Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-02-19
Nation. ward sun.rIng in suspense.

According TO the latest reports from
the island of Porto Rico, business on
the island is in Il state of stagnation
due TO the suspense and uncertainty
while the administration and congress
delay extending the proper tariff and
trade legislation. The condition of
those who compose the nations new
ward is of little concern in Washing
ton. while those in authority wait to
hear and consider what course will
best meet the welfare of the money in
terests of the country. An Associated
Press dispatch from San Juan which
has escaped the administration blue
pencil, thus relates the situation on
the island: Several of the largest
merchants of San Juan, upon being
interviewed, unanimously expressed
the opinion that immediate congress
sional action is absolutely essential to
the interests of the island. They say
that the crops are immovable, the
proposed duty, under the Foraker
bill, on sugar and tobacco, being pro-
hibitive. There are now $500. 600
pounds OF tobacco ready for ship
ment, and by August there will be
1000, 900 pounds. The best price OBJ
tainable for tobacco in New York,
under the half-doliar duty, is $3.50.
There has be, a small coffee crop.
owing To the hurricane, and sugar
cannot pay the duty imposed, the
planters holding their products and
awaiting the action of congress.
There is no money TO plant new crops
or TO pay labOrers, thousands of whom
are on the point of starvation, being
unable to obtain work. The estates
are idle and bankers refuse to advance
funds on account of the extension of
mortgages; the planters are desperate
and the people discouraged, and they
demand absolute free trade and author
itv for the island to contract loan TO
pay immediate expenses and for the
relief of the planters. The local press
expresses the opinion that the condi-
tons of the island were better during
the dark days IF the Spanish regime.
The Foraker bill would be accept 4 bic
without duty, the merchants being
willing to pay n revenue tax in lieu of
the tariff, which would relieve the
planters
The disposition of the subject of
tariff conditions with the new pos
sessions" of the nations is to involve
the entire system of the governments
relations with the islands. The ques-
tion to be determined i whether the
United States j. to make the people
whom the administration is pretend
ing to elevate TO standard of
civilization equal to our own through
domestic assimilation by bestowing
upon them the principles of govern
memt on par with our own, or wheth-
er it is TO hold them at arms length,
while it wrings from whatit is capa bic
of in dollars and cents. In other
word are the nations new wards, to lie
elevated and enlightened or are they
TO be kept Just as they have been, AS
colonies for revenue only? Are they
TO be a part of the United States hold
ing To the sacred truths that this ma
ton discovered when it threw of the
yoke OF oppression and struck the blow
for independence. that all men are Gre
ated equal. or are they to be taught by
the United States that the lofty heights
that this country has attained among
the nations of the world is through
holding to the the faith that taxation
without representation is just?