The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-03-22
AS to Puerto Rico.


"sThe case is a very simple one. The
President made his recommendation
last December to give Puerto Rico's
nroducts free access to our markets be-
cause he believed it was right and
best, considering the condition of that
island. and not because it was re-
uuired by the Constitution. He has
not changed that view. If that were
the sole principle involved, we are
authorized to say, he would insist upon
it though he stood alone. Since his
recommendation, however, another
principle has been invoked involving
the most vital question connected with
the whole matter of Our new territorial
possessions. The President believes
that Congress has the constitutional
power to levy duties upon the products
of the new territorial acquisitions"
saws the New York Mail and Express.
This is denied, especially by Demo
Gratis. If they can prevent it's as
sertion; still more, if they can have
such action by Congress as denies its
existence, then they can go to the
country with the argument that the
Administration has, by it's policy, &C
Cuired new populations united for
Statehood, yet claiming the rights of
full citizenship and the right to mum
date our markets with their products
free from customs duty, thus impairlng
the value OF our own labor by compet1-
ton with the cheapest labor in the
world.
The question, therefore, is not be-
tween principle and an"expediency.
1t is a question between two princi-
pies, one of them fundamental. 1t is
between asserting one of them in the
interest of Puerto Rico alone, or 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 rectifed, and the damage done will
be irremediab1e. Not a single step,
once taken, can be retraced. In the
former case, it will work no injury to
the interests of Puerto Rico.
That island today is without revenue
and the people are suffering. It has no
government except a military one. It
will be some time before any machin-
cry for raising revenue can be put in
operation. Meantime, Puerto Rico
A2I Of Cd G
rapidly as possible to furnish the rev.
-enues for it's own expenses. By the
bill which the House has passed it is
relieved from every form of tax except
this IS per cent of the existing tariff
laid upon it's products coming into the
United States and the products of the
United States entering Puerto Rican
ports. Every dollar of this is tur ned
back to it's own use. The measure is
for revenue, and only temporary at
that, and can be followed by free trade
as soon as the great principle which
recognizes the power OF Congress to
1egis1ate for these new territories is
indicated. The necessity of this in
depreciation of the Constitution, after
the debate in the House, is paramount,
and is considered important to our
success in the Philippines.
The principle of free trade recon-
mended for Puerto Rico, and which
the President evidently hopes in due
time to see prevail, has therefore,
yielded only for the time being to d
more important principle. The neces
sity of the case and the honest differ
ence of opinion which led to the new
issue are frankly recognized. The
President appreciates that he must to
large extent rely upon his own party
in the administration of public affairs.
He is bound to weigh against any per-
sona1 triumph the Generalization and
Reorganization of his party in the
Legislative branch of the government,
upon which he must depend. No great
er calamity could happen than to have
his party majority fall down on the
very threshold of their consideration
of these island questions. Urder these
circumstances, the President did what
he thought was right, and we believe
that time will vindicate the wisdom of
his course.