The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-03

Rico at price which included the du-
ties Of the DIngley bill and stIll left
a large profit for the purchaser. Every
concession made from the Dlngley tariff
e ;hat muck Inofp clear praat, 70; e
the producer or to the laborer, or to the
citizens OF Puerto Rico, but to these
purchasers Of their products. SO by
this act we are. out OF tha hundred per
cent of the additional profit which the
sugar and tobacco trust would receive
under free trade. taking fifteen per cent
for the people OF Puerto Rico, and leav-
ing the purchasers eighty-dve per cent
for their own income. The only differ
ence between tbs original recommended
ton of the President Of the United
States and the action of the house Of
representatives and of the senate COM
mlttee is in the method by which the
people OF Puerto Rico can receive the
whole of the revenue from the tariff.
The Presidents recommendation OF
free trade was made In order that Pu-
erto Rirans might have the use OF these
duties in Puerto Rico by not having to
pay them-that is, by keeping the money
for public purposes in the island. The
proposition of the house Of represent
atives and Of this committee is that
those duties shall be collected and re-
turned to the people of Puerto Rico,
because 1t is the only way by which
the people Of the island will get dollar
OF benefit from them.
Then who pays this tariff. and who
gets the benefit OF It? For the first
time in the history Of Puerto Rico, 1t is
paid by those who make money out of
her, by those who are enriched by her
toll; by those who nre far removed
from the ignorance and the suffering
and the squolor OF her population. The
tariff money taken from them goes
really to the people of Puerto Rico who
never before received any benefit.
Under this bill the tariff lasts only
two years, and may be ended by the
Puerto Rican legislature at any time.
II is a tentative measure: It is wholly
for the benefit of the people OF Puerto
Rico; its proceeds are used for no
other purpose than to improve their
conditions and enlarge their opportuni
ties. Congress Is always IN session and
two years will be an object lesson in the
experiment of caring for and governing
the Puerto Ricans.
It is the Peoples Law.
This bill is the peoples law. It re-
strlcts, as far as can be done, the power
Of trusts or combinations or concentra-
ton Of Industries. 1t puts upon the
free list these products going from the
United States into Puerto Rico-the
food product from the American farmer
80 that the American farmer has this
market free against the agriculture OF
other countries, whose imports must
pay Dingley tariff rates, It gives to
the Puerto RIcans the fullest oppor.
tunlty for cheap food. Agricultural
Implements, which are so necessary for
the resurrection OF island cultivation.
and the adoption OF modern machin-
cry to aid in lower cost and larger
crops, are free. Rough lumber for
mills, coopers materials for sugar, mos
lassps and tobacco and bags for coffee,
are free.
The opositicn to this bill is the result
of the usual tactical operations for ad-
vantageou; positions in n presidential
year. The Calhoun theory Of the con-
stitution and the century-old fight OF
free trade to destroy protection have
made n united and desperate charge
upon the policy and provisions of this
measure.
The Republican party stands upon
the action of Jefferson. Monroe, Jack
son, Polk, Pierce and Seward. that Con-
gress has the power TO govern these
acquisitions subject only to the pro-
hlbltlons OF the constitution.
Not States of Our Union.
Puerto Rico. Hawaii. Guam, Tutulla
and the Philippines are to be held and
governed by the United States with an
Imperative duty on our part to their
inhabitants for their civilization. the
announcement Of enterprises which
will utilize their resources. and for their
constantly increasing participation In
their local and general governments,
ana also LOT l0elT una our CuIlHleINiAl
progress and growth. do not believe
that we Will incorporate the allen races.
and civilized. seml-clvlllzed. barbarous
and savage peoples OF these islands
into our body polite as states of our
union.
order. law. Justice and liberty will
stimulate and develop our new posses
slon,. Their Inhabitants wifi grow with
responsibilities Of governing themselves
constantly increasing with their intel
| llgence Into conditions OF prosperity
and happiness beyond their widest
dreams OF the results Of that self gov
eminent they now so vaguely under
stand, while the United States. in the
/ increasing demand for tho surplus of
our farms and factories In Puerto Rico,
Hawaii and the Philippines, and in the
tremendous advantages Of position
| from Manila for reaching the llmitless
/ markets OF the orient, can view with
out apprehension and with hopeful
pride the Inevitable expansion OF our
population and productions.
! -o
A LAZY liver makes a lazy man.
] 1 L.. a..