we
have been the subject of b much abuse a and
with whom we haveIbeen charged with be-
ing alheo; we nave @venithem back to the
houses. for their roads;-for the relief Of
their starving. and for the employment
, Whl' Of T shs s snS in re poper ad'nnistr
Under this bill this tariff lasts only two
Years. and may be ended by the Porto
Rican legislature at an, time. 1t is a ten
of the people of Porto Rico; it's proceeds
prove their conditishs snd enlarge lar; Il their .
opportunities. Congress is always In ses-
in the experiment of caring for and gov
erning the Porto Ricahs.
Popular Opposition.
1.-The history Of remedial legislation pre-
sents no example of baseless excitement
like that which prevails over this measure
in certain parts OF the United States.
The iocaiization of the storm is unprece-
denied. 1t has great volume and force in
one state, with little evidence Of 1t In the
adjoining commonwealth. A northwestern
state may have the fever while the middle
states and New England are normal. In
every instance in the contests Of parties
where principle was at issue the senti-
ment of the party in one state has been
equally pronounced In every state. This
phenomenal localization of interest COM
pels the conclusion that a mere matter of
providing means for carrying on govern
ment and relieving distress has been exag-
gerated into an acute struggle over furda-
! mental principle of right, or morals, or
both.
In Behalf of the People.
''This bill is the peoples law. 1t restricts,
as far as can be doneI the power of trusts
or combinations or concentration of indus
tries. 1t puts upon the free list these prod-
ucts going from the United States into
Porto Rtco-the food products from the
American farmer-so that the American
farmer has this market free as against the
agriculture OF other Countries whose inn
ports must pay Dingley tariff rates, It
gives to the Porto Ricans the fullest OPP
portunltY FOR cheap food. Agricultural i'm
plements. which are so necessary for the
resurrection of island cultivation, and the
adoption OF modern machinery to aid in
1 B cost ana larger crops, are free.
Rough lumber for mills. coopers' materials
for sugar, molasses and tobacco and bags
for coffee, are free.
Carriages to cheaper transportation and
trees and plants to give variety in croDs by
raising large and small fruits, for which
the island is peculiarly adapted. are free
as are all drugs which are used in the ma
| larial diseases of tropical countries. In a
Word, every product OF the farm or factory
In the United States which will help Porto
Rico, enable her to rise triumphant from
her ruins and give remunerative use for
capital and employment and wages to her
people,. are on the free list The luxuries
consumed by the prosperous are. as they
| ought to be, taxed for the support of the
government.
But this is not ALL. The whole question
OF taxation is RENTED by this bill to the
people and government of Porto Rico. Here
is the charter of Porto Rican self-govern-
ment. 1t is the spear which punctures the
md cxXy1H -i,tr Ioy off
preston and violations of the Constitution
and declaration of Independence SO labor
icusly blown out and expanded in the past
few weeks. While standing on the col
lapsed canvas. and viewing it's tragic mot
toes listen to the plain and passionless
words of this pill:
Porto Rico's Opportunity.
"'Section 9-And whenever the Iegisla-
tive assembly of Porto Rico shall have en-
acted and put into operation system of
local taxation to meet the necessities of
the government of Porto Rico by this act
established, and shall by resolution duly
passed so notify the President, he shall
| make proclamation thereof, and thereupon
all tariff duties on merchandise and ar
ticles going into Porto Rico from the United
States or coming into the United States
from Porto Rico shall cease, and from and
after such date all such merchandise and
articles shall be entered at the several ports
of entry free of duty: and in no event shall
any such duties be collected after the 1st
day of March. 1902
I'm a word what is all this contention
about? What Is the apple Of discord which
is flashing some friends to fury? The Presi-
dent proposed free trade, and this bill gives
free trade in all the necessaries of life, in
all implements and manufactures required
for the resuscitation. development and
working of Industries and a tariff amount
ing on the average. to per cen; upon their
market value on other products.
1.-The tariff comes off by operation of law
in two years. and as much sooner the
people of the island. through their own
legislature, decide to abolish il. because
they can raise the revenues necessary for
the support of their government. their roads
and their schools, and for their general well
fare by direct taxation.
Position of Parties.
1.-The opposition to this bill is the result
of the usual tactical operations for advan-
tageous positions in presidential year.
The Calhoun theory Of the Constitution and
the centuryold fight Of free trade to de-
strOy protection have made united and
desperate charge upon the policy and pro-
visions of this measure. The democratic
position in regard to our island territories
is clearly defined. They will claim that the
moment any territory becomes the property
OF the United States by conquest, purchase,
ceSson or discovery, 1t is under our Con-
stitution and laws: that its people and
nave the Same anu ell
titled to the same freedom of movement all
over the United States as the people and
products of any state in the Union; that
statehood must speedily come and cannot
be denied: that this would break down
every protective barrier against pauper Ia
Dor and admit free into our ports the things
produced by people working in our tropical
possessions for a few cents day and
would degrade our citizenship, and, there
fore if they get in power they will at once
abandon these Islands.
THE republican party stands upon the
action of Jefferson, Monroe, jackson, Polk.
Pierce and Seward. that Congress has the
power to govern these acquisitions subject
only to the prohibitions of the Constitu-
ton.
jackson as Governor of Florida.
Il recall for the consideration and adj
monition of my democratic friends that
story of General Jackson's governorship of
Florida, to which he appointed by
President Monroe, under the act of Congress
of March ), 1921, providing that all mill
tary, civil and judicial powers shall be
vested in such person and persons and
shall be exercised in such manner as the
~ 1,..h