New-York tribune., 1900-11-03
WHAT IT MEANS TO THE ISLANDS.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MKINLEYs ELEC-
TIoN TO SETTLE MANY vExED
INsULAR QUESTIONS.

4NSU1AAH (4JESI1ONS-
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir; Assuming that Mckinley will be elected.
there are probably human beings IN the world
whose welfare more depends upon the election OF Z
Republican House OF Representatives than the
very men who in against the United
States to-day
Only the blindest partisans will deny that the
war IN the Philippine Islands will be practically
over before many months past and that by
1902 the process of reconstruction IN those islands
VIII be well under way. This state Of affairs may
be fairly expected no matter who is elected in
November. If the next President is not Of the
same political faith the House OF Repre-
sentatives only a dreamer hope that any
measure will be passed looking to the establish
ment IN those islands OF definite government on
the one hand. a definite period for evacuation
the other
A moments consideration Of the state of pros
tration. uncertainty and unrest which existed in
Porto Rico before the passage OF the acts provid-
ing government and tariff for that island should
De sufficient to indicate TO any man the misery
which would be inflicted upon the Fihpinos by a
prolonged uncertainty to their ultimate dispo-
sition.
Whatever view be held as TO the constiru-
uonality and propriety OF the Porto Rican acts #
must be fairly admitted that We no longer hear
complaints from that island So far as we car
see, the inhabitants are now rising from the pros
tration existing during the period OF uncertainty
A very much less aggravated state OF affairs ev
listed In the Hawaiian Islands previous TO the pas
sage OF the for their government bnt M o,s
can deny the immense advantage which has ac-
crued to the people by the enactment OF a law
which enables them to judge precisely the condi-
tions under which they may dispose Of their chief
products. A sorry of affairs would exist in
the Hawaiian Islands to-day II the government OF
the United States had not been able TO agree on
the form of government the tariffs and the cur
rency of that archfpeagO
Consider for a moment what be done by
the Congress OF the United States in the Philip
pines soon peace Is secured
tariff must be estabis led; internal rsvan,,a
must be adjusted; a Of government must he
equipped and the machinery of elections centred
therein; courts be instituted and their iuris
diction defined; navigation laws currency meas
ures. salaries. franchises and many other pubrir
questions be settled and this too simu,
taneously with the establishment of an entirely
nfW IS il frSms c6nseGss Gf sGygTnmenI sI fb5
senate would join tremendously with Demo-
cratic House in enacting such legislation? Not un-
The status Of Cuba is an enigma of the future
Possibly that island would suffer less from de-
layed legislation than the other islands: bur how
humiliating the spectacIe-the United States posr
poning the fulhlment of her promise OF ev:,cuaror
because her Congress could agree on the rerr,s
under which that evacuation shoulo occur,
United States collecting any duty on goods i'm
poryed ron rom Porto co even though that duty
Men may likewise differ To the wisdom OF Pore
from the fnted Staten but h ON goods & mpors
1ne. & Porto Kican tariff was humane measure for
or or in Porto Rico goes into the. island treasury
sources OF the island. Without them there rouI5
oe en- no money f9G 1sc, new schools or new roads
Unless remedial legislation can then he On scts5
tae @ island OF Porto Rico IS likely 10 fnd
teachers in the newly established schools or 70
Unless the President and both houses are ~ m.
same political faith measure fer the relief -
possibly be passed &TGCsTts t%'@ G3R8TRee RlST San
Secretary Of the Republican Club of Masssc6useffs
Boston Nov. ! 1900