St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-03-07

not reach them, and this is the only
practical way of doingso.
vi course you can see that all these
gentlemen want free trade, that they
may save this $500,OOO. And YOU can
easily understand that with this $500.
OoO at stake these Puerto Rican sugar
men could readily organize the noisy
campaign against this bill to which the
house and the country is being treated.
But the sugar men are not alone. The
tobacco men, who will pay a consider
able amount of this tax, are with them,
and together they make quite crowd
and quite noise. One thing, however,
should be kept in mind, viz that these
men are abundantly able to pay this tax,
and that it is really small contribution
TOR the protection Of their property.
But the constitution expounders of the
House say that great principle is at
stake. Some claim that the constitution
extends over Puerto Rico, and that we
must treat the people there in every way
just as the people Of the states are
treated. Others claim that the constitu.
ton does not extend over the territories
and that we can treat them as we will,
answerable only to the public opinion of
the world and to our own consciencies,
and this is probably the view that will
be ultimately adopted, but it is not i'm
portant in the consideration of this bill.
Now, as showing the real character of
these constitutional debates, it need only
be said that in the one now raging deci-
sions OF the Supreme Court have been in
yoked in support of each of these claims.
Chief Justice Marshall. speaking for the
court, limited the constitution to the
states, and later Chief Justice fancy,
speaking equally for the court, spread the
constitution over all the territories and
sent with it the institution of slavery.
And it was this decision that in the
evolution OF great events brought into
existence the Republican party, party
at last with an intelligent conscience and
guided by great moral purposes. 1t
sprang into being as protest against
the bred Scott decision, and has led the
march OF liberty. progress. and prosper.
ity ever since. Applause
The Democratic party at once drew
the constitution on the young Republic
can giant at every point. 1t was uncon-
stitutional to elect Abraham Lincoln
president; unconstitutional to put down
the rebellion; unconstitutional to free the
slaves; unconstitutional to pass a pro-
tective.tariff bill, and now it is unconsti-
tutional to make the rich planters of
Puerto Rico contribute by means of that
law for the support of the government
under which they live.
But meanwhile the Republican party
has gone steadily forward in its high
mission, and has settled all these consti-
tutional questions as they have arisen,
not always in the courts, but always
with the approving conscience and COM
mon sense OF the American people.
And in due time, when we take up the
great question OF settling permanently
the relations between our new posses
sions and the United States, it will be
done in way to command the approval
not only of our own people but of all
mankind.
Meantime, the Constitution ex.
FOUNDER" will continue to be heard. Like
the brook, he will probably "go on for
ever"
But that he may see himself "as others
see him, )" let me give, as fairly descriptive
OF him, Burns extempore verse in the
court of sessions on the lord advocate.
l always think of it when see the CON
stitution expounder" Gin a fine frenzy
rolling"
He clench'd his pamphlets in his fist
He quoted and he limited,
Till in defamation
His argument he tint+ it:
He gaped tor t, he graped for t,
He fand twas ava, man;
But what his common sense come short,
He eked it out W. law, man.
Lost it.
Laughter and applause.