The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-20


Of this island Is 4ually trur. This viii
opep Up new channels Tor diEeci taxa
tion without proving burden to the
peopls and the time will not be Tar dig
S.uL when public improvements oil over
the island will be complete and q school
house established In every community te'
meath the folds of the mer IN nag.
"Nor will this bill injurs any inter-
ests in the United States. with sugar
at rs psr cent of the prt s,nt duties, tire
beet sugar industry will still grow and
prosper; 40, 900 tons year ago ana lU0,
600 tons this year. It Is destined In the
near future to supply the place OF all
we import As had occasion to say
in closing the debate on the conferences
report on the DinRley bill, with beet
sugar factory In every congressional dis
triot, 1t will solve the QUESTION OF the
sugar trust.
"Nor does the Amsrioan tobacco grow
er fear the importation Of this Loco, 600
pounds of tobacco. 1t will furnish
new market for the wrapper which he
produces and will bring him gain Instead
Of loss. We believe that the best interests
Of the people Of Porto Rico and the best
interests of the people Of the United
states are both subserved In this pill.
"But our constitutional power Is quss-
toned.
"It is now universally oonoeded that
we have the power to acquire territory
by conquest or By treaty: l lind no lin
is in the constitution to this power.
sin respect to Porto Rico we are not
hammered by treaty stipulations or ny
act Of Congress. There has been no law
extending the constitution over the ISL
and. In this 1t differs from the status ef
every formerly acquired territory. we
Nave absolute power. This was claimed
IN the debates on the Louisiana case,
ana this contention prevailed.
"But now opposition speakers say this
n Imperialism. You are but re-echoing
0he cry Of the opposition OF hnndre1
pears ago. SIN the majority moved on
Snd the American people approved the
"The territory Of Louisiana in the
plepary powers given to the President,
survived and fiourished until 1879. when
part of 1t was organized into the terri
tory Of Missouri with legislature at
that late day composed OF Legislative
counoil appointed by the President and
an assembly elected by the people. But
here again we h ed imperialism. The faith
srs wisely waited until the people wers
fit for self-govsrnment before they OF
tended the limitations and the privileges
of the constitution to them:
GAS for the people of Porto Rico.
would move as fast ss their own g0o6
will warrant. Pass this bill which ever
the gentleman from Massachusetts No
Call admits Is a well-considersd meas
ure from u6Cal btAuupOtnt anu Eivs
them better markets and abundant reve
nue.. Do not tie down their destlnies Il
the within of 90 per cent illiterats. or to
the caprice of the 10 per cent OF the edu
Dated who have known no government
except Spanish misrule. Keep them all
in leading strings until you have edu
Gated them up to the fall status OF Anne
ricln manhood and then crown then
with the glory OF American citizensip
In the meantime give them all the right
accorded to our people under the consti
sutton consistent With their bost Interests
and happiness.
"What shall We do with the Philip
pines? First, stamp out insurrection ant
restore law and order; then investigat'
and legislate with caution. always re
membsring their welfare and our own
II In the meantime the Supreme Cour
should declare that your Interpretation
Of the constitution IL right. which l d.
not for moment believe, then our tssl
will De frauQht with the greatest diff
Guilty. But / believe that American
ship will.in that event work Gu
the problem to the elevation OF the Phil
ippines and the glory of our country. L
we prove to be right In our contention
our task will be far easier. 1t will b
safe to trust the American people ant
their represen tsttves. We will teach then
the principles OF the American constitu
ton, In the meantime we will not our
selyss forgs t those principles 10 onr deal
ipss with them. Our constant aim shall
be 60 e'tvats them ana whether we In
corporate them finally into our syst NJ
or send them forth among the nations {