The evening times., 1900-03-29
THURSDAY, MARCH %. 1890.
Henderson on Himself.


Speaker Henderson is regarded as a re-
markably able man and politician by all
those who admire and respect him; but after
his latest performance his most insane
adHlator will hardly venture TO point him
out as a genius in the art of letter writing.
He has made the egregious mistake of TAX
ing his pen in hand to defend his COM
pIicity with the Porto Rican crime.
Offences which can neither be iusti-
fled. palliated nor in any manner explained,
should never be made subjects of written
communications: but Mr.. Henderson ap-
pears to be obliyious of the fact.
The letter TO which We refer is devoted
10 an attempt to convince the public
that the Payne Porto Rican infamy is a
measure of justice and mercy which would
have been in blissful operation long ago IL
il had not been antagonized by the trusts.
These hideous creations Of demoniacal
greed. he asserts. want Porto Rican sU-
gar, tobacco. and rum to roll over our
American mainland like an avalanche OF
degrading luxury. destroying the cabbage
gardens of Connecticut. the humble beet
patches of Nebraska and the little Medford
rum stills of Massachusetts. al one fell
swo0p.
We observe with much interest that
there are several things in support Of his
humorous explanation whi1h Mr.. Hender-
son could say, but does not. He is silent
about the Presidents original view Of our
plain duty" toward Porto Rico. and Secre-
tary Roots plea for the islanders.
He does not even mention the
minor fact hat he. as well as Mr.. McKin
lev. Mr. Payne and other Administration
leaders. was openly and avowedly for free
trade and respect for the Constitution.
until Oxuard. Myrick and other trust at
torneys and lobbyists fell upon the Iusular
and Ways and Means Committees CT the
House. and boldly demanded a change Of
front. and the continued oppression and
persecution of Porto Rico in the interests
OF their proprietors.
To put the matter plainly. Mr. Henderson
makes a ridiculous spectacle Of himself
when he attempts TO convince anyone that
the trusts are for free trade with Porto
Rico Such a proposition negatives itself
and is unworthy Of discussion. He knows.
and ought to realize that the country
knows. that il was at the command OF the
oil. sugar. tobacco and rum trusts that the
President publicly ate the honest words OF
his annual message and stutided himself
and the Hendersons Paynes, and Dalzells
OF the House OF Representatives tumbled
over each other in their haste to get back
into the good graces OF their industrial
patrons and masters.
The individual who, in part. occupies the
chair vacated by the man who tied down
and csponized the popular branch of our
National Legislature. might write letters
until he wore out battery Of JyDewriters
and produce less effect per ream Of them
than Senator Davis Of his own party did
yesterday when. in a few sentences he ez-
posed the hypocrisy and peridy of the
Administration in its attitude toward Porto
Rico Senator Davis called attention to
the fact that 3 reciprocity treaty had been
negotiated with the British West Indies,
giving those foreign islands free trade in a
whole schedule of commodities upon which
it is sought to make our own American
territory of Porto Rico pay customs duties
Perhaps Mr.. Henderson will write another
letter to explain that,
We are greatly edited to observe that
the more fragrant the intended Porto Rican
crime is shown to be, the more persistent
the Administration and its cOparceners are
that it shall be perpetrated. They do not
explain why, largely because there is but
a single explanation and they do not con-
slider it prudent to give that although one
prominent House Republican has been
frank enough to make confession of the
truth. However. admissions or confessions
are unnecessary to shed light upon a mat
ter which is as plain as a pikestaff with
out any such Illumination. Mr. Hanna
may denounce the author Of the disclosure
and defy the late Lindley Murray in one
breath and his lieutenants at the other
end OF the Capitol may swear themselves
black in the face that there is no Doodle"
In the Payne iniquity; but that win never
convince the American people that it is
not strictly based upon a deal in behalf
and for the sole benefit of the Republican
campaign fund.