New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-24

- LttIeneld said Mr.. Payne had not made pub
- e reasons for his change Of heart He thought
e" the reason but he would not suggest IT,
- me gentleman from New-York and the gentle
n rom Connecticut (Mr. RusselD had declared
D. DC. the expectation OF sugar and tobacco from
uei'o hico would not interfere with our indus
.'eS' II that were true il would be interesting to
Nho suggested the change of base He yield
eu 10 no man in his devotion to his party and It
-. letter Tor his political friends TO hear these
'4inss now than later on the stump where they
uia De judged by the enlightened conscience of
lhe american people
ne greatest calamity which cvershadowed the
republican party, he said was the calamity in
vowed in the pending bill tApplauseA He would
waste no time in quoting Jefferson Jackson or
benton For him it was sufficient If william Nc
hlhIey had followed in the footsteps Of Washing
Ton and Lincoln. And President Mckinley had
said that IT was the plain duty" of Congress to
give free trade TO Puerto Rico
EXPLANATION ASKED FROM Mr. PAYNE.
MI Lttleheld directed his sarcasm against the
Dlll, taking as illustration case of shipping
lumber from Maine Puerto Rico Al San Juan
the DUTY was collected by the United States. There
lore II might well have been collected by the
United States when ii left Maine Mr.. Littleheld
contended that the bill was un-Republican. When
ever before had it been proposed to place a duty
on American capital and American labor? The
platforms Of the Republican party declared for
the protection OF American labor and American
capital against foreign labor and foreign capital
he challenged Mr. Payne to explain this doc
trine He also assailed pretext the theory that
this tariff for Puerto Rico was framed TO raise
revenue when duty on sugar and tobacco was
levied. while coffee of which the production was
greater than both the other articles together was
10 be imported free This he declared was the
cheap philanthropy which cost nothing.
He argued that II the industries Of the United
States were be protected against the industries
Of Puerto Rico. and later against those OF the
Philippines the industries Of those islands could
never prosper. American capital would never go
10 them for investment. Puerto Rico would remain
an orange for Us TO squeeze" her people hewers
OF wood and drawers OF water for the seveuty-fve
million habitants Of the United States.
Another argument against the bill Mr.. Littleheld
found in the proclamation OF General Miles to
people Of Puerto Rico when his army invaded the
island He had promised the natives the immun-
ties and blessings" OF government, and they
had crowned him with garlands and had kissed
the flag. He would never vote he said. to violate
the pledge that great soldier made. 1t had been
written in the blood OF. our heroes and sealed by
The god Of battles. II could be violated without
sullylng our honor and furnishing our faith
Mr. Littlehed then took up the legal phases OF
the question and closed as follows:
May our flag float over the whole Republic. IN
the Occident and the Orient; the Pearl OF the
Antilles and the ten thousand islands near far on
Cathay; upon land and sea. over school, home and
chuTch. the emblem of our integrity and good faith,
OF noerty and freedom or the llestna bic blessings
OF Christian cviljza ton, OF human rights guar
anteed by the Constitution. dependent upon the
TOO often afrrighied at their own shadows: rights
embedded in the Constitution floating empty
bubbles on the perturbed surface Of eloquent
peroratiOns, rights that eternal and worldwide.
not ephemeral and circumscrbed; OF opportunity
oppression. and OF regeneration, repression
Thus. and thus only snail IL be and ever remain
by the blessing and favor OF Almighty God, the IN
sullied and untarnished symbol or our honor and
glory and splendOr-
DEFENDED BY MR. LACEY
Mr.. Lacey, Of Iowa, followed in support OF the
bill. He had visited Puerto Rico and spoke with
the advantage Of personal observation. He urged
that the needs the island could be by this
bill without the necessity OF having JaXgaJherers
among the people
Mr.. Gardiner of Michigan. said the same gloomy
forebodings heard this bill had been
heard every great forward movement in this
country. He said the speech Of Mr. Littleheld and
others IN opposition would do mischief In spreading
doubt and discomfort among Puerto Ricans- There
was no responsibility on the Democratic side in
this matter He said the Republican side had the
responsibility, and he appealed TO his associates
10 meet this responsibility patriots and with
out fear Of criticism.
Mr.. Payne asked unanimous consent to close
general debate Monday. with debate under the
FIVE minute rule Tuesday up p m, when
the final vote shall be taken.
Mr.. Richardson consented TO this and the agree
nenI formally entered into. II d part OF
the agreement that committee amendments and
a substitute could be presented.
clerks desk that a Republican conference would
be held D tomorrow.
The House 400 took recess until o'clock.
AN APPEAL FROM PUERTO RICANS.
Washington. Feb. 23.-Mr. Frye laid before the
Senate to-day the following cable dispatch ad-
dressed 70 him president Of the Senate from
San Juan. Puerto Rico: