The evening times., 1900-04-04
THE PORTO RICAN OUTRAGE.

New York Herald: "1n the words OF the
laborer who arrived in this port yester-
day from the Island and was prevented
ties. the unfortunate Porto Rican is in
deed "a man without a country
THE inhabitant of Porto Rico now owes
allegiance to no government but that of
the United States, and if the latter de-
elares that he is an alien the definition Of
his status Will present delicate and in
teresting question. Meanwhile the Senate
has voted downSall amendments declaring
that the island is within the constitutional
Jurisdiction CT the United States and pass
ed the compromise bill. The Republican
Representatives, who voted for free trade
with the isiaRd-.when the bill passed the
House have been confirmed in their atti-
tude by the enthusiastic support of their
constituents, while the vigorous express
SONS of sentiment expressed through the
press and through some OF the western
legislatures have brought recruits to their
ranks. IT. as now seems probable. there
is in the House a majority in favor of
opening our markets free to the products
Of Porto Rico ii is in its power to reject
the report of the conference committee
and to direct a report in favor of free
trade or disagreement between the two
houses This would leave the unfortunate
still subject to the full Dingley tariff, as
modified by executive ORDER
New York Journal: The Senate has
added les part to the record of shame made
up by the Republican politicians at Wash
ington in the matter of Porto Rico. By
vote of forty to thirty-One it has decided to
ignore our plain duty and to repudiate
the highest considerations of justice and
good faith But the agitation for justice
has not been without effect. When the
protectionist ring first captured the Re
publican machine and forced the President
and the Secretary of War to eat their own
worcs. 20 per cent OF the Dingiey rate both
ways was the minimum OF its demands. 1t
was said that this might be increased in
the Senate to>50 or even 70 per cent, and
some organizations of alleged domestic
producers even sent in memorials declar-
ing that they would be satisfied with moth
ing less than the full Dingley taxes on the
unhappy Porto Ricans 1t looked for
time as IL this swinish selfshness might
prevail Even when it was decided that
the tax bill should be called a provisional
one ii was put in such shape that its expi
ration at the end of two years would leave
not free trade but unmitigated Dingleyism
in force. But the country soon showed
that sordid greed would have to bend
little TO moral considerations. Talk of in
creasing the rates was dropped. Then it
was decided to cut them down. Then the
two-year limit was made a reality instead
of a mockery. Now we are TO have Is per
cent of the Dingley rates for two years or
shorter time If the Porto Rican Govern
ment shows its ability TO raise the necessa
ry revenues in other ways. and then we are
,l>- hat ig q
great advance-so great that with strong
pull we ought to be able to get the rest.
The House can vote down any conference
report that does not provide for the imme-
diate abolition of the duties. II the mem
bers who have been hearing from their
constituencies will do their duty our hon
or can still be saved
Philadelphia Record: The passage Of
this bill is not so important in It's effect
upon the fortunes of the people Of Porto
Rico as il the issue involved as to the
right of Congress to disregard the cCnsti-
tutional provision requiring uniformity of
taxation in all parts of the United States.
On this question the Republican party is
seriously divided The bill also provides.
aside fIcm the constitutional issue,
breach of good faith on the part of the
Administration which admits OF neither
dispute nor Justification
Philadelphia Inquirer: AT last the
Senate has disposed Of the Porto Rico bill.
and il has done wisely TO ADOPT il. There
is practically little difference. so far as
the people OF Porto Rico are CONCERNED
between this tariff bill and actual free
trade. SO the island is not sacrificed as
the Democratic orators pet IT, in -sny man
ner whatever"
Baltimore Sun: Last December Presi-
dent Mckinley recommended free trade
with Porto Rico as the plain duty of tie
United States in its relations With tie
island. Secretary of War Root urged
free trade as something which We owed
the Porto Ricans on the grounds CT hu-
msnity and justice. The law officer of the
Bureau of Insular Affairs Of the War De-
paTtment prepared an elaborate legal opin-
ion in which he held that it would be con-
stitutional for the United States to do lis
plain duty TO the Porto Ricaus in the
matter of free trade. When the President
Topped, this eminent legal aujhO. ity also
turned about face and decided in favor of
tariff duties. The House was prepared to
pass the free trade bill introduced in &C
coIdance with the Presidents plain duty
recommendation, but yielded to the die
tates of the protected interests as soon as
Mr. Mckinley had reversed himself. There
is nothing more humiliating in our poIiti-
cal history that the vacillating course Of
the Administration on the Porto r can
tariff
Chicago Times Herald: The United
States Senate has passed he Porto Rico
Tariff bill. which begins by denying Porto
Ricans allegiance TO or free trade with the
United States. and ends by taxing them
al H.,
tation. Thus has been cCnsummated, so
far as one house Of Congress can. tie
most remarkable departure from unyary-
ing American presidents. the mUst unac-
countabe violation of American good
faith. the most insolent affTcnt to almost
universal American sentiment. With one
heart one mind. one voice. the people of
the United States. as represented by the
press. have protested against the outrage
against Porto Rico-the violation of Amer
ican honor contained in this tariff bill
Their protests have been received with
contempt and they have been told: You
are ignorant: you do not understand Now
we will see if the House, which has to
face its constituents within seven months
dares to reafirm the obnoxious tariff. now
that il knows the temper of the American
people. Just as surely as this is a Gov
ernment of the people. by the people, for
the people, the American people will not
suffer the obloquy this bill casts on their
honor and good faith TO be perpetrated
with impunity. If the Republican majori-
ty permits it there will be a reckoniEs
with the Republican party by Republicans
next November
Chicago IntNr-Ocean: I'm defiance OF
plain duty, plighted faith, and Ve con-
science of the great Republican party.
thirty-seven Republican Senator'S voted
yesterday to impose a tariff on Porto Rico.
Their excuses for so doing have been laid