Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-22
ifs To Puerto Rico.

The case is very simple one The
president made his recommendation
last December to give Puerto Rico't
| products free access to our market:
because he believed it was right and
best, considering the condition of thai
island, and not because it was re
quired by the constitution. He ha.
not changed that view II that were
the sole principle involved, says tn,
New York Mail and Press, we are
authorized to say, he would insist
upon it though he stood alone. Since
his recommendation however, an.
other principle has been invoked in
volying the most vital questions con
nectei with the whole matter Of our
new territorial possessions. The
president believes that congress has
the constitutional power to levy du-
ties upon the products of the new
territorial acquisitions.
This is denied, especially by demo
Gratis II they can prevent its asser-
ton: still more, if they can have such
action by congress as denies its exist
ence, then they can go to the country
with the argument that the admins
tration has, by its policy. acquired
new populations untitled for state
hood yet calming the rights of full
citizenship and the right to inundate
our markets With their products free
from customs duty. thus impairing
the value Of our own labor by compe-
tition with the cheapest labor in the
world
The question, therefore, is not be-
tween a principle and an expediency.
1t IS question between two primer
ples,-one OF them fundamental. 1t is
between asserting one Of them in the
interest Of Puerto Rico alone. OF the
other IN the interest of the whole
country now and hereafter. In the
latter case any departure from the
right constitutional principle cannot
be rectilied, and the damage done
will be irremediable. Not single
step. once taken, can beietraced. In
the former case it will work no injury
to the interests of Puerto Rico.
That island is today without revenue
and the people are suffering II has
no government except military one.
1t will be some time before any ma
chinery for raising revenue can be
put in operation. Meanwhile Puerto
Rico must be taken care Of and en-
abled as rapidly as possible to furnish
the revenues for its own expenses.
BY The bill which the House has
passed il Is relieved from every other
form Of tax except this ) per cent Of
the existing tariff laid upon its prod
ucts coming into the United States
and the products OF the United States
Puerto Rican ports Every
dollar OF This is turned back TO its
own use. The measure is for revenue
and only temporary at that, aud can
be followed by free trade as soon is
the great principle which recognizes
the power Of congress to legislate for
these new territories Is indicated.
Fhe necessity of this Interpretation OF
the constitution, after the debate in
the House, is paramount ami is con-
sidered important to eur success in
the Philippines.
The principle Of free trade recon-
mcnded for Puerto Rico and which
the president evidently hopes il due
time to see prevail, has, therefore,
yielded only for the time being to a
more important principle The ne
cessity Of the case and the honest diff
ference OF opinion which led to the
new issue are frankly recognized
The president appreciates that he
must 70 9 large extent rely upon his
own party il the administration Of
public affairs. He is bound to weigh
against any personal triumph the de-
moralization and disorganizltion Of
his party in the legislative branch Of
the government, upon which he must
depend No greater calamity could
happen than to have his party major
ity fall down on the very threshold Of
their consideration Of these island
questions Cnder these circumstance
es the president did what he thought
was right and we believe that time
will vindicate the wisdom Of his
course.