The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-03
WASHINGTON. April 2.-1n the DIS

WASHINGTON, April 2.-In the dis
cusslon of the Puerto Rican tarin bill
to-day, Senator Depew said, in part;
Mr.. President, l have been listening
with great interest to the many and
very able speeches which have been de-
liyered upon the Puerto RIcan tariff
1have endeavored to find in them So
luton of the singular political eondl-
lions which seem to have arisen out OF
the presentation Of this measure. !
have thought perhaps the fact that the
country is divided into storm centers
and normally placid conditions Is due to
the extended discussion Of the constltu-
tional question having obscured the real
meaning CT measure Of revenue and
relief.
There Is no division among the ma
jorlty in either house as to the power
OF Congress to legislate on this subject
The majority all agree that the consti-
tuition docs not extend by its own power
over these new possessions. and that
Congress can leglslate for them as she
deems wise, subject only to the prohib-
ttions upon Congress In the eonstitu-
ton. The Democratic party accepted
the other view, that the constitution
does extend by its own force into the
territories, from the moment that 1t was
invented by John c. Calhoun for the
purpose of carrying slavery into the
new. territories. when 1t was impossible
apalnpt the aroused conscience of the
country to secure legislation to that ef-
feet. 1t is but fair to say that while
the action OF the country by the unani-
NOUS consent of all statesmen aud par
ties for fifty years. and the trend of the
decisions OF the supreme court, sustain
the power OF Congress to take the whole
or any part Of the constitution and the
laws of the United States into new ter
ritories. and to establish governments
for them, yet the questions raised by the
ACQUISITION of Cuba. Hawaii and the
Philippines, when presented to The su.
preme court. may result in such II
broad and comprehensive Interpretation
as will make clear for all time the po-
sitlon II the United States upon the
government of territories which come
to US.
Pictures Arc Misleading.
While the practlca! part OF this meas
urs has received some consideration.
yet It has esulted in pictures of Puerto
Rico and It's Inhabitants which are ~
terry misleading. The lower house Of
the Iowa legislature the othe' day
adopted resolution for free tralc with
Puerto Rico on the ground tha= her
people hal accepted our Sovereignty
wn.lngly. while other islands were re-
sisung II. The sudden collapse OF iha
Spanish power. and the almost in
Simultaneous dropping into our hands Of
the island possessions Of Spain, found
different conditions in these posses
sions. 1t is admitted, for Instance
that Cuba is TO be under our govern
ment only until she is capable OF gov
ernlng herself. we all know that. with
the revolutionary elements and profes-
slonaI agltators OF that island. II any
excuse or opportunity had been offered
there would have been a revolt against
our authority. We all know that In
the Philippines there would have beer
universal acceptance OF government by
the United States. excep; that profes'
sional agiutors who revolutionized' fol
revenue. and had made fortunes in pre-
vlous revolts, had played upon the i'm
asInation OF an ignorant people. and
led them into instruction. hoping thC
United Suites would follow Spanish pre-
cedents, and purchase their allegiance
It is equally true that in Puerto Rice
the population is so poor and so crowd
ed, and the conformation OF the islanC
makes 1t 70 easy for an army to pu
down instruction, that, though thu
same government: existed in Puerto
Rico as in Cuba and in the Philippines
st was impossible to inaugurate revo
lutlOn IN t'ueTlJ blSps Ahe uei "
Ricans knew that they must come undei
some government. and after three hun
dred years Of spain hailed with deligh
the transfer to the United States.
Puerto Rica has been pictured herr
and presented to the country as IL 4
were a Massachusetts. a ConnecticL
or an Iowa, populated by an intellIgcn
md educated people. who had Instant!
grasped the problems of government
and the institutions of the Unltet
States. and were in all respects fttet
to early assume place amcng thu
states of the Union; that prior and pre-
llminary to this statehood they were en-
titled to every privilege, every law, ev
cry constitutional right which bcorgi
to the citizens OF the states.
One of the Most Fertile Regions.
Puerto Rico is more thIckly popu