The true northerner., 1900-04-18
The Party'S Judgment.

The following from the Detroit Jour
nal is a very fair view to take of the
Puerto Rican law, and a consideration of
its provisions along that line would do
much 10 stop the severe criticism that
has been in progress ever since the
measure was proposed. Time alone can
prove the wisdom or folly of the law, and
if in practical use it is proven wrong,
the public can safely rely upon the re-
publican party to rectify it. The Jour
nal says:
President Mckinley has signed the
Puerto Rican revenue bill and it is now
law. The first thing done to put it in
force was to name a civil governor for
the island the choice falling on Charles
III. Allen assistant secretary of the navy.
He will 90 to Puerto Rico as soon as he
can to establish civil government there
in pursuance of the provisions OF the
law. This decisive action will silence
criticism of the delay that has prevailed
for nearly two years, since the action
was taken almost as soon as congress had
acted.
In his new office it will be the duty Of
Mr. 4 lien to organize with cautious dis
patch the government that has been
provided for the Puerto RcanS. That
may consume six months or years
time. When the government is estab-
lished, and system of local taxation,
satisfactory to the people, has been pro
vided, that part of the revenue act which
provides for taxation of merchandise at
ports of entry will be nullitied, and
Puerto Rico will enjoy unrestricted trade
with this country, and our plain duty"
will have been performed without de-
grading the people of Puerto Rico into
beggars.
The emergency measure which has
caused such howl to be made is not a
radical measure, nor does it subvert any
of the principles of our government 1t
is simple agency for collecting neces-
sary revenues. Instead of taxing the
peasants of Puerto Rico on their shacks
and lands and necessities of life, this bill
taxes the merchandise of the rich. Iu-
stead of collecting a poll tax, or per
capita tax, from the distressed and starv
ing inhabitants of the island, this bill
provides that the necessities of life, med
icines, agricultural implements, etc. shall
be admitted to the island free of charge
and that the raw material that is con-
sumed by American trusts, sugar and
tobacco, shall pay duties for the benefit
of Puerto Rico alone.
Where is the offending of this legis-
lation? OF what does 1T deprive the
natives of Puerto Rico? Whom does it
tax? Wherein is its injustice? Not an
answer is heard. The cry is that it is
unconstitutional. That the congress has
no right under the constitution to im-
pose taxes that are not uniform. This
cry is made Notwithstanding few days
ago, by vote of ~ to q, the senate de-
clared that the constitution does not
follow the flag" The constitution, ac-
cording to the judgment of the senate
follows the flag when it is sent by con-
gressional order and not by its own force.
The constitution does not extend to
Puerto Rico yet and will not extend
until the congress extends it. When it
does extend there the inhabitants of
Puerto Rico will be American citizens
and entitled to representation in con-
gress.
| Perhaps the senate was in error. The
supreme court of the United States alone
may determine that. In the meanwhile
it was necessary to do something for
Puerto Rico. The republicans in con-
gress decided to do it fairly, equitably
and conscientiously. They may have
been mistaken. Experience may prove
that it was unwise to impose an almost
inappreciable tax on the people of this
country and Puerto Rico for the sole
benefit of the Puerto Ricans. If that
shall be the lesson, the republican party
will accept it and devise another means
for the relief of the distressed.
The judgment of William Mckinley
and of the majority of the party has been
exercised, and it is the duty as it should
be the choice of every real republican to
uphold and defend the law against the
assaults of free traders and socalled
anti-imperialists. 1t took four years of
suffering and despair to vindicate the
judgment of the party in the Mckinley
law of 1890. 1t ought not to take four
DAYS to vindicate the judgment of the
party in the Puerto Rican revenue law
of 1900.
I